MS-DEFCON 3: Get Windows and Office patched, but be aware of the consequences

Topic

New Reply

The October Black Tuesday patches have passed muster, pretty much, with just a few re-issued, and no massive crashes. Both Internet Explorer and Offic
[See the full post at: MS-DEFCON 3: Get Windows and Office patched, but be aware of the consequences]

Reply | Quote

Replies

What’s wrong with accepting the Security updates and unchecking all of the others?

Reply | Quote

@wdburt1

If there were an easy way to tell people “click here to install (identified and documented) security patches,” I’d recommend it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, there are so many other patches – many of which are not clearly identified – that the effort involved in manually installing security-only patches would be horrendous.

Reply | Quote

@Woody

I do have a “concern” about KB2999226…any info you can share?

Thanks

Reply | Quote

Windows 8.1 Pro: telemetry disabled, 22 updates in total and only 7 installed. The others are impossible to install. Windows has restarted two times to ‘erase’ failed attempts. Never happened before …

Reply | Quote

@wdburt1

Belarc Advisor look for new Missing Updates

Reply | Quote

@wdburt1

If you have unchecked the setting to “Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates” you will find that the number of prechecked updates that WU will present is minimized. Most of these will be Security Updates. Any update that is in the prechecked list that is not a Security Update is suspect and requires and investigation and evaluation before accepting it. This is the procedure that I have followed and it was successful in preventing the installation of all of the telemetry and Win10 nagware updates on my Win 7 systems.

Reply | Quote

@Woody,

What do you say about the Windows Client Update patches, e.g. KB3083710?

I’m inclined to avoid them (a month or two ago, one of them killed my WU notifications). Microsoft provides no description of them, other than to say that they make “some improvements”.

They don’t appear to have any security implications, but given the absence of real information, you can’t really tell.

Anyway, what’s your take on these Client Update patches? Go, or no-go?

Thanks as always,

M.M.

Reply | Quote

I still have my list of Win nag “updates” that you have given over the past months and I use it every month to avoid them. So far (knock on wood) I’ve not gotten any nags or any GWX panel. My Win 7 computer is free of all of it! I read Susan Bradley’s article and I have not allowed the updates she said cause snooping (they are the same as the ones you gave). Yes, it takes a few minutes to go through and uncheck the unwanted updates each month, but I feel it’s worth it. Thanks again for all you do!

Being 20 something in the 70's was so much better than being 70 something in the insane 20's

Reply | Quote

I downloaded the GWX Control Panel as you suggested so I could run it after installing the October updates (on a Win7 64 bit machine). However, when I attempt to run the Control Panel file I downloaded, I get the message “Windows cannot access the specified device,path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the file”. Never had that happen before after downloading a file. What gives?

Reply | Quote

@bobby8096

That’s a pretty common error message if you’re running the program and you aren’t using an administrator account. Could that be the cause? If so, right-click the GWX Control Panel icon and choose Run as Administrator

Reply | Quote

@Marty –

KB 3083710 and its look-alikes KB3102810 and KB3102812 are exactly the kind of updates I was mentioning to @wdburt1. I don’t have a clue what they do – and neither does anybody else, as best I can tell. If they’re just easing the way for upgrading to Win10, it’d be easy to make a decision. But they may be doing something beneficial. Maybe. Wish I had an answer for you!

Reply | Quote

@Louis -0

It looks like that one’s worthwhile, in some circumstances anyway. See my note in the comments to

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2992476/microsoft-windows/what-happened-to-windows-patches-kb-2999226-and-kb-3083710.html

Reply | Quote

Woody,

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I tried right clicking the GWX Control Panel file and clicking Run As Administrator. That did not work – got the same message as before. I tried uninstalling the GWX Control Panel file and downloading it again just in case something went wrong with the first download. That did not change anything – still got the same message. For some reason, my machine has not been bothered by the Win10 mess. I am not getting anything from MS regarding Win10. Don’t know whether I’m just lucky or whether something else is causing that. I’d still like to have the GWX file on my computer just in case I do need it. So any help would be appreciated.

