How To Remove Windows 10 Upgrade from Windows Update

Explicit and detailed instructions already posted in this thread.  I works if your circumstances are as I described.

I have same problem & question!

I understand your feelings totally, Carol.  Hopefully, with @canadian tech's help, we can come up with a working procedure to make Windows 10 go away until we want to install it.

thanks for the advice!  I'm including your instructions here in bold with my actions/observations in italics: 

Take Windows Update off automatic -- Never check  - was already set to Never Check

Task Manager, processes, find and end GWX.exe - was not running; I checked "show processes from all users" and it wasn't there either

Control Panel, Uninstall a program, View installed updates, WAIT a long time till you  see the green bar completes its long trip to the right

Now, search for KB3035583, uninstall it - it wasn't installed

Restart the PC - no need at this point because I hadn't made any changes

Disk cleanup, do the 2nd step for System -- this takes a while

You should find a file there that is anywhere from 4 to 8 Gigabytes.  It is the Win10

downloaded file. Put a check mark on that item. - 226 mb total (89.7mb temp internet,

temporary files 136mb, everything else was small)

OK, Delete Files - done!

Restart - done!

The startup will take a long time while it finishes cleanup - startup seemed like  normal duration

I assume the next step is to rerun WIndows Update and to check for updates. Found 22 important and 5 optional updates. I unselected everything. There was no sign of Windows 10 orKB3035583 because I had previously hidden them. 

In Restore hidden updates, I found both "Upgrade to Windows 10 Home" and KB3035583 - both not selected.

So I returned to the Important Updates list and only selected one random update (KB3046017) as a test.  But when I tried to install that update, I immediately see "Downloading Windows 10" so I cancel Windows Update. :-(

Is there any way I could allow Windows Update to do it's thing with Windows 10 and then bail on the installation after Windows Update "thinks" it's complete?

Any other thoughts?  There are two user accounts on this machine and both have admin access but I'm assuming they're seeing the same updates, and any WU changes I make via one account applies to the other account as well. (I do know that running Windows Update via either account results in the Windows 10 download)

Kb2990214 is legitimate and it should be installed. 

This will probably work....

I have advised my clients to do what I have dreaded doing for years -- turn off Automatic Windows Update. 

The problem is compounded by an incessant drive by Microsoft to install Windows 10 on your computer with out your permission.  They keep re-installing KB3035583 (that is the enabler) on your computer, even if you uninstall it.  The result is the huge download and then constant nags without an apparent way to say no.

So I have advised my clients to shut down WU.  Once a month on the 2nd Tuesday, they will get an email from me advising to turn on WU and then to reject specific updates like KB3035583.  After updating, they will turn automatic updates off again.

If you see the Windows flag on the bottom right of your screen, chances are pretty high, your computer already has the Win10 file. Even if you do not, it may be on your computer by now anyway.  Here are instructions on how to rid yourself of it:

It is likely Win10 has already downloaded to your PC.  If you are using windows 7, and have not installed win10 and do not want it, here is a procedure that I have used many times and it works. 

1. Take Windows Update off automatic -- Never check
2. Task Manager, processes, find and end GWX.exe
3. Control Panel, Uninstall a program, View installed updates, WAIT a long time till you see the green bar completes its long trip to the right
4. Now, search for KB3035583, uninstall it
5. Restart the PC
6. Disk cleanup, do the 2nd step for System -- this takes a while
7. You should find a file there that is anywhere from 4 to 8 Gigabytes.  It is the Win10 downloaded file. Put a check mark on that item.
8. OK, Delete Files
9. Restart
10. The startup will take a long time while it finishes cleanup