How to cancel Windows 10 upgrade after installation failure

Anonymous

I've waited for my free Windows 10 upgrade (currently running Windows 8.1 with no problems). It finally came through, and about 10% through the second (black-background) reboot the computer just went black -- did not restart, just completely black-screened and shut down. I wound up having to restart, and it immediately went into "Restoring previous version of Windows" mode. It then black-screened again, and on the second attempt to restart, Windows 8.1 restored.

I am currently laid up with a broken back and don't have the ability to deal with computer issues right now (I'm not even supposed to be sitting upright for more than ten minutes at a time) so wish to completely cancel my Windows 10 upgrade. I have already clicked the "agreement", though and no longer see a "cancel upgrade" link anywhere.

I have "hidden" the update to Windows 10 in Windows Updates, but want to eliminate it completely, and also remove all of the temporary set-up files from my PC. I'll be buying a new computer in the spring, most likely, anyway, so will just get Windows 10 then.

Please provide SIMPLE steps to:

Permanently cancel any upgrade reservation to Windows 10
Permanently remove the update from Windows Updates so it leaves my 8.1 alone
Permanently and cleanly remove all temporary update files from my computer to restore the space they are hogging up.

Thank you. I hope you can reply quickly with steps that won't have me tied to the computer for hours, so my doctors don't yell at me. ::smile::

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Anonymous

Hi Gayle,

What you need to do here first of all is to change the way you receive updates. With Automatic Updates enabled, the operating system will reinstall the nagware prompt which is KB3035583 after you uninstall it which will be a step we'll take in a minute.

So proceed as follows:

Right click the Action Center icon on the taskbar and go to "Windows Update".
In the left hand menu, click "Change settings".
Change it from Automatic Updates to "Download updates but let me choose whether to install them".
Click "Save Changes" and then click "Control Panel Home".
Go to "Programs and Features" and click the link to "View installed updates".
Copy/paste KB3035583 into the Search field top right and when it appears below, right click it and select "Uninstall".This is a large installation so uninstalling it can take several minutes.
Reboot next and then go back to Windows Update again.
Since you now have different WU settings, click the link if there's any which are awaiting your approval which will take you to the menu where you can decide what to install.
If you see KB3035583 in the list, right click it and select "Hide update". The box you normally have to checkmark to select an update will turn grey and when you exit WU, those files will be sent to the repository called "Restore hidden updates".You can restore any updates which have been hidden in there at any time by clicking the link, making your selection and then selecting "Restore".

The next step is to make a registry change which will prevent Windows 10 from downloading and installing.

Hit Windows key + R to launch the Run command, type: regedit and click OK.

Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE --> SOFTWARE --> Microsoft --> Windows --> CurrentVersion --> WindowsUpdate --> Auto Update --> OSUpgrade

Click the OSUpgrade key (which looks like a folder) and then in the right hand pane you should be able to see four values called respectively:

AllowOSUpgrade

KickoffDownload

KickoffSource

OSUpgradeInteractive

Some or all of these will have a value of 1. You need to change those to a 0 like you see in the screenshot.

To change a registry value, right click it and go to Modify. In the Value field at the bottom, change the figure 1 into a 0

Click OK and Windows will add the 0x00000000 (0) itself.

If it's already a 0 then you don't have to touch it.

In addition, you need to create a value. To do that, right click a blank part of the right hand pane and choose New --> DWORD with the name DisableOSUpgrade. Windows will add REG_ to the beginning of DWORD after you create it.

If you inadvertently lose the highlight when you create the new value, right click it and select Rename.

Next, right click your new value and go to Modify. Change the 0 into a 1 in the Value field. Click OK to confirm and exit.

Reboot and then go to Windows Updates. You will now be able to install 8.1 updates without being nagged by Windows 10.

I posted the same instructions in the following thread and as you can see from the responses, it clearly works:http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-update/windows-10-upgrade-cannot-be-removed-from-windows/4854a84d-a8a8-47da-a936-bd5d08138bfb

If there's anything you don't understand though, please don't hesitate to ask.

