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Windows Microsoft Operating Systems

Microsoft Is Force Installing PC Health Check In Windows 10 84

Posted by BeauHD from the no-thank-you dept.
Microsoft has begun force installing the PC Health Check application on Windows 10 devices using a new KB5005463 update. BleepingComputer reports: PC Health Check is a new diagnostics tool created by Microsoft and released in conjunction with Windows 11 that provides various troubleshooting and maintenance features. However, its primary use has been to analyze a device's hardware to check if it's compatible with Windows 11. Microsoft says that users who do not want PC Health Check on their system can simply uninstall it using the Settings app. However, readers have told BleepingComputer that they have had to uninstall the application numerous times as the applications keep being reinstalled on the next check for updates. To make matters worse, when attempting to uninstall KB5005463, Windows 10 states that the update is not installed, when that is clearly untrue [...]. BleepingComputer has found a way to block the update from installing PC Health Check on your computer for those who do not want the application installed.
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Microsoft Is Force Installing PC Health Check In Windows 10 More

Microsoft Is Force Installing PC Health Check In Windows 10

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  • Remedy (Score:5, Insightful)

    by VeryFluffyBunny ( 5037285 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @06:31PM (#61930079)
    Back up your files & data then install your preferred flavour of Linux. No more problems with Microsoft.

    • Re:Remedy (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Baconsmoke ( 6186954 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @06:34PM (#61930089)
      Unfortunately, not a good solution to the folks out there who use software that exists only in the Windows universe.

      • Re:Remedy (Score:5, Funny)

        by bill_mcgonigle ( 4333 ) * on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @06:42PM (#61930099) Homepage Journal

        It's true. I fire up Windows once a year to run TurboTax.

        Actually I fire it up a week ahead so the updates can finish first.

        • Re:Remedy (Score:4, Insightful)

          by ZipK ( 1051658 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @07:36PM (#61930213)

          I fire up Windows once a year to run TurboTax.

          Pay an accountant to prepare your taxes. No more problems with Microsoft.

          • Re:Remedy (Score:4, Interesting)

            by jmccue ( 834797 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @08:08PM (#61930295) Homepage
            No mods, but that is what I do. A relative uses Turbo Tax and all the nickle and diming it does plus the aggravation and time he spends with it, the little bit extra I spend is worth it to me. Plus I have a real person to blame on mistakes. I doubt Turbo Tax will fully support you.

            • Re:Remedy (Score:4, Interesting)

              by OrangeTide ( 124937 ) on Wednesday October 27, 2021 @12:14AM (#61930699) Homepage Journal

              I've used TurboTax from their website for years without needing to touch Windows.

              But definitely I recommend against using TurboTax. It's not a very good deal. Low quality tax preparation at a bait-and-switch price. It is very fast and easy though, so a good choice if you like paying Uncle Sam a little more than your fair share.

        • It's true. I fire up Windows once a year to run TurboTax.

          Actually I fire it up a week ahead so the updates can finish first.

          You could just use a web browser and not worry about updates.

        • Move to a country with no income tax. Iâ(TM)ve done that for the last ten years.

          • Re: Remedy (Score:4, Informative)

            by nerdonamotorcycle ( 710980 ) on Wednesday October 27, 2021 @08:22AM (#61931387)
            Unfortunately if you're a US citizen you need to file US taxes no matter where in the world you live. Your US tax liability is commonly reduced to $0 because of various international tax treaties and payment of income taxes to the local government, but you still need to file. I think the USA is one of two countries where that's true. The annoyance of filing US taxes creates a lot of headache for people who have US citizenship by what might be called "an accident of birth" and is the most common reason for people to renounce US citizenship.

      • Unfortunately, not a good solution to the folks out there who use software that exists only in the Windows universe.

