There are great guides for win 7 and win 10 on the forum, ones that identify telemetry & spying updates to be avoided - and if too late to avoid installation - procedures to disable telemetry. I am asking if someone might consider helping us noobs, by creating a thread, specifically for Win 8.1 only. A) Identify the updates to block. B) Procedures/scripts/edits if it's too late, and those updates have already been installed. There is advice on the forum, but it seems to be mixed with info about win 7 and win 10. The info. can get quite dense, so I'm hoping there may be a demand for a more simplified and more noob friendly solution. If you do think this might be helpful, please show your support. Bakersfield
cocachris89, You're absolutely right, and couldn't agree more. The problem is, that there are some significant, clear-cut differences. There are updates for win 7, that won't need to be attended to in win 8.1. (Many members won't be upgrading to 10, because of the runaway privacy changes). So I'm hoping the forum might help with a newbies win 8.1 only guide - a post which will make it easier to use/digest/find?
Windows 8/8.1 Windows Update Spoiler Credit: Skaendo Go to windows update, change the settings to: check for updates but let me choose whether to download them and install them. uncheck the boxes / options recommended updates and updates from Microsoft Updates to Hide Spoiler Windows 8/8.1 (updates to hide) Credit: Skaendo, abbodi1406 2505438 2670838 2882822 2902907 2922324 2952664 2976978 2977759 2990214 3012973 3014460 3015249 3021917 3022345 3035583 3042058 3044374 3046480 3050265 3050267 3058168 3064683 3065987 3065988 3068708 3072318 3074677 3075249 3075851 3075853 3080149 3081437 3081454 3081954 3083324 3083325 3083710 3083711 3086255 3088195 3090045 3093513 3093983 3102810 3102812 3112336 3112343 3123862 971033 976932 Uninstall Updates Spoiler Uninstall Updates (DISM) Copy and Paste in Notepad (save as <uninstall.cmd>) on the desktop. Credit: abbodi1406 Code: @echo off set list=(2505438,2670838,2882822,2902907,2922324,2952664,2976978,2977759,2990214,3012973,3014460,3015249,3021917,3022345,3035583,3042058,3044374,3046480,3050265,3050267,3058168,3064683,3065987,3065988,3068708,3072318,3074677,3075249,3075851,3075853,3080149,3081437,3081454,3081954,3083324,3083325,3083710,3083711,3086255,3088195,3090045,3093513,3093983,3102810,3102812,3112336,3112343,3123862,971033,976932) %windir%\system32\reg.exe query "HKU\S-1-5-19" 1>nul 2>nul || goto :eof setlocal enableextensions setLocal EnableDelayedExpansion cd /d "%~dp0" set name= echo. echo Checking installed packages... Dism /English /Online /Get-Packages>Packs.txt for /d %%G in %list% do ( for /f "tokens=3 delims=: " %%i in ('findstr %%G Packs.txt') do echo %%i>>ToRemove.txt ) if not exist ToRemove.txt echo.&echo Non of the specified updates is found installed&goto :end for /f %%i in (ToRemove.txt) do (call set /a num+=1) for /f %%i in (ToRemove.txt) do call :setcount %%i for /L %%j in (1, 1, %num%) do ( set name=!name! /PackageName:!PK%%j! ) Dism /Online /NoRestart /Remove-Package %name% del ToRemove.txt echo. echo ######################################################### if exist "%windir%\winsxs\pending.xml" echo.&echo System restart is required. :end del Packs.txt echo. echo. echo Press any key to Exit pause >nul exit :setcount set /a count+=1 set PK%count%=%1 goto :eof Run the script as administrator. After running the script and uninstall updates, restart your computer. When it resumes, use the script to hide them. Hide Updates Spoiler Copy and Paste in Notepad (save as <hide.cmd>) on the desktop. Credit: abbodi1406 Code: @echo off set "list=2505438 2670838 2882822 2902907 2922324 2952664 2976978 2977759 2990214 3012973 3014460 3015249 3021917 3022345 3035583 3042058 3044374 3046480 3050265 3050267 3058168 3064683 3065987 3065988 3068708 3072318 3074677 3075249 3075851 3075853 3080149 3081437 3081454 3081954 3083324 3083325 3083710 3083711 3086255 3088195 3090045 3093513 3093983 3102810 3102812 3112336 3112343 3123862 971033 976932" %windir%\system32\reg.exe query "HKU\S-1-5-19" 1>nul 2>nul || goto :eof cd /d "%~dp0" (echo Dim objArgs echo Set objArgs ^= Wscript.Arguments echo Dim updateSession, updateSearcher echo Set updateSession ^= CreateObject^("Microsoft.Update.Session"^) echo Set updateSearcher ^= updateSession.CreateUpdateSearcher^(^) echo Wscript.Stdout.Write "Checking for updates..." echo Dim searchResult echo Set searchResult ^= updateSearcher.Search^("IsInstalled=0"^) echo Dim update, kbArticleId, index, index2 echo WScript.Echo " " echo WScript.Echo " " echo For index ^= ^0 To searchResult.Updates.Count ^- ^1 echo Set update ^= searchResult.Updates.Item^(index^) echo For index2 ^= ^0 To update.KBArticleIDs.Count - ^1 echo kbArticleId ^= update.KBArticleIDs^(index2^) echo For Each hotfixId in objArgs echo If kbArticleId ^= hotfixId Then echo If update.IsHidden ^= False Then echo WScript.Echo "Hiding update: " ^& update.Title echo update.IsHidden ^= True echo Else echo WScript.Echo "Already hidden: " ^& update.Title echo End If echo End If echo Next echo Next echo Next echo.)