Microsoft's Annoying Push for Windows 10 'Reservation'

If you have Windows 7 or 8, you've probably received a notification and icon in your System Tray to reserve Windows 10.  It will be free for one year after the proposed release July 29.  As I've said in my initial evaluation of Win 10, go ahead and reserve. Free is free, and you won't (hopefully) have to install at Microsoft's timing. Windows 7 and Windows 8 will be around for a long time ( 2020 and 2023, respectively - see Windows Lifecycles ), but if and when you decide to upgrade, you'll have it.

As I understand it, you don't even have to reserve to get the free upgrade. But what's annoying is that Microsoft installed the notification software as a Critical Update, and you can't easily get rid of it. It will haunt you in your System Tray until Microsoft decides it shouldn't.

If you want to get rid of it, you need to uninstall the update and block it from reinstalling.  It's Update KB3035583.  Instructions on getting rid of it are nicely explained in "What is the “Get Windows 10″ Tray Item and How Do You Remove It?" ; however, the article doesn't mention that you need to keep it from automatically reinstalling.

After uninstalling the the update and restarting your computer, go to Windows Updates and Check for Updates.  If update KB3035583 reappears in the list,  right click on it and select "Hide".

That should take care of it until they force another on us.