Microsoft really wants you to run Windows 10 - so much so that it's downloading the upgrade to the new OS to users' machines without even asking them.
Windows 10 was first released at the end of July, and anyone wanting to upgrade from Windows 7 or 8 could do so for free.
AnInquirer reader reported finding the full download of Windows 10 in a folder on his PC, despite not asking for the upgrade or even "reserving" a copy, as Microsoft has been hassling many users to do via a pop-up.
The reader was sure of this as he has no plans to upgrade, but discovered a hidden folder taking up 6GB of space after his internet connection slowed to a crawl for a week.
The auto-download is no bug - Microsoft admitted it's intentional."For individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they'll need if they decide to upgrade," the company told theGuardian.
That suggests anyone automatically running Windows Update will get the OS installation files, whether they plan to upgrade or not. While it's a time-saver for anyone who does decide to upgrade, as they don't need to wait for the download, it could be problematic for those on slow broadband or for those on devices such as convertible tablet/laptops with limited storage space.
This isn't the first controversy around Microsoft meddling to hit Windows 10, with complaints surrounding default privacy settings in the new OS after it was discovered Cortana was listening to everything you say, advertisers can track you across the OS and Microsoft online platforms, and more data is being sent for diagnostics than many realise.
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