>Hide.vbs echo. cscript.exe //Nologo Hide.vbs %list% echo. echo. echo Press any key to Exit pause >nul del Hide.vbs exit Run the script as administrator. After running the script and hide updates, open to windows update, and check for updates. Block Windows 10 Update and Telemetry Settings Spoiler Copy and Paste in Notepad (save as <block.cmd>) on the desktop. Credit: abbodi1406 Code: @echo off %windir%\system32\reg.exe query "HKU\S-1-5-19" 1>nul 2>nul || goto :eof echo. echo Processing Windows10 blocking tweaks reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Gwx /v DisableGwx /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f >nul 2>&1 reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate /v DisableOSUpgrade /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f >nul 2>&1 reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade /v AllowOSUpgrade /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f >nul 2>&1 reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade /v ReservationsAllowed /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f >nul 2>&1 reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /f /v IncludeRecommendedUpdates /t REG_DWORD /d 0 >nul 2>&1 reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Appraiser" /v HaveUploadedForTarget /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f >nul 2>&1 reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\AIT" /v AITEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f >nul 2>&1 reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\ClientTelemetry" /v DontRetryOnError /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f >nul 2>&1 reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\ClientTelemetry" /v IsCensusDisabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f >nul 2>&1 reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\ClientTelemetry" /v TaskEnableRun /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f >nul 2>&1 reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags" /v UpgradeEligible /f >nul 2>&1 reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v OSUpgradePendingReboot /f >nul 2>&1 reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\RebootRequired" /f >nul 2>&1 reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\Volatile" /v OSUpgradeStartTime /f >nul 2>&1 reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade" /v AutoRebootDelay /f >nul 2>&1 reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade" /v KickoffDownload /f >nul 2>&1 reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade" /v KickoffUpgrade /f >nul 2>&1 reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade\State" /f >nul 2>&1 reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Reporting\EventCache.v2\Legacy\9482f4b4-e343-43b6-b170-9a65bc822c77" /f >nul 2>&1 sc.exe config DiagTrack start= disabled >nul 2>&1 sc.exe stop DiagTrack >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" /DISABLE >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDataUpdater" /DISABLE >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\AitAgent" /DISABLE >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\launchtrayprocess" /DISABLE >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\refreshgwxconfig" /DISABLE >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\refreshgwxconfigandcontent" /DISABLE >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\refreshgwxcontent" /DISABLE >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser" >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\ProgramDataUpdater" >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\AitAgent" >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\launchtrayprocess" >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\refreshgwxconfig" >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\refreshgwxconfigandcontent" >nul 2>&1 schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\refreshgwxcontent" >nul 2>&1 (echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\refreshgwxconfig-B" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\Logon-5d" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\Logon-URT" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\MachineUnlock-5d" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\OutOfIdle-5d" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\OutOfSleep-5d" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\ScheduleUpgradeReminderTime" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\ScheduleUpgradeTime" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\Telemetry-4xd" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Change /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\Time-5d" /DISABLE echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\refreshgwxconfig-B" echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\Logon-5d" echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\Logon-URT" echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\MachineUnlock-5d" echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\OutOfIdle-5d" echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\OutOfSleep-5d" echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\ScheduleUpgradeReminderTime" echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\ScheduleUpgradeTime" echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\Telemetry-4xd" echo schtasks /Delete /F /TN "\Microsoft\Windows\Setup\GWXTriggers\Time-5d")>%windir%\Tasks.cmd SCHTASKS /Create /F /RU "SYSTEM" /RL HIGHEST /SC HOURLY /TN Tasks /TR "cmd /c %windir%\Tasks.cmd" >nul 2>&1 SCHTASKS /Run /I /TN Tasks >nul 2>&1 TIMEOUT /T 5 >nul 2>&1 SCHTASKS /Delete /F /TN Tasks >nul 2>&1 del /f /q %windir%\Tasks.cmd >nul 2>&1 Run the script as administrator.
