Everything You Need To Rid Windows 7 And 8.1 Of Microsoft’s Telemetry Software

Just when you think you can rest easy, Microsoft decides to release a bunch of updates that once again add telemetry (information-gathering) services to your machine. While not harmful, they can sometimes hog system resources and be annoying in other ways, so here’s how you can purge your PC and — hopefully — keep your computer clean for good.

Martin Brinkmann over at gHacks has put together a comprehensive guide on every step you can take to not only remove the updates responsible for installing the services, but how to keep them uninstalled.

This includes everything from turning of Windows’ “Customer Experience Improvement Program”, blocking specific Microsoft servers, to deleting scheduled tasks and tucked-away folders.

You can complete as many of the steps as you want, though it’s recommended you at least do the uninstall part.

Here are the updates you’ll want to get rid of (as well as hide from future update checks):

  • KB971033 — Description of the update for Windows Activation Technologies
  • KB2952664 — Compatibility update for keeping Windows up-to-date in Windows 7
  • KB2976978 — Compatibility update for keeping Windows up-to-date in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8
  • KB2990214 — Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 7 to a later version of Windows
  • KB3021917 — Update to Windows 7 SP1 for performance improvements
  • KB3022345 — Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
  • KB3044374 — Update that enables you to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10
  • KB3068708 — Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
  • KB3075249 — Update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7
  • KB3080149 — Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
  • KB3123862 — Updated capabilities to upgrade Windows 8.1 and Windows 7

Check out Brinkmann’s post below for a complete rundown on what you can do.

Blocking Telemetry in Windows 7 and 8.1 [gHacks]


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