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Solve : Microsoft Update pushing Skype bloatware? |
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Answer» Two updates came to me just now and one has nothing to do with SECURITY or stability. I don't have Skype installed. Windows Defender definition updates also show as optional updates...The KB article documents how it determines if Skype is installed. I'd guess that the Skype that comes installed with Windows 8 may be considered an installation unless it has been removed.Optional or not Microsoft shouldn't be pushing software (bloatware) installs through Windows Update. Doing that is worse than third party software installing adware.Microsoft does it? Bloatware. Package managers do it? Best thing since sliced bread.Quote from: BC_Programmer on March 24, 2015, 02:07:29 PM Microsoft does it? Bloatware. What planet are you on? Windows Updates are for security and stability and not to push out unnecessary software installs.The Windows Update Applet covers both Windows Update as well as Microsoft Update. Optional updates such as those for Skype, office, Lync, Windows Defender, Virtual PC, and other MS stuff typically come from Microsoft Update. That is why they are unchecked by default and appear as optional updates. Microsoft Updates appear when the software for which they are applicable is installed; I see updates for Office, Visual STUDIO, and Skype as optional updates, for example, but I don't see updates for Lync or anything else. Other optional updates include things like the x64 update listed in your screenshot, which only applies to those using JAPANESE or Korean language IME. I wasn't able to get the Skype update item to appear on any system on which I had not installed Skype for Desktop, and once I did, the update appeared (since I install a older version). I was thinking perhaps the preinstalled Skype might trigger the Microsoft Update but apparently it doesn't- I had to install Skype for Desktop before it appeared. I've not yet tried it but it may be the case that the update will still appear after I uninstall Skype as well, if the registry keys hang around. That's my point. It wasn't an update. I don't have Skype installed. It says, "Skype for Windows desktop 7.0", not "7.0 Update for Skype" (or however they would describe a Skype update).I can only see it on my systems that meet the following criteria: 1.The Desktop Version of Skype is installed or was installed previously. 2.The Windows Update Setting "Give me updates for other Microsoft products when I update Windows" was selected. I don't think it is SUPPOSED to continue to appear after it is uninstalled, but once I installed Skype 6.21, even after I uninstalled it the item continue to appear. Could be a Windows Update oddity related to the DataStore cache or something. Quote from: BC_Programmer on March 24, 2015, 06:40:35 PM Could be a Windows Update oddity related to the DataStore cache or something. That's all I can think of. Since XP I have always been pretty diligent about removing all of the 'Windows Essentials' software because I don't want it. I even disabled the Windows 8.1 OneDrive integration. So when the Skype install popped up today I was a little disappointed. |
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