(originally written 6/17/2016, by yours truly)
Even beyond KB3035583 GWX, which I found slipped through the cracks of WU a few times, but wasn't currently installed on this PC (consider the hidden updates), I found this yesterday on my laptop...
[image not available]
Yes, that's right. Windows 10 was listed as 'Important.' Another "mistake" by MS, or are they becoming more and more desperate? I read, upgrades to 10 only went up by 1.2% in April, and they are at 30% of their goal of said upgrades. Does this mean they could possibly extend the "free upgrade" for another 6, or 12 months? Yes, possibly.
I know I wouldn't pay a cent for Win 10. I won't take it for free. But yet, they persist, and it's not working. Or is it? Has MS reached another all-time low? I believe so, with this one.
Here is a current list of updates I check for and uninstall if they've found their way onto any machine. Note, that some of these 'Recommended' updates will require other 'Recommended' (Windows 7/8.1 data tracing/Win 10 compatibility/Telemetry) updates to be installed first before they appear in any given WU. Additionally, removal of any listed updates won't necessarily make your PC immune to the download and installation of Win 10. Read the end paragraph for other possibilities to obscure the upgrade.
They are as follows:
WIN 7
• KB2882822
• KB2990214
• KB2952664
• KB3021917
• KB3022345 (replaced by KB3068708, but both may exist)
• KB3035583
• KB3075249
• KB3080149
• KB3083324
• KB3123862
• KB3139929
• KB3150513
WIN 8.1
• KB2976978
• KB3022345
• KB3035583 (or KB3072318)
• KB3044374 (or KB3075853)
• KB3068708
• KB3076249
• KB3080149
• KB3150513
These are specific, but not limited to each OS version.
I would go on further to registry hacks & mods, but that's not exactly pertinent here. Said hacks/mods are easy to google. I would further suggest implementing or updating current Policies (GPo's), especially since Win 10 is not in the interest of most businesses and can be very problematic.
EDIT: Here's a link to read further into the coercion. Not a long article, but to the point...
https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/GWX-Get-Windows-10