There is no doubt that Windows 10, with all its niceties and features, has been shoved down our throats by forcibly upgrading our machines without our consent. Microsoft has been accused of using malware-like tactics without user approval / consent and pushing the upgrades through, making novice users confused as to what is happening. The “Get Windows 10” update comes courtesy of Microsoft’s monthly security patches and is a recommended update denoted as “KB3035583”. To uninstal and disable the upgrade to Windows 10, several tools are available which are shared below:

GWX Control Panel

This powerful and intuitive freeware tool allows you to decouple and remove the infamous “GWX” icon that resides in your notification bar as shown below, repeatedly suggesting upgrading your version of the OS to Windows 10. GWX control panel allows you to uninstal all traces of the GWX icon, and along with deleting downloaded folders of Windows 10 prevents automatic Windows 10 upgrades without user consent, and ‘monitor mode’ ensures that the “KB3035583” update isn’t installed again. You can also tweak the Windows update settings to your liking within the app. Download here: http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/GwxControlPanelSetup.exe

Learn how you prevent Windows 7/8/8.1 from being upgraded to Windows 10

Never10

Never10 is an easy to use, nifty tool provided by renowned Gibson Research Corporation. It simply allows a user to disable the inbuilt option sanctioned by Microsoft to prevent an OS upgrade, and deleting the Windows 10 installation files along with it. Once downloaded, execute it to disable the Windows 10 upgrade option and delete the Windows 10 installation files if downloaded to free up some hard disk space. Do keep in mind that this tool doesn’t remove the notorious “GWX” icon installed in the notification tray. Download here: https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

The writer is a freelance columnist with diversified interests in Technology, Finance & History. He tweets @MohammadFarooq_

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, July 17th, 2016