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If you find your Internet connection a bit slower and your usage meter spiking, it could be courtesy of Microsoft, which began quietly sending Windows 10 installation software this morning to those reserving a copy for their home computer(s) and laptop(s).
Though not officially available until July 29, some users report Windows 10’s software installation files are already arriving in a new, usually hidden, folder on your operating system partition. If you disable hidden files and folders, you may see this new directory: $windows.~BT
If you do, that is Windows 10 winding its way to your computer. Microsoft is not mass blasting the update to every computer all at once, so there is an excellent chance you may not have the new OS just yet, but it is on the way.
Unfortunately, it is huge, with some users reporting file sizes ranging from 4-6GB per computer, so if you are subject to usage caps or an allowance, Microsoft may help push you over the limit. For now, the only way to stop the upgrade is by canceling the invitation:
How can I cancel my reservation? I don’t want to upgrade to Windows 10 at all.
Open the Reservation app in the notification area (double click it)
Click the Hamburger (three horizontal lines) menu in the upper left corner, then select View Confirmation.
In the lower left, click Cancel reservation and then confirm (twice).
Do not try to launch the installation before you receive a prompt to do so. Those who tried to jump the gun reported the installation files were deleted as a result, and would need to be downloaded again.
we are on a data restricted plan of 15 per month. as of monday night we had used 7.1 of our 15 allowance and our reset date is the 4th of the month. as of yesterday, we were at an unexplained usage of 14.2 with the 7.1 additional usage shown to have occurred between the hours of 5am to 8:30am. some checking showed that microsoft had pushed the download of the windows 10 software through (although it said installation failed) and they completely blew our monthly plan. even though we had set the computers to only update between the hours… Read more »
This ain’t really Microsoft’s fault. They need to do this to relieve the Load on there Servers for the 29th. If they don’t the influx of traffic would cause slow Downs like there is no tomorrow. This is what I’d consider a consequence of the Horrible business practices of these ISPs.