14 DAY TRIAL // As we reported to you yesterday, Microsoft quietly released a patch that’s apparently supposed to prepare Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 computers for the upgrade to Windows 10 by displaying a number of notifications to inform about the availability of the new OS.
For those who do want to upgrade, this patch is definitely helpful, but for those who don’t, it’s just another update that must not be installed.
But what’s more important right now, since Windows 10 is not yet available, is how exactly the patch is going to inform users about the release of the new operating system and the pending upgrade.
Basically, KB3035583 would bring a number of notifications and messages on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 that would tell people that an upgrade for their operating system is available, but details as to how often these reminders would be displayed are not yet known.
The update files, however, reveal something that made many wonder whether the patch could actually ruin their experience on a Windows 7 or 8.1 computer. Called “advertisements,” one section included in the patch configuration file provides a hint about how users could be convinced to upgrade, and judging by its name, it’s no surprise that many believed that ads would be displayed on their desktops.
No ads on your PC
This isn’t the first time we’re hearing about ads that could be displayed on a Windows machine, but most of the speculation we’ve come across until now is based on unfounded information that Microsoft has never commented or confirmed.
This time, however, there’s no such thing as advertisements for an upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft will only display a number of notifications on Windows 7 and 8.1 computers to let users know that Windows 10 is available, but no advertisements will make their way into Windows.
Windows 7 still receives support until January 2020, so bringing ads on the desktop would clearly kill the operating system completely, and it’s obvious that Microsoft doesn’t afford this thing right now. At the same time, bringing ads on the desktop would put the world against Microsoft for the second time in a few years, after the removal of the Start menu/Start button, and again, Redmond doesn’t afford this.
Windows 10 will indeed be a major upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, and displaying a number of notifications on PCs running one of these two OSes is probably okay, but if the company goes as far as to spam users with ads on the desktop, in Internet Explorer, or in apps, it could be bye-bye Windows for many customers.