Reply | Quote

@bobby8096 –

Sounds like you’ve hit a problem with GWX Control Panel.

Could you mosey over to Josh’s blog, http://blog.ultimateoutsider.com/2015/08/using-gwx-stopper-to-permanently-remove.html and post the details?

Or I can post them for you, if you like…

Reply | Quote

Hi Woody,

I have not been bothered with the Get Win10 nagware on my Win7 computer – lucky or ??? Because of this, I have not downloaded GWX Control Panel.

In light of your new recommendation approach this month, is this something I should now consider doing (in addition to Susan Bradley’s recommendation to disable Windows telemetry service)? I usually check your site regularly. I’m not an advanced user & don’t monitor many tech sites. I try to be careful, but don’t devote a lot of time to it.

Thx for all you do.

Reply | Quote

I have a Win7 Home Premium/Office 2007 laptop that is more than 5 years old. It still runs well and is configured exactly the way I want it. It runs a little slower than it used to, but what doesn’t. I don’t have GWX Control Panel downloaded because I am reluctant to add another program that will “fix” everything. As of 10/12, I have the following updates in my update list (important updates only:

3093983
3042058
3080446
3088195
3093513
3097966
3083710 (currently hidden)

I don’t think my laptop is Win10 compatible, but I don’t think this would stop M$ from trying to force an upgrade on me anyway. This would probably destroy my computer and I would hard pressed to afford to replace it (the replacement would be a Win10 anyway).

Any help would be appreciated. I’m ready to give up.

Reply | Quote

@Gail –

It wouldn’t hurt to run GWX Control Panel, just to make sure all of the registry settings are turned off.

Reply | Quote

@Deborah –

Don’t give up. Install the updates, use GWX Control Panel, and turn off the telemetry services.

Reply | Quote

@Woody

1. Re: GWX Control Panel: Don’t have it and really don’t want it.

2. Re: Susan Bradley’s instructions regarding telemetry services – read it; don’t understand it.

Reply | Quote

Hi Woody,

I installed these two updates (they were checked) thinking they were necessary security updates, but after reading the KB articles more, it sounds like the first is something that you’re supposed to test stuff first to see if it’s going to negatively affect your computer (?!) and the second could affect other things. Ugh.

3042058
https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/3042058

3097966
https://technet.microsoft.com/library/security/3097966

Should I uninstall them? I should have paid closer attention that they were advistories and not bulletins. 🙁

I’m also noticing that SearchIndexer.exe and SearthProtocolHost.exe are constantly using 1-5 CPU in Task Manager. I don’t think this was the case before. However, I also just disabled some scheduled tasks in Task Scheduler that are HP related (HPCeeSchedule & MirageAgent (this second one is what caused me to look at this because it runs the camera automatically!), and then under HP Support Assistant: HP Support Assistant Quickstart, PC Health Analysis, PC Tuneup, and Update Check).

Thanks for your help! Please let me know what you think. I really appreciate it!

Reply | Quote

@Jack –

Those are old security advisories. You should definitely install them – and don’t uninstall them.

SearchIndexer may be running because it’s re-indexing your files. Nothing to worry about.

Reply | Quote

OK @Woody, I broke down and downloaded GWX Control Panel to my computer and a funny thing happened. The Windows Update Icon that had been missing from my taskbar for the last few months has suddenly reappeared (not that I missed it). Should I be concerned?

Also, I recall hearing some nasty things about KB3088195. Any further info?

Reply | Quote

Woody,

You say : “I’m heartened by the fact that Microsoft hasn’t been caught (yet) using its new telemetry “features” in Windows 7 and 8.1 to scrape information and target ads.”

I don’t know. I’m in the process of reinstalling Windows 7 from scratch. And I mean : from scratch. I purged both my system and my data drive with the Clean All command before doing a Custom install.

I was at a very early stage in the process. Almost no application software reinstalled. Absolutely no data restored. I went online with Internet Explorer (not my usual browser) on a media site. Because I had not installed(yet) my usual ad blockers, no-tracking add-ons and so forth, I was overwhelmed with ads I usually never get to see.

