Windows 10 again and again — how to install, how to avoid
Q: I run Windows 7. Where can I find where to download 10 at no cost?
— Pat Lanphear
Q: I was very interested in your answer to “How long is Windows 7 safe to use?” I tried Windows 10 and it was not to my liking. I would like to keep Windows 7 on my desktop. At age 80, I’m hoping it will keep me happy until. … Is there a way to keep Windows 10 from activating on my computer without my consent? — Richard Loya
Q: I am unable to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7-9 because I do not have SP1. I have SP3. I have been unable to get SP1 from Microsoft. Is there a solution?
— Skip Van Valkenburgh
A: I feel like I’m repeating myself about Windows 10. (These are just a small selection of the Windows 10 queries I’ve received.)
Help me help you by doing some research. You can find previous answers on the Tech+ Mailbag archive at dpo.st/ mailbag. Answers posted online include links to more information.
Don’t forget to Google your question (that’s what I do, too), in case others are discussing answers and solutions online. And by all means, take advantage of the mostly free service at local Microsoft stores to clean up viruses and help with Windows 10 installation.
If you find answers, share them! Don’t forget to write “Mailbag” in the e-mail subject line.
Pat, right here: microsoft.com/ windows10
Richard, you might be able to hide Windows 10 notices by running Windows Update, finding the items and right-clicking to get the option to hide it. Or you can try uninstalling updates associated with Windows 10, including KB 3035583, KB 2952664, KB 2976978.
One software developer offers GWX Control Panel to disable the upgrade, at ultimateoutsider.com/downloads, but read the comments to decide whether this is right for you.
Getting rid of 10 might take digging into your PC’s registry, which could do serious damage if you don’t quite know what you’re doing. If you choose to tweak the registry, How-To Geek has a guide at dpo.st/prevent10.
If it’s too late and Windows 10 installed itself and is running but you don’t like it, you have 30 days to revert to your old Windows.
To return to your old Windows, follow these steps (details at Microsoft’s site: dpo.st/windows10revert)
1. Go to “Settings,” select “Update & Security” and then “Recovery.”
2. Look for the “Go back to Windows X.”
3. Select “Get started” and the restoration begins.
And Skip, according to Microsoft, there is no SP3 (or Service Pack 3) for Windows 7 or 8, which are the only two Windows that qualify for the free Windows 10 upgrade. The last SP3 was for Windows XP, which Microsoft
stopped supporting in April 2014.