14 DAY TRIAL // Forced Windows 10 upgrades are still causing trouble for Microsoft, and now a former Windows 7 user from Albuquerque, New Mexico is suing the company because he wants to go back to his previous operating system.
Frank Dickman says his Windows 7 computer was upgraded to Windows 10 automatically, but the new operating system made it completely useless. The lawsuit reveals that the Asus 54L notebook “became non-functional” after the upgrade to Windows 10, and now the man is ready to sue both Microsoft and CEO Satya Nadella unless the company gives him back Windows 7. Or $600 million in damages.
As The Reg notes, Dickman wants to just downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 7 with a digital download and an activation code offered by Microsoft, and unless the software giant complies in 30 days, it moves this dispute to court.
$600 million in damages
Dickman says Microsoft should pay $600 million in damages if he’s not allowed to go back to Windows 7 after his computer was automatically upgraded to Windows 10.
“The only sensible remedy is for Microsoft Corporation to supply the OEM version of its operating system by download from its website and confirmed by the key code which came with the computer,” the lawsuit documents read.
“Failure of Microsoft Corporation and its CEO (Satya Nadella) to provide this function within thirty days of the provided summons should yield a payment from the two defendants to the plaintiff of a remedy... of six hundred million dollars.”
As the cited source notes, it’s hard to believe Microsoft would be forced to pay more than half a billion in damages, but on the other hand, the company is expected to seek a settlement in some way or another.
This wouldn’t be the first time Microsoft has to pay due to forced upgrades to Windows 10. In a 2016 case started by a woman in California, Microsoft agreed with a $10,000 settlement after her computer was upgraded to the latest OS without her consent.