cocachris89, picolocris, Skaendo, A Big, great, thank you for your replys, and sharing your knowledge with us noobs. picolocris - clear, concise, easy to understand and follow. Perfect! To those who read this thread, please thank the contributors for their efforts and input. Also if any readers have any further info. to contribute or add - your contributions would be most welcome. Q: The win 8.1 Nov 2014 rollup iso (update 3) was quietly released by MS. Were any of the spying updates (that we need to block) integrated in that image, or are they all post release?
if I'm not mistaken, kb2976978 comes integrated in this ISO. Remember to customize/personalize the installation changing the privacy options and change the windows update behavior from there. if you do not make use of the Microsoft services (email tiles, onedrive, and so on), log in with a local account, rather than an online account. All other updates will come after installation through the windows update.
picolocris, Is there a way to be sure if it is included? 1)Is there a list somewhere, of all the hotfixes that have been rolled/integrated into this release? 2) If kb2976978 is integrated, does that mean it can't be removed/ un-installed / disabled at all? thanks, Bakersfield
You can set up a temporary virtual machine with the ISO you downloaded to search for the update and then, just delete it, when you finish what needs to be done. In prompt (as administrator): Credit: Yen > dism /online /get-packages | findstr KBxxxxxxx Replace the <x> with the numbers of the update package you seek. > dism /online /get-packages | findstr KB2976978 1) Specifically, I think not. If so, someone correct me if I'm wrong, and post here please. Telemetry updates, to my knowledge, only this KB2976978 (of all those in the list, in first post) is included on the 8.1 update 3 (.esd or .iso) 2) If I were you i would not mind this update in specific, because it have to do with Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP), if you customize the privacy settings of your clean installation of Windows, this program will be disabled. You can disable it from the command line if you already have one installed windows, with this command: (as administrator) > C:\windows\system32\rundll32.exe werconcpl.dll,ShowCEIPDialog But if you really want to remove / delete this specific update, you will need the certain commands and mess with .esd, .wim, Powershell, DISM, to find the update package, remove it, convert the format of windows image and reassemble the ISO. The tool of the thread/topic in the spoiler ("HOW TO USE") will also help you do this: Code: forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/53855-Windows-8-1-with-Update-ESDs-Repository Newer Version, i think: forums.mydigitallife.net/posts/992731? Credit: abbodi1406 This one also: Code: forums.mydigitallife.net/posts/903619? Credit: abbodi1406
To make sure that the effort put in here doesn't go to waste - and so that as many members can benefit from this work: Can I please ask for contributors for any updates on this. I think it has helped a significant number of people, and so it will be sensible to keep it up to date? Again, a big thanks to all that are help us noobs.
Since we've just gone through a recent batch of updates - could the contributors please revisit this - and see if there is anything to add/subtract and change here. There are many people that are genuinely benefiting from this thread. Again our thanks and gratitude for helping us. Bakersfield.
First of all I would like to thank Bakersfield for starting this thread, and picolocris for the outstanding tutorial. My question is if we applied the third part of picolocris's great post and blocked the upgrade to Window 10, is it possible to re-activate this feature later on, as you can never guess what Microsoft will pull out of its sleeve in the future.
New tool : Aegis-Voat There is also this excellent open source tool : aegis-voat which can be found at voat . co
Hello all. One of my desktops is struggling with windows 8.1 (driver issues). Can anybody point me in the direction of a similar thread for windows 7 pro/ENT? I know windows 10 ENT allows telemetry to be disabled completely (supposedly) - but I am unsure if its the same for 7 ENT.
As I have received a number of thanks, likes and Pm's. I'm asking for contributors to help us update this thread - for anybody that might be doing an install currently. Our sincere respects to the contributors on this thread. It's appreciated by many.