Along them, there were two ads so specific that they were evidently targeted to me. One echoed a thorough e-commerce search I had done for a specific type of product, shortly before totally nuking my computer clean. The other was an ad for a specific product, from an absolutely unknown, retailer-specific brand.

I happen to suscribe to the newsletter of that retailer. And I had browsed one of its catalogs, from a link in one of its newsletters, looking up that precise product from that one-in-a-million-brand. But that was before I wiped everything to zero !

Let me tell you : this was a creepy experience. How on earth did they find me ? The only identifier I can think of is my Windows product key, paired with the unique string Microsoft computes from my hardware setup, in order to allow my OEM copy of Windows to activate on this PC alone. And, of course, any Advertising ID if Windows 7 has such a thing.

I’m not familiar with ad-tracking techniques, but I’d be very interested to hear theories about how this is even possible.

Reply | Quote

About a month ago I compiled a list of nagware and spyware updates, uninstalled the ones that had already been installed, and hid them. By the time I was done with that, only a few apparently unimportant non-Security updates remained. Hence my current strategy of rejecting all non-Security updates, which obviously will no longer work the day MS crosses the line and starts misrepresenting non-Security updates as Security updates.

It’s simpler than maintaining a list of Microsoft’s malware. And since Windows 7 is running fine on two computers, what do I want an update for, anyway, except to ward off viruses and spyware?

Reply | Quote

Thank you so much! This is a great & understandable approach. Been hard work since the crash & burn updates started. Gave my new Windows 8.1 to my grandson & bought simple Windows 7’s online for my sister & myself. My brother-inlaw gave up on XP and bought a Windows 7 with all the bells & whistles. Helped my nephew install Windows 7 on a new hard drive. Then the force to Win 10 started! 🙁 The Win 7 is my workhorse for craft programs. If I get the nerve, I’ll install another OS eventually. Using an Android tablet a lot for now. Will never buy another Microsoft based product again. Keeping my pc clean. No gwx files/folders, or telemetary scheduled tasks. Your work is much appreciated.

Reply | Quote

@wdburt1 –

Point well taken. Can you publish the list here? I imagine others would like to see it.

Reply | Quote

@Clairvaux –

It could’ve been as simple as matching up your IP address. But there are lots of other possibilities. For example, did you use the same Windows account before and after?

I don’t think Win7 has an Advertising ID. (That originated with 8.1, I believe.)

Reply | Quote

@Deborah –

Yeah, the re-appearing icon seems to be a side-effect of one of the patch uninstalls GWX Control Panel performs. Nothing to worry about – in fact, some people are happy.

I don’t see any glaring warnings about 3088195. Do you have a link?

Reply | Quote

OK, just checked the Updates for this month (mine is OFF all the time on this particular W7 machine)
and came across one that might be of interest to all.

KB3035583

MS site states :

Update installs Get Windows 10 app in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1

So, you might want to mention that this is an checked Windows Update in the Important section.

Thanks Woody for all the time spent helping us all.

Reply | Quote

@Clairvaux –

if you know about browser fingerprint concept.. then pc fingerprint is not that surprise… for INDIVIDUALIST PERSONALIZED customer experience of course… could it be they tag everything, the entire computer and all its parts somewhere in the cloud? you are so important to MS that want to own ALL OF YOU! (p/s how can you run your computer (hardware) w/o MS right?) All your hardware parts has an ID/code/number. And when you call them to activate or online, thats activation code to your calling phone number or IP and possibly location and god know what more background profile building exercise has been crunching. Nothing illegal here. (especially when you don’t know or dont need to know) Just take the vaccine/patch man! Its good for you loooooooooong term…

maybe you find some useful info here…

https://www.privacytools.io/

and adjust to your needs…

outsideofUSSA there are many who wont be surprise by the candy button looking killswitch within the matrix given the political trend and flavor going… PRESS here (then unlock your comp for a fee)!!!