        Or who, like me, have been too lazy to make the switch. I have a few budget files in Lotus 123 (which runs fine on Windows 10), some Word/Excel files and a LOT of Publisher files that will be a PITA to convert to LibreOffice (and perhaps Scribus), so I've been putting it off. I have a Windows 10 VM on my Linux system, so I could use that instead of my standalone Windows system, but ... eh.

      • Re:Remedy (Score:5, Insightful)

        by exomondo ( 1725132 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @07:25PM (#61930195)
        Do those people really care about "PC Health Check" being installed? Those people will likely update to Windows 11 eventually anyway. If you're genuinely concerned about what "PC Health Check" might do then you're not running Windows anyway or you're running it in an isolated VM so it probably doesn't matter.

        • Re:Remedy (Score:5, Informative)

          by Psychotria ( 953670 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @09:48PM (#61930489)

          I just ran it and it seems to do nothing that Windows 10 doesn't already do except put a bunch of things that used to be in different locations, or required the command line, into a single location. It doesn't even seem to be connecting to the internet unless you click on the related links at the bottom (at least that's the only way I can get my firewall to notice any activity).

          • I just checked my updates and it says I'm up to date, then below that it says "This PC doesn't currently meet all the system requirements for Window 11. Get the details and see if there are things you can do in the PC Health Check app." It then gives me the option to download the PC Health Check app.

            I already know I don't have a CPU that is supported and my BIOS doesn't have TPM 2.0. I really don't care to update to Windows 11 so I see no reason to install the PC Health Check.

            --

          • Re:Remedy (Score:5, Insightful)

            by arglebargle_xiv ( 2212710 ) on Wednesday October 27, 2021 @06:16AM (#61931123)
            The other thing is that when something that looks and acts exactly like a malware dropper from some dodgy "fix up your PC" web site suddenly appears on your PC, your first reaction isn't "gee, I wonder if this is a legit Microsoft app that was silently installed when I wasn't looking".

    • Re:Remedy (Score:5, Informative)

      by Major_Disorder ( 5019363 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @06:50PM (#61930127)

      Back up your files & data then install your preferred flavour of Linux. No more problems with Microsoft.

      Did this years ago. Even my gaming machine runs Linux Mint. Steam has a surprising number if Linux games, and if you add in Proton, it gets even better. I admit my gaming needs are not exactly hardcore but it works for me.

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by JustAnotherOldGuy ( 4145623 )

      ^^^THIS.

      Dump MS and all of their never-ending bullshit and install any popular flavor of Linux. You'll thank us later.

      • The problem is that any modern desktop-oriented distro of Linux also installs a whole lot of software that I'll never use (Gentoo and Arch are probably the only exceptions to the norm and they're not aimed at the general public anyway). Sure, I could go ahead and uninstall the useless stuff that Linux installs, but why bother? And the stuff Linux installs uses a lot more disk space than the Windows 10 health check (about 900 KB including the start menu link) if that's a concern.

        • Re:Remedy (Score:4, Insightful)

          by OrangeTide ( 124937 ) on Wednesday October 27, 2021 @12:23AM (#61930713) Homepage Journal

          Install Ubuntu Server [princeton.edu] and then you won't have quite so much software (and no default GUI). And Debian of course has a lot of choices when it comes to installing only the software you want.

          Clicking through all the defaults on Ubuntu or Fedora is how you end up with the usual 5-10G of extra crap on your disk. But I think most people don't care, or even prefer to have all sorts of hidden gems to explore later.

          There's a bunch of other stuff besides health check in Windows 10/11 that is kind of bogus garbage that no normal person wants. Welcome experience is one, and I think it's fairly large but don't know because I can't seem to uninstall it.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

            Last time I tried Ubuntu I got stuck in dependency hell. One of the other devs was using V18 LTS and the build environment was completely buggered in V20.

            Docker containers might help, but in the end it was easiest just to run Ubuntu 18 LTS in a VM. Hopefully I never have to maintain that code again because I don't want to deal with the EOL for that version.

