I had earlier shared a trick on how to get rid of repeated and intrusive annoying Windows 10 upgrade prompts from Microsoft on Windows 7 and Windows 8 machines, but Micrsosoft seems to be getting more aggressive trying to push Windows 10 to Windows 7 and 8.1 users and it is getting harder for users to prevent the upgrade from getting installed automatically.

Responding to the significant user displeasure regarding the tactics used to push down the major OS upgrade down the throats of Windows users, Microsoft added features to its Windows Update facility which allowed it to be configured and not forcibly upgrade qualifying Windows 7 and 8.1 operating systems to Windows 10. However, Microsoft did not make this configuration simple. It requires the use of the group policy editor (which is not present in some qualifying systems) and/or the system registry. In other words, they created some deep internal configuration options but chose not to provide a simple user-interface to give their users the choice. Freeware utility Never10 allows users use the very same configuration in a simple to use manner. A single click is all it takes to "opt-out" from the Windows 10 upgrade prompts the Microsoft recommended way. The elegance of this “Never 10” utility, is that it does not install ANY software of its own.

Microsoft desperately wants to defragment the Windows Eco-system and is pushing hard to get users upgraded to Windows 10. To get the "free upgrade" message across Microsoft pushed an popup notification down Windows users desktop's, since past few days this got really annoying for me with this blank popup which auto-opens and needs to be closed manually on every boot as shown below. Here is how to remove/hide the notification if you are not yet decided to take the plunge into Windows 10 like me.

Quite a while ago Microsoft put a lid on third-party Windows update downloader AutoPatcher forcing them to shutdown, but it seems the utility is still available and now have been updated to support Microsoft Windows 7. For starters AutoPatcher let users and system administrators download updates once and apply them to as many computers they like without needing an active internet connection.

AutoPatcher works pretty much like WSUS Offline Updater utility but with the added benefit of adding custom modules enabling users to apply registry tweaks and third-party applications complete with official updates in a neat single package.

RemoveWAT would be the most popular and easiest to use Windows 7 crack out their, the hack once applied allows pirates to enjoy Microsoft's newest operating-system while retaining genuine status and receiving all updates on an illegal copy of the software. RemoveWAT allows illegal activation of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 by completely removing Windows Activation Technologies (WAT) from the computer, the scoop is that the utility has now been updated to v 2.2.5 allowing bypassing of Microsoft's recent anti-piracy WAT update KB971033.

According to the latest changelog the utility now features disabling shutdowns on 90 day trial builds, disables the trial time-bomb in evaluation versions and takes care of KB971033 update even it it's already installed.

The Windows 7 anti-piracy update which pirates were fearing is now live getting distributed as KB971033 via Windows Update, the Windows Activation Technologies (WAT) update is tagged important and features detection of more then 70 known Windows 7 activation hacks and cracks informing users of their genuine copy status taking actions if usage of piracy is detected.

However, pirates can still dodge this update by simply not opting to install it or even uninstalling it from Windows Update -> Installed Updates section, they can even restore to a pre-KB971033-update state as Windows creates an automatic restore point before installing updates (seems not to work from user comment below).

Few days ago I posted about early beta build of Windows Vista SP2 being released to private beta testers, and as usual we now have a simple hack which allows users to get their hands on this pre-build of Windows Vista Service Pack 2 before everybody else directly from Windows Update servers.

To enable the early download access hack simply follow the procedure as described:

Microsoft has forced Autopatcher to close, but here is a little known but handy service "WindizUpdate" which allows you to update windows without visiting the MS site, I am yet to test the service but basically it allows you to update your computer without IE and without transferring any personally identifiable information from your computer, few more advantages of using the service are listed on the WindizUpdate website, in future the service plans to provide driver updates along with windows update.

Microsoft is doing it again, users are reporting stealth updates at Microsoft Windows XP and Vista forums, files are getting updated without consent and even while Windows Update is turned off.

The new update has the version number 7.0.6000.381,A user Dean-Dean at the Microsoft forum states:

"Windows Update Software 7.0.6000.381 is an update to Windows Update itself. It is an update for both Windows XP and Windows Vista. Unless the update is installed, Windows Update won't work, at least in terms of searching for further updates. Normal use of Windows Update, in other words, is blocked until this update is installed."

Dean-Dean names several files that are changed on XP and Vista as below:

In XP, the following files are updated:

1. cdm.dll
2. wuapi.dll
3. wuauclt.exe
4. wuaucpl.cpl
5. wuaueng.dll
6. wucltui.dll
7. wups.dll
8. wups2.dll
9. wuweb.dll