Its a very sad day for many…. did really love Win7 when it has the primary colors – symbolizing healthy life… now turned blue…. Guess every empire crumbles one of these days… when they have no fear of god/goodness anymore… and the animal refused to be squeezed bled-dry… or even remotely touched… at any wrong places….

just my 2c random rant…. find the truth yourself if you want to breath a different air…. on a higher spiritual plane, maybe god is saying technology is evil? HA 😀 you spend too much time away from connecting with God… God created you/us, not MS right? 🙂 WHO can you live without? Where is god in all this mess/testing times? Maybe its time for those enlightening questions of life and the bigger picture for some of us? Peace.

Reply | Quote

@wdburt1

I patch 3 identical Win 7 PCs (same processor, mobo, OS versio, etc)

I only apply patches that are described as security updates, and have done this for some time now.

In that time I have learned that there can be considerable variation between the 3 PCs in terms of the patches offered by WU, the patches reported as missing by Belarc Advisor, and even the patches deemed relevant by Autopatcher.

Sadly, even on identical PCs, I don’t think there can be ‘one list to rule them all’.

Reply | Quote

@Bruce –

Precisely. And when you’re juggling Win7 and 8.1 PCs, the situation gets even worse.

Reply | Quote

@Athlonite –

Yep, KB 3035583 stands as Public Enemy #1 in the war against coerced Win10 upgrades.

It looks like GWX Control Panel negates all of the badness caused by KB 3035583, and several of its henchmen. Or henchwomen.

Reply | Quote

@Woody:

With reference to KB 3088195 (MS15-111), MS has “known issues” listed. Here is the link:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3088195

I installed it without any problems since it was not related to my computer. Hope this link helps.

Thank you once again for your outstanding help for all of us. 🙂

Reply | Quote

@Bruce H:

Agreed. My two machines are not identical and one is running Win7 Home Premium and the other Win7 Pro. What they see in available updates differs. KB3035583 planted its nagware on the one running Pro, while the other one somehow avoided it. Go figure.

I’ll post my list of malware updates, which is compiled from various lists found online (with thanks to those who created them). I make no representations about whether it will work for anyone else. My main point was that not many non-Security updates remained after I was done eliminating the malware ones, and besides, what do I want from Microsoft with regard to Windows 7, except to maintain its security? I’m certainly not expecting them to make improvements in it.

Reply | Quote

Woody. I have Win 8.1 love it for what I do. Have the GWX Control Panel 1.5 installed and the Win10wiwi program u published and no problems. I went to do the Diagnostic thing of Susan Bradleys. Not much experience with the Registry. I only see the Hkey link she gave up to the word Software and not the rest. I clicked on everything and never found ” Windows” as she says to right click on any of the subfolders but did click on the Hkey link. clicked on New and then Key and got a pop up with a red X basically saying I couldn’t go any further. Don’t have a clue how to do this.
Pat

don't know what a signature is?

Reply | Quote

@Woody

Here is the list. According to the online sources where I found these updates, it is supposed to consist of spyware and nagware. I uninstalled and hid all of them on two computers, which are still running fine.

KB2506928
KB2545698
KB2592687
KB2660075
KB2726535
KB2876229
KB2923545
KB2952664
KB2970228
KB2976978
KB2977759
KB2990214
KB2994023
KB2999226
KB3012973
KB3021917
KB3022345
KB3035583 GWX
KB3046480
KB3050265
KB3065987
KB3068708 telemetry
KB3075249 telemetry
KB3075851
KB3077715
KB3078667
KB3080149 telemetry
KB3083324
KB3083710
KB3090045

Reply | Quote

@wdburt1 –

Thanks!

As noted in another post in this thread, not all machines will have the same updates.

Reply | Quote

@Pat –

I’m working on step-by-step instructions now.

Reply | Quote

@Walker –

I think Lenovo fixed its USB blocker weeks ago. Thanks for the heads up!

Reply | Quote

@wdburt1 –

KB3077715? Cumulative time zone update? How/why did that make your list?