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53 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-10-10T17:15:51+00:00

When I search now for KB3035583, Windows Update does not find it as installed on my computer. Yet the nag box is still in the corner, and when I go to Windows Update there is a big "Upgrade to Windows 10/Start installing now" announcement on the main screen, and there appears to be no way out of it. It looks like it's the only upgrade (non-optional) on the system. Under optional updates, it ALSO appears as "Upgrade to Windows 10 Home" and it's checked by default.

I have once again "hidden" the update under both "Important" and "Optional" updates. It appears that there were versions in both, separately inserted into my system, and hiding one did not hide the other. I had to do both individually -- but have very little hope that it will have done any good.

It seems like Microsoft is hiding these nags and pushy tactics under so many different upgrade codes that there is no way for us to avoid them. I may just disable updates all together, and let this computer die an unnatural death while researching whether or not it would be less invasive to get a Mac once this one is no more.

I'm wondering whether anyone is taking up a class action lawsuit for invasion of privacy and illegal marketing tactics. Have to research that, too, I guess. Some day.
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Anonymous

2015-10-10T16:18:38+00:00

I really don't know the answer to that question I'm afraid. Best thing to do is to go browse the Apple support forums and see what other users are experiencing and how long it takes before an issue is resolved: https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro

But I don't like the attitude Microsoft has adopted of assuming that just because they're giving away Windows 10 for free that everyone will want it. Also, is it really free in the true sense of the word? After all, all previous versions have been fee based at around $50 for a volume license which is then incorporated into the price you pay for the laptop or PC.

Since there's now around 110 million computers worldwide with Windows 10 installed according to statistics, that's serious money being given away. So unless you believe that Microsoft has suddenly decided to become a charitable institution intent on redistributing its enormous wealth there has to be a payback somewhere.

The payback in this particular case is your loss of privacy and willingness to be bombarded with ads once your 28 days grace to rollback to your previous operating system has expired and you're stuck with Windows 10 for the foreseeable future. There are plenty of sites around the track now that provide the lowdown on that aspect such as this one: http://www.infoworld.com/article/2956715/microsoft-windows/privacy-and-advertising-in-windows-10-both-sides-of-the-story.html

My own decision not to upgrade originally was because I didn't want the ugly Windows 7 Start menu back again. I'm quite happy with 8.1 and since it's supported until 2023, I see no reason to upgrade to Windows 10. But now that the privacy issues have reared their ugly head, it's put me off for life.

As long as Automatic Updates are disabled, nothing will install itself unbeknown to you, but you still have to be on your toes when an update does arrive and to check it out and hide it if it looks like it's Windows 10 related. I would certainly expect KB3035583 to be re-released a few times in that respect.

Once July 29, 2016 arrives things should become a little more relaxed since the 'free' upgrade will have expired by then. That time can't come soon enough for me.
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Anonymous

2015-10-10T15:11:21+00:00

Thank you for your attempt to help. Right now everything beyond getting out of bed in the morning feels completely overwhelming to me ... and even getting out of bed in the morning comes close. There's no way I can, once again, deal with jumping through hoops and wasting entire days uninstalling **** that never should have been installed in the first place.

Are Macs this bad regarding the invasive patches and programs, ignoring what customers wish to do with their computers, and forcing things down our throats? Leaving the Windows World altogether is looking more and more appealing, but not if I'd just move from one demonic possession to another.

Or maybe I'll just unplug completely and go off the grid.

Anyway, I do appreciate your time.
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Anonymous

2015-10-09T19:46:59+00:00

Hi Gayle,

Uninstall the KB patches mentioned in this article. They may have something to do with the reason the icon is still showing: http://www.infoworld.com/article/2989896/microsoft-windows/windows-snooping-and-nagging-patches-return-kb-3035583-kb-2952664.html
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