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Comment by frik | Hacker News Reader

If Samsung blocks the Windows 10 "important" nagware patch KB 3035583 that installs autimatically on Windows 7-8.1 (except on PC with Domain/AD) than it's a service to the user.

It replaces the Windows Update dialog with an Windows 10 advertisement and it adds a second start button to the startmenu that lauches an advertisement app. If you click the wrong button it will automatically download Windows 10 in the background - Microsoft's way to not repeat the Vista, Win8 and Win8.1 launch fiascos. To each their own, some also like the Ask toolbar that comes with Flash installer.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2907472/operating-systems/w...

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This seems a bit like "the enemy of my enemy is my friend [even if also the enemy of my friends]." Without debating the merits of the Windows 10 patch you describe, surely it's not Samsung's place to decide on the user's behalf to block not only that, but all updates?

Adware vs Malware is an important distinction. No one here is claiming Microsoft are saints but what Samsung is doing (if true) is at best Lenovo level malicious negligence.

Yeah, and they could limit the graphics card to text-only mode. Improved battery usage AND it protects users from seeing advertisement videos and images online.

Windows 10 isn't released yet, so there's no way that I'm aware of for it to download Windows 10 in the background.

Although the language is a bit cagey, it seems like at least parts of Windows 10 will be downloaded before the official availability date:

> Between reservation and when your upgrade is ready, the files you need for the upgrade will be downloaded to your PC to make the final installation go more quickly.

(from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-faq > What happens when I reserve?).

I stand at least partially corrected, that certainly is some vague phrasing. It could be anything from installer files to the whole OS.

Likely to avoid overloading their servers on launch date by spreading out the downloads over the preceding two weeks or so.

I don't know why this is getting downvoted - it raises a good point. What Samsung has done is definitely Bad News, but Microsoft has set a precedent recently that they will abuse the Windows Update app's special place on Windows installations to serve up advertisement to users. If Samsung also sets the precedent that OEMs will disable Windows Update - even if the reason for it here is poor - we might be better off.

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