Reply | Quote

Woody: Per Susan Bradley’s article regarding Win 7 Turning Off The Diagnostic Tracking Service. She states:
“Startup type from Automatic to Disabled (see Figure 2) and then click OK. (Note: If you don’t see the service, it’s probably because you’re behind a domain and didn’t get optional updates KB 3075249, KB 3080149, and KB 3068708 installed, install that service.)”
Exactly what does she mean “install that service” at the end of her article. What service is she referring to? Does it have anything to do with installing those optional updates that perhaps weren’t received? I’m confused.
Thanks

Reply | Quote

@Doc

It’s not a typo. It’s in one of the lists I found on the web. I don’t have access to the reason why it was included in that list.

Reply | Quote

I went over to Josh’s blog as you suggested to post the details about not being able to download and install the GWX Control Panel. But I can’t figure out how to do it. I’m not very good at this blog thing – Heck, I’ve been following you for years and just figured out how to send you a message! Anyway, if you would post it with Josh for me I would certainly appreciate it. And, if he can figure out the problem, how do I find out what to do next? And thanks again for all your help – not just now but over the years.

Reply | Quote

My Windows say’s it doesn’t have any Imporant updates. Just one Optional update. K83102510. Should i Google the updates before installing them?

Reply | Quote

Woody, I’m still running 8.0 on all three of my machines. So I’ve never seen any of the listed nagware and other troublesome patches, though I do check carefully every month. 8.0 is working fine for my purposes. Any reason I shouldn’t stick with 8.0 until I’m ready to upgrade to 10? I’ll probably upgrade within a year.

Reply | Quote

@Woody —

I’m Win7 Home Premium, and currently have 3 updates on my hidden list, based on your past advice:

3035583
3075249
3080149

Is your current thinking that I should install these updates while *also* using GWX Control Panel to neuter their objectionable elements, or that I should continue to keep these three hidden?

Reply | Quote

@st333ve –

Naw, keep ’em hidden. No sense fooling mother nature. MS may re-release any or all three, at which point they may no longer be hidden. In that case, install ’em and use GWX Control Panel

Reply | Quote

@Vern –

Stay with 8! As long as you can stand the interface, you’re fine.

Reply | Quote

@Krissy –

Nope. If you have an unchecked optional update, just let it be. Sounds like you’re doing fine, just make sure you use GWX Control Panel.

Reply | Quote

@Ann –

I was hoping to have a clarification written up today, but I have a tight deadline on Windows 10. So I’ll try to put something together over the weekend.

For now, don’t worry about it.

Reply | Quote

@Woody, @Jack –
The latest Secunia PSI scan of my system says my Windows 7 is insecure, missing three updates – KB3080446, 3093513, and 3088195. Windows Update is offering me five security updates – those three, plus KB3042058 and 3097966. It would seem Secunia doesn’t regard those last two as being necessary to secure a Windows 7 system. But I suppose I’ll go ahead and install them, since they’ve been green-lighted.

Reply | Quote

@bobby8096 – The error message you describe is what Windows does when it can’t locate (or access) a file you’ve attempted to launch. The latest version of GWX Control Panel does not require admin permissions in order to launch (although it will request the permissions the first time you do anything that requires them).

To make sure we’re all on the same page, can you try the following:

1. Go to my downloads page (this is the only place where I distribute the file): http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/

2. If your browser gives you an option to Run or Save the GWX_control_panel file, choose Save.

3. After the download is complete, use Windows File Explorer to browse to wherever you download your files (instead of trying to launch from inside your web browser).

4. Once you locate the downloaded file in File Explorer, double-click it. (again, you don’t need to run as admin). Are you still getting the same error?

5. If so, press F5 to refresh your File Explorer view. Is the file still there?

There is a good Microsoft knowledge base article about how to troubleshoot this error message. If you’re still unable to launch the program after completing steps 1-5 above, please take a look at this article: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2669244

And let me know if something in that article leads you to a root cause.

