Prevent Windows 10 from Installing on Windows 7 or 8

1.  The basic info and a handy utility (see point 3 below)

http://www.howtogeek.com/228551/how-to-stop-windows-7-or-8-from-downloading-windows-10-automatically/

 2. The Main Microsoft article which indicates methods for Group Policy (or Computer Configuration) or Registry entries.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3080351
    Note, for Group Policy must have the appropriate updated template in use (WindowsUpdate.admx).

     Misc discussion re GP:
     https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-US/d99f9561-3efa-4641-8d1f-1adf1a5bf4d3/windows-update-client-kb3065988-gp-setting?forum=winserver8gen

  And...there are two possible updates one might need:

3065987 Windows Update Client for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: July 2015

3065988 Windows Update Client for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2: July 2015

 3. The Never10 utility, which performs a check and setting of the two registry settings.  Nice
https://www.grc.com/never10.htm
Technical details here:
  https://www.grc.com/never10/details.htm

Sending Secure Email

Using secure mailbox, by web form.

Easiest is to start at Lockbin's "Send Message" screen
https://lockbin.com/Messaging

Another similar site: SBWAVE
http://www.sbwave.com/enkryptor/encrypt.html

Office 365 Logins to Workstations

Interesting Links
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/07/20/signing_into_windows_10_with_office_365_still_work_in_progress/

http://www.tenforums.com/user-accounts-family-safety/28823-logging-into-windows-10-pro-using-office-365-credentials.html

and

http://www.brucebnews.com/2013/04/the-difference-between-a-microsoft-account-and-an-office-365-account/
related...
https://community.office365.com/en-us/f/613/t/74827

An Acronis Fix

https://forum.acronis.com/forum/45058


Ever since version 12, I have been going nuts over the "operations are in progress" blue screen of death (or color of your choice in Win 8, 8.1) when shut down or restart is attempted while Acronis True Image Home is running.

Here's the fix. I have to credit a tech at Acronis with the batch file, and it worked fine until I upgraded with a clean install to Windows 8.1. Then the command to run the batch file was lost. Because my 30 days of tech support had passed, Acronis would not tell me where to find the console for setting the batch file. At the initial install, the tech set it up for me using remote access.

This is one of the failings of remote access. As a computer user, it's not possible to fully understand what changes the tech is making to the computer.

Through trial and error, endless Google searches to find the right combination of words, I final found what I needed.

First, you need to create a batch file called "KillAcronis.bat" Use Notepad or similar text editor:
---------------------
REM Open gpedit.msc
REM Go to Windows Settings > Scripts (Startup/Shutdown) > Shutdown > Add "C:\Acronis\KillAcronis.Bat

/echo off
taskkill /IM Trueimagehomeservice.exe /f
taskkill /IM trueimage.exe /f
--------------------

Save "KillAcronis.bat" to your C:\ root directory. Also, save a copy in your documents directory or other backup folder for safekeeping. I added the two "REM" lines to be able to find what I needed in the future if I have another senior moment.

========================
Install the Batch File:

Open GPEDIT.MSC. In Windows Vista and 7, use RUN > GPEDIT.MSC
In Windows 8 and 8.1, from the Start Screen, type "GPEDIT.MSC"

Navigate in the first panel to "Windows Settings > Scripts (Startup/Shutdown)"
Double click on Shutdown in the right side pane.
When the window opens, click "Add" then browse to your batch file of enter "C:\KillAcronis.bat"
Close all the Windows.
========================

You're all set. You'll never see the "Operations in Progress" blue screen of death ever again.

Partition Tool

Used the Partition Wizard (free) tool, from MiniTool:
http://www.minitool.com/partition-manager/partition-wizard-home.html

Better download page (not cnet)
https://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html

I would consider their data recovery tools as well,

Windows 7 SP1 stuck Checking for Updates

See
http://superuser.com/questions/951960/windows-7-sp1-windows-update-stuck-checking-for-updates

Good answer:

This issue has come and gone over the years with different fixes along the way, so here is my updated guide to this issue as of this date January 5th, 2016

This is what I do when I reinstall Windows 7 with SP1 or have issues with Windows update stuck on checking for updates.

If Service Pack 1 is not installed, install it before following this guide.

Choose

windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe

for 64bit W7 or

windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe

for 32bit W7

Download KB-3138612 and save it where you can find it later

Download SUR Tool save it to same place

Restart the PC and disconnect from internet before Windows loads, this is important because at every boot windows will check for updates in the background and this will start the checking for updates hang all over again and will prevent the install of the downloaded packages until it finishes checking, so disconnecting from the internet before Windows loads prevents this.

Once booted install KB-3138612, if reboot is required do so and stay disconnected from internet.

Now install the SUR Tool package, this is a big package and will install many updates along with cleaning up and repairing the Windows update store. It will also cut down on how many more Windows updates will need to be installed later.

After install of SUR package reboot, connect to internet and do a manual Windows Update, it should work much faster now. Even after these fixes I have seen some W7 PC's take up to an hour to finish checking for updates if launched from Control Panel manually.

If you have other Windows updates issues and the 2 updates above are installed, download this Microsoft Windows Update fixit tool (right click "save link as") run it and select aggressive mode to completely reset Windows updates. Reboot and try Windows Updates from the Control Panel again.

Prevent Windows 10 Installation

Deal with KB3035583
   Uninstall, check for updates, find this and r/c hide.

Uncheck  "Give me recommended updates the same way I receive Important updates."

See
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/03/16/windows-10-stop-upgrade/

https://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/4a0asv/warning_windows_7_computers_are_being_reported_as/

iCloud stealing Outlook Contacts

See
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2010-outlook/if-you-uninstall-icloud-from-a-pc-with-outlook/ac6d489d-8a23-41b8-b4a7-88954910263b?auth=1

When you use icloud, calendar and contacts are sucked into the icloud and stored in a new data file format, accessible only by the icloud. If you remove the iclud addin, the appointments and contacts are still in the icloud but not in Outlook.

When you quit using the icloud addin you need to copy the stuff back into the Outlook folders. My preference is to open the Icloud folders, select all and use the Copy to folder command (copy, because I still want them on my device) before signing out. Alternately, you can sign out of the icloud and let the icloud copy them back to the Outlook folders - choose the 'make a copy' button when you sign out.  (I prefer to do it myself.)

If you choose the manual, do-it-yourself method, use a list view in the calendar.

The tutorial at http://www.slipstick.com/tutorial/merging-two-calendar-folders/ shows how to do it.