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Question

Will Deleting Windows 10 Download Harm OS 7?

Aug 23, 2015 10:42AM PDT

Hello, and thanks for any help.

I have downloaded the free Windows 10 upgrade, but have not installed it. Initially, I thought I'd wait until bugs were fixed.

At this point, I'm thinking of sticking with OS 7 and deleting the Windows 10 upgrade folder ($Windows-BT).

I have been receiving periodic Windows updates, which I presume are related to Windows 10.

Will deleting the Windows 10 download harm OS 7 or my laptop in any way?

Do I have to "hide" or somehow get rid of specific, recent Windows updates, too?

Any info or insight greatly appreciated,

mgmantho

Discussion is locked

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Answer
try it!
Aug 23, 2015 11:54AM PDT

let us know.

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Re: Try It!
Aug 23, 2015 12:17PM PDT

I'm not going to try it until I have a better idea of the result. Cool

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Go ahead
Aug 23, 2015 12:26PM PDT
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Re: Go Ahead
Aug 23, 2015 2:28PM PDT

Thanks for the vote.

I'm going to wait a bit before going ahead. If anyone else can offer info/insight, I'd appreciate it.

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the spirit of adventure
Aug 23, 2015 2:33PM PDT

...is low in this one. Wink

I don't think it would hurt you if the previous build is running OK now.

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The force with him is not.
Aug 23, 2015 3:07PM PDT

Dafydd.

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Administrator Permission Required to Delete $Windows-BT
Aug 23, 2015 3:09PM PDT

I uninstalled the update, and then attempted to delete the $Windows - BT folder, but received an error message saying Administrator permission is required to alter that folder.

Any help? Thanks,

mgmantho

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Just click Continue (or OK) and it'll go ahead.
Aug 23, 2015 3:21PM PDT

You can also run Disk Cleanup and get rid of a lot of that and other temporary files.
`
Good luck.

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RE: Just Click Continue
Aug 23, 2015 3:53PM PDT

I've uninstalled the KB3035583 update twice (sic). I'll run Disk Cleanup again. The Administrator Permission error message does not include an "OK" or "Continue" option.

I'll do my own research, but maybe I should leave $Windows-BT folder alone at this point. I don't want to create problems I can't fix.

Thanks for your input.

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I have to ask about your backups.
Aug 23, 2015 4:03PM PDT

Do you have a backup of your system? If not you should. Sooner or later, you'll need it.
Dafydd.

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KB3035583 Windows Update
Aug 24, 2015 10:33AM PDT

The Windows 10 Update KB3035583 keeps installing after every uninstall.

The update icon also keeps reappearing on my taskbar with the message that 10 is ready to install - even when KB3035583 is (temporarily) uninstalled.

I never should have reserved 10. Sad

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(NT) After uninstalling KB3035583, reboot, Do Win Upd & hide it.
Aug 24, 2015 10:37AM PDT
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Re: NT
Aug 24, 2015 11:00AM PDT

I'll try this, thanks.

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Just hide KB3035583
Aug 24, 2015 6:33PM PDT

and never install it . It's as simple as that.
Be careful though, as I hid the optional update , it came back as a recommended update and I had to hide it as well.
Digger

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Update on OS 10, Installer file status
Aug 25, 2015 10:11AM PDT

When I right click the file, the only option I have is "Uninstall." I don't see a "Hide" option.

FWIW, I changed my settings to "Check for Updates but let me decide to download/install them," rather than automatic update; also unchecked "Give me recommended updates the same way important updates" (sic).

When I check for updates, I receive an error message saying Windows can't check for updates because the computer needs to be restarted and a previous update installed. Yet when I restart, no update is installed and the same error message appears when clicking "Check for updates."

"Your update to Windows 10 is ready" continues to display, even though I uninstalled the KB3035583 update, and am no longer receiving the installation nag notice.

Finally, though I was barred from completely deleting the $Windows-BT folder ("administrator permission" required, though I have no idea who/what the administrator is ;-\ ), the folder is grayed out. Opening it, the "New OS" folder is empty, as are a few others. There doesn't seem to be a large amount of space taken up by any of the remaining folders.

I don't know what any of this means, but that's the update. The bottom line is that I may have deleted the OS 10 download and the installation update, but in doing so may have created a situation in which I can't check for important security updates, either.

Any insight or info appreciated,

mgmantho

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Did you ever boot Safe Mode and used ....
Aug 25, 2015 2:04PM PDT

...that "Admin" mode? Unless you set a password for it, then just hit Enter when asked. The reason it's greyed may now be because you exposed "hidden" files and now it remembers it's a $ file and "oh yeah, I'm supposed to be hiding, maybe behind this dirty window..."

If you don't have an Administrator account other than the Admin in Safe Mode, you should create one that is password protected and then can use it at times like this since it seems you may be running on an Limited User account (which is safest!).

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Another Update, 8/31/15
Aug 31, 2015 1:37PM PDT

Here's the text of my question, posted on Microsoft's site.

Hello & thank you for any assistance.

This is convoluted, so please stay with me:

I have Windows 7 & downloaded but did not install Windows 10. I had second thoughts about installing it, so I attempted to uninstall the "Get Windows 10" update (KB3035583). I tried to uninstall it a few times, but the "gold download shield" would reappear in the Startup menu & the update would install again.

However, at some point I must have been successful in uninstalling the update, because a search did not find the file in "Installed Updates." The "Get Windows 10" icon and notification also disappeared.

Then, foolishly, I attempted to delete the $Windows-BT folder which contained at least some of the Windows 10 download. I believe some of folders from that "root" folder were deleted, but also received an error message saying $Windows-BT could not be entirely deleted without administrator permission. I have no idea what that is.

I then changed my update settings from automatic download of important & recommended updates to "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them." I stopped receiving any updates, at least those informing me that an update is being installed & warning not to turn the computer off. (Update history does show that two updates were successfully installed over the past few days, though there was no obvious indication this was the case.)

I changed settings back to automatic updates and restarted the computer a few times, but nothing installed & the "gold update shield" has not reappeared.

At this point, when I open Windows Update, there is a message informing that "Your upgrade to Windows 10 is ready." I have not clicked it.

****** When I manually check for updates, I receive an error message saying Windows can't search for updates, because the computer needs to be restarted in order for a previous installation to be completed. I have restarted several times, but nothing installs.

So, it looks like I'm caught in a loop. I can't search for and install important security updates because my computer/Windows 7 requires the installation of an update that isn't there, or no longer exists. *******

I'm obviously not a technical person, and again, I realize this problem is complex. I would greatly appreciate any information or assistance.

Thank you for your time and patience,

mmantho