Reply | Quote

Since we’re going down that road, here’s my little list of patches to avoid (sorry if it doesn’t format properly):

KB2952664 – Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7
This update helps Microsoft make improvements to the current operating system
in order to ease the upgrade experience to the latest version of Windows.

KB2976978 – Compatibility update for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8
This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in
the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. These diagnostics help
determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows
operating system is installed. This update will help Microsoft and its partners
ensure compatibility for customers who want to install the latest Windows
operating system.

KB2977759 – Compatibility update for Windows 7 RTM
* See description above (for KB2976978)

KB2990214 – Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 7 to a later version of Windows
This article describes an update that enables you to upgrade your computer from
Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) to a later version of Windows.

KB3012973 – Old Win10 installer. Pulled by MS, seldom encountered.

KB3021917 – Update to Windows 7 SP1 for performance improvements
This update performs diagnostics in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) in order to
determine whether performance issues may be encountered when the latest Windows
operating system is installed. Telemetry is sent back to Microsoft for those
computers that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program
(CEIP). This update will help Microsoft and its partners deliver better system
performance for customers who are seeking to install the latest Windows operating
system.

KB3022345 – Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
This update has been replaced by the latest update for customer experience and
diagnostic telemetry that was first released on June 2, 2015. To get the update,
see KB3080149 Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry.

KB3035583 – Update installs Get Windows 10 app in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 SP1
This update installs the Get Windows 10 app, which helps users understand their
Windows 10 upgrade options and device readiness.

KB3046480 – Update helps to determine whether to migrate the .NET Framework 1.1 when you
upgrade Windows 8.1 or Windows 7

KB3068708 – Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry

KB3075249 – Update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7

KB3080149 – Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry

KB3090045 – Windows Update for reserved devices in Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 SP1

And the Windows Update Client patches that some say possibly aid in delivering Win10 via MS Update, and may help with svchost.exe issues:

KB3050265 – Win7 Update Client
KB3050267 – Win8.1 Update Client
KB3065987 – Win7 Update Client
KB3065988 – Win8.1 Update Client
KB3075851 – Win7 Update Client
KB3075853 – Win8.1 Update Client
KB3083324 – Win7 Update Client
KB3083325 – Win8.1 Update Client
KB3083710 – Win7 Update Client
KB3083711 – Win8.1 Update Client

Reply | Quote

@Bill –

Odd that Secunia doesn’t catch those two. 3042058 is a security advisory, which is usually much more important than a security patch.

Reply | Quote

I can’t explain what just happened. I went to Windows Explorer, located the GWX file and clicked on “Run” (no option to Save). It opened without a problem. Just for kicks, I closed the file and went to my Downloads folder (where the file is located), double clicked it, clicked on Run, and it opened just fine. The only thing I can think of that changed is I have rebooted my computer several times since yesterday. So maybe rebooting solved the problem – otherwise I have no clue. But anyway, thanks a million for your help (Woody and Josh).

Bobby

Reply | Quote

Hi Woody,

I have Windows 7. I am trying to update before Tuesday. There are 18 important updates – none are checked. There are 11 optional updates. One box is checked for Windows 10. I unchecked the box for Windows 10. How do I know which of the 18 important updates to install?

Reply | Quote

@Paula –

If they aren’t check, don’t check them.

Odd. I thought Microsoft stopped pre=checking the Win20 update…

Reply | Quote

@Doc

Great list. I plan to match it against mine, which is certainly less well documented. Every bit helps.

Reply | Quote

@wdburt1 –

One that somehow didn’t get on my list above:

KB3044374 – Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10

Reply | Quote

Today, I patched our third Win 7 PC.
Unlike the other two, this did not go smoothly.

WU showed that I had never checked for updates before, and there were no entries in the Hidden Updates, or Update History lists. Installed Updates had the full list, as did Belarc Advisor.

Research online shows that this can sometimes happen, and while it is a nuisance, no harm ensues.

I did see a suggestion that uninstalling one of the Win 10 enabling patches has been suspected of being a new cause of an old but occasional problem, so thought I would mention it here, in case anyone else gets surprised in this way.

