2016/02/04

UpdateGate KB2952664, KB2976978, KB3135445 and KB3123862 2016/02/02 versions

Microsoft is currently rolling out several new Windows Updates that are clearly aimed at pushing Windows 10 to existing Windows 7 and Windows 8.x system. And it begins to become more aggressive each time.

Namely, these updates are KB2952664, KB2976978, KB3123862 and KB3135445

They are (almost all) optional.
For now... But there is something very weird.
Check below.


Here is what can be read on the support pages for these updates, as well as some details that we were able to gather about them:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2952664

Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7

This update helps Microsoft make improvements to the current operating system in order to ease the upgrade experience to the latest version of Windows.

The optional update says:

Revision=200
UpdateID=319a03fd-297c-4eec-8d65-141dd3c731ac
Last Deployment Change Time=2016/02/02  (YYYY/MM/DD)
Download Priority=2
IsMandatory=False


























And the Important Update says:

Revision=203
UpdateID=63125ada-6f8c-4cba-af12-f2704f24fae4
Last Deployment Change Time=2016/01/12   (YYYY/MM/DD)
Download Priority=2
IsMandatory=False





























You read correctly!
There can be two versions of KB2952664 pushed simultaneously. v203 is an important update while v200 is an optional update. Usually however, you should get only the latest one.


We have the same pattern for KB2976978, which is to Windows 8 what KB2952664 is to Windows 7.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2976978

Compatibility update for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8

This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program. These diagnostics help determine whether compatibility issues may be encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed. This update will help Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility for customers who want to install the latest Windows operating system.

Optional update says:

Revision=200
UpdateID=3514a1d0-3356-4598-b4f7-5dedacb645d8
Last Deployment Change Time=2016/02/02    (YYYY/MM/DD)
Download Priority=2
IsMandatory=False


and important update says:

Revision=201
Update ID=f3b7944b-c9bb-4ea3-9d9a-22b76e35f48b
Last Deployment Change Time=2016/01/12   (YYYY/MM/DD)
Download Priority=2
IsMandatory=False




Now the two other updates that are related to "updategate" upgrade to Windows 10 are the following:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3123862

Updated capabilities to upgrade Windows 8.1 and Windows 7

The update adds capabilities to some computers that lets users easily learn about Windows 10 or start an upgrade to Windows 10. Before you install this update, see the Prerequisites section. For more information about Windows 10, see Windows 10.

Identity Revision=202
Identity UpdateID=e347fcd7-3075-4818-99fb-0eb7367554cb
Last Deployment Change Time=2016/02/03   (YYYY/MM/DD)
Download Priority=2
IsMandatory=False



https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3135445

Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: February 2016

This article describes an update that contains some improvements to Windows Update Client in Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.

Identity Revision=200
Identity UpdateID=a4bc0109-346e-4af2-b13c-6cf5ea04f694
Last Deployment Change Time=2016/02/02    (YYYY/MM/DD)
Download Priority=2
IsMandatory=False



So far, the two last updates are marked optional, meaning that they should not get installed on too many systems by default. We advise users who do not want to upgrade to Windows 10 not to install these updates.


Systems that have opted-out the upgrade to Windows 10 with win10wiwi should not have any problem with these updates, as the core upgrade engine has been disabled. But if you have any doubt or if you feel that your Windows 7 or Windows 8 systems became slower lately (since the upgrade process can take quite a lot of resources), you can re-run win10wiwi again, it will not do any harm. And it will prevent the two versions of KB2952664 to be offered to your system.


However, win10wiwi ecosystem will soon be updated to take these new updates and this new behavior into account.


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