I used that program from Majorgeeks, but it doesn't remove the Windows BT folder, which on MY system is 6Gb. Does anyone know if there's a way to remove this folder, and if it's safe to do so?

Boxxi, you can safely delete it. I think I got rid of it with Disk Cleanup but not sure. I do know it's gone. I may have just deleted it.

BoXXi

reply 21

I used that program from Majorgeeks, but it doesn't remove the Windows BT folder, which on MY system is 6Gb. Does anyone know if there's a way to remove this folder, and if it's safe to do so?

No, GWX Panel does not remove the upgrade folder, the reason being to allow users to upgrade at a later date if they so choose.  However, if you wish to delete it then that's fine.  I did so to free up disc space [120gb SSD] without ill-effect.

It is interesting to read the user guide, though.  The developer has indicated that MS has been quite aggressive in its approach for users to switch to Win 10, and that it will reissue the updates and the GWX app in an attempt to force users hands.  He even suggests that the icon and updates may have rules of their own, and thus able to override users own WU settings.

For mine, Microsoft's behaviour in this matter has been abominable... if not downright criminal.

Thanks guys.....

Mine are still right where I left them...hidden.

Yeah, I've had it running on my machine for 24 + hours and no sign of the icon or repeat downloads of the updates thus far [touch wood].  Normally they'd have been back long before this.  It was like the 'Get Windows 10 icon would be deleted around 2 - 3 hours and the update would reappear to reinstall the icon.... and if my updates were set to manual, it was like the update had a built-in switch to reset updates to automatic again.

I reset it back to manual at least 4 times but it was changed back each time the Win 10 update reappeared on my system.  GWX Panel seems to have done the trick, though, with everything back to the way I want it.  Hopefully things will stay that way, but as the author of the programs suggested, MS could devise new and more devious ways to thrust this mongrel upon us.  He did say that he'd endeavour to keep up with any such developments, however.

Well it's 48 + hours on and still no UGLIES have appeared since I used GWX Panel to rid myself of them.

Microsoft might be desperate to install Win 10 on as many machines possible, but I am MORE desperate for it to NOT be on any of mine.

Oh, and Jafo, it's not that I 'love' Win 8 and 'hate' Win 10.  Put simply, I like using Win 8 because it is fast and exactly like Win 7 to use when that Metro rubbish is bypassed.  In going straight to the desktop there is little to no difference than using its predecessor... except that it's faster in general use.

As for Win 10, it's not that I hate it. In fact I've never used it... and likely never will.  Simply put, I don't trust it, it's butt fechen ugly and it's MS's version of a walled garden.  Moreover, as several people have complained,  it has begun showing ads in the start menu.  I hate fechen ads and won't have a bar of them as part of any OS?GUI that I use.  Then there's the targeted ads because MS has trawled through one's email accounts and personal documents.

There may be some who 'think' this won't happen, and MS might try to weasel its way out of it, but it was written plainly in the EULA/TOS and I don't see MS missing out on revenue after 'giving away' a whole OS for 'free'.   You notice I put Terms of Service there instead of Terms Of Use?  That's because Win !0 has become a service and users must agree to the terms of provision... as decided by Microsoft.  So if at some point you discover that MS has trawled through your personal data and has it stored in their database for future 'use' - whatever that might be - there's eff all you can do about it.  You signed up for it... under THEIR terms of service.

There's NO such thing as a free lunch, and MS has suckered in millions looking for one.... thinking they got one.  Well not me!   There are too many caveats and deliberately veiled aspects about the 'OS' for my liking.  Microsoft claims to have become open and transparent about Win 10, but that is far from the truth, given there are spy mechanisms hidden deep within the shell that can not be turned off.   Why is that necessary?    Yeah, "Let's tell them about the easy stuff to find, and we'll hide this in here so we can still pry into everybody's business.".... not to mention the NSA, CIA and whoever else who wants to hack into it. 

Hackers have it easy enough already, without MS providing them a backdoor to waltz right in.  You can bet pounds to a pinch of shit that hackers are rubbing their hands with glee over this development.  No thanks, I'm not willing to send out such easy invitations to parasites with ill-intent.

There, does that explain it better?

Win 8 will have the same issues re datamining/security as 10....just not so bitched-about.

10 will be superior speed-wise to 8 as 8 was to 7 ...so that's not a negative either.

As for looks/function....BOTH 8 and 10 are dogs' balls ...and BOTH are fixed by Stardock.

Remove the MS 'menu' and you remove the Ads.

I'm about ready to install 10 into this thing on a secondary drive...and see how it goes with my set of proggies/functionality... and eventually onto the primary M.2x4 ... as it might actually solve the cold booting issues I get currently...

Well, when WB10 is out, I'll agree with that.

No, Win 8.1 does not have spy crap built into the shell.... and the telemetry crap that MS disguised as important updates can easily be uninstalled.  I've already done that!

I don't care how much faster it's supposed to be, I'm not interested in a prying, snooping OS that pretty much wants to know when I last took a crap. If it happened to be a few days ago I'd likely be targeted with ads for laxatives.

As I said,  Win 8 is the same as 7 in functionality when Metro is removed/bypassed.   As for fixing them, Stardock has fixed the butt ugly GUis of all MS OSes, so I find that point pretty much irrelevant. 

Again, no!  MS clearly stated that it will target users with ads based on emails and personal data within emails.  And being that MS can access personal data and emails in Win 10, who's to say that targeted ads won't appear in your download and documents folders?  Remember, using Windows 10  is wholly dependent on MS' terms of Service.... and if those terms of service state that you WILL get advertising, you WILL get it. 

Like I said, it's not that I hate Win 10, but it is a walled garden that will benefit users less and less as it evolves, and an operating system should be something that users have control over, not some far off entity that seeks to manipulate users wants, needs and ideals.  Windows 8/8.1 had its faults, but none so severe as these.  At least in Win 8/8.1 they were fixable.  In Win 10 they're NOT.

Windows Operating systems died with Win 8/8.1.  After that we have a travesty that impersonates an OS but is in effect a MS grab at power and control.

Oh yeah, and using Win 10 for extended periods causes blurred vision, warts and premature ejaculation. 

Well, not exactly. Or at least, not according to Stardock Support.

On Windows 7, I couldn't get satisfaction out of WindowsFX. It would act up, and get jumpy on a dual gfx card system. SAME rig, dual booted with 8.1, worked fine. Now, I have the same problem with WinFX 6, and support tells me it's due to my 2 gfx cards are being stressed to the limit.

WinFX STILL works fine on Win8.1, but not on Win7, and not on Win10.

Tell me what is the deal.

Same rig, same hardware, no go on 7 or 10. Windows 8.1, all is well.

To add to the above, Deskscapes is slow and wonky on Win7 with 6 monitors (dual gfx system) but fine on Win8.1 and Win10. Again, same rig, same hardware, same everything, except the OS.

Me thinks it is a Stardock bug, but support says not.

I might add that I have the same exact programs installed on each OS. (Photoshop, etc.)

What can I say!  Win 8.1 is far superior to Win 7, and Win 10 is an abomination that should never have seen the light of day... or dark of night.  There was a time when I looked forward to its release, but the more negative articles I read about its commercial and prying abilities the less I was beginning to like it, and when several tech writers and analysts confirmed their suspicions about core elements being iffy/not for the benefit of users, I decided no way, not for me.

Oh yeah, and did I mention that using Win 10 will give you sweaty palms, sinusitis and boils on your bottom?