Reply | Quote

Thanks for the lists, Woody and Doc. Very helpful. What about the most recent malicious software tool update for 8.1 (890830) and all the Office 2010 non-security updates, all of which are listed as important updates? Is it safe to install them?

Reply | Quote

@Doc

I have a couple to add to your list

KB3044374 Windows 8 equivalent to KB2990214

KB2966538 System Upgrade Readiness Tool

Reply | Quote

@Teresa –

It’s always safe to install the MSRT updates. Always.

I think all of the Office patches are OK, for all versions of Office.

Reply | Quote

Okay thank you Woody. Yup I run the GWX Control Panel before updates.

Reply | Quote

@PKCano –

Thank you.
Would you have a link to a MS article for the KB2966538? I don’t have any info on it.

Thanks.

Reply | Quote

@Doc

KB should read 2966583, not 2966538

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2966583

is the linl

Reply | Quote

@Doc, PKCano, and Bruce H:

You are advancing the sum of human knowledge.

Reply | Quote

@wdburt1 –

Thanks, but I’m simply a bit OCD about what I will (and, consequently, will not) allow on my computers. If I wanted Win10, I’d install win10. Simple as that. I highly object to M$ trying to force it upon me against my will.

Reply | Quote

@Woody, @Doc,
I ran GWX Control Panel already. Do I need to run it again after getting the updates? When I ran GWX, it didn’t find any problem files or folders.
I just checked what’s available for me to download and I found four from Doc’s rogue’s gallery!
Here are the ones I unchecked:
Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3021917)
Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3075249)
Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3080149)
Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3083710)
THANK YOU!!!!
Morty

Reply | Quote

@Morty –

It wouldn’t hurt to run it again.

Reply | Quote

Hi Woody,

I just tried to follow Susan Bradley’s instructions for turning off the Diagnostic Tracking Service for Win7. I did not have a Diagnostic Tracking Service listed & consequently could not turn it off. The 3 updates she lists as possible reasons why one wouldn’t see this service are those you said to avoid installing, namely KB3068708, KB3075249 and KB3080149. Guess I won’t worry about this & stick with GWX Control Panel.

Reply | Quote

@Bruce H, @PKCano –

That update, KB2966583, is a 2014 update, last revised in August, 2014. All the files in the update package are dated May 30 & 31, 2014. It was briefly mentioned in one of Woody’s InfoWorld articles dated August 18, 2014. I’m kinda doubting it contains anything related to Win10 sneakware (is that a word?) or telemetry.

Reply | Quote

Woody,
Thanks!
Morty

Reply | Quote

@Gail –

I’ve been working on a step-by-step procedure, but my machines aren’t cooperating. Recuperating from another hard drive breakdown right now. Hope to get something soon.

Reply | Quote

3080446 on Deborah’s post. I installed this and start up tone didn’t play until I was using the net about 4/5 mins after start up. Uninstalled and all back to normal. Should I just keep this hidden or is there something I’m missinh

Reply | Quote

Woody:

This is an “off-topic” question, however I think that one of the IT techs created a “backup file”, for Firefox, and that it is causing a lot of problems.

The only update I installed about this time (and had problems with) was KB 3021674. I can’t locate any history on this update (MB 15-003), and can’t locate the “all clear message” for the January updates.

If there is no information on this update, I suspect that the IT person created a back-up file. The file is named: “Old Firefox Data. When opened there is a file named: lxrajum2.default”. This file refers back to MS Help & Support for help.

I will check to see if Firefox has any help, and in the interim try to go to Chrome for another browser.

Thanks for any thoughts on this dilemma I am
currently having. I don’t think it’s an “update problem” however I’m just searching.

Reply | Quote

@Woody

My most sincere apology for the last posting I created which has no relevancy to the current issues with updates. You are absolutely outstanding.

You are the “guiding light” for so many of us, and all of your help is appreciated more than words can adequately express.

YOU ARE THE BEST! 🙂

Reply | Quote

@Walker –

Thanks! Happy to help.

Reply | Quote