            • Installing docker and building from containers is probably easier than a VM when it comes to duplicating the build environment, but not significantly so. And either VM or containers are less work than trying to make a properly portable build system. Stuff like GNU autoconf/automake has been around for decades because building portable software on *nix has been a fair bit of work that most devs don't wish to undertake themselves. (I release binary packages for multiple distros and multiple versions. it's my

        • Seriously? Windows installs a TON of shit that most people will never need. For example, MS Fax, email, maps, music player, photo viewer, video player, alarms & clock, calculator, calendar, camera, Cortana, Groove music, Solitaire, MS Money, News, OneNote, People app, Phone Companion, voice recorder, weather, XBox stuff (by default!), and so on...

          Sure, I could go ahead and uninstall the useless stuff that Linux installs, but why bother?

          Well if it's not a problem, then why is it a problem? Either uninstall it or don't. Besides, most distros let you skip or deselect much of what's installed by

        • For most people, who just want their computer to work, something like Ubuntu is fine. It comes with FOSS versions of everything they're already invested in using, e.g. web browser, office software, email client, media players, media library managers, utilities, & drivers for printing, scanning, & other peripherals. For most people, it's easier to get used to the default apps that come with the distro than to look for recommendations or try out the many alternatives that are available. Most people ar

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by jon3k ( 691256 )
          Windows 11 takes 64GB to install [microsoft.com]. Ubuntu recommends 25GB, total. [ubuntu.com]

          I don't think the extra 200MB for mahjong is really breaking the bank on your linux install.

    • Re:Remedy (Score:4, Informative)

      by taustin ( 171655 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @07:14PM (#61930177) Homepage Journal

      If you can make our point of sale system run under WINE, I'll cheerfully take Windows out behind the barn and shoot it in the head, and pee on the burning corpse.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward
        You probably need to do that to your point-of-sale system anyway, especially if it's a PAX given recent malware dropper accusations.

    • Re:Remedy (Score:4, Insightful)

      by Kokuyo ( 549451 ) on Wednesday October 27, 2021 @01:09AM (#61930795) Journal

      You act like finding "your preferred flavour of Linux" wasn't an odyssey in and of itself.

  • The usual "Microsoft feature" question (Score:3)

    by Opportunist ( 166417 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @06:42PM (#61930103)

    Can you disable it and if, how?

    • Re:The usual "Microsoft feature" question (Score:4, Funny)

      by vux984 ( 928602 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @06:44PM (#61930109)

      Well if you leave your TPM2.0 disabled, it'll report you can't upgrade to 11. Does that count? :p

    • Re: (Score:1)

      by Anonymous Coward

      Can you disable it and if, how?

      BleepingComputer has found a way to block the update from installing PC Health Check on your computer for those who do not want the application installed.

      Nope, according to the summary, it can't be disabled and no one at all has figured out a way to do so...

  • Microsoft should have a home license that obligates people to update versions and a professional license that lets you opt-out if you want.

    • Re:MS needs 2 license tracks: opt-in vs must updat (Score:4)

      by quonset ( 4839537 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @07:03PM (#61930155)

      Microsoft should have a home license that obligates people to update versions and a professional license that lets you opt-out if you want.

      Bull. No one should be forced to upgrade/update if they don't want to, nor before they are ready to upgrade/update.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by Anonymous Coward

        Microsoft should have a home license that obligates people to update versions and a professional license that lets you opt-out if you want.

        Bull. No one should be forced to upgrade/update if they don't want to, nor before they are ready to upgrade/update.

        Then don't use a proprietary operating system. Seriously unless you have just discovered computers it should be as clear as can be that pontificating about how Microsoft "should" operate is a worthless endeavour. Spend that time and effort on a free operating system instead.

        Thing is I suspect this isn't actually causing anybody any issues and it's just something to complain about because some people just really like complaining which is why they're still using Windows even after Me, Vista, 8, 10, etc

    • Re: MS needs 2 license tracks: opt-in vs must upda (Score:5, Interesting)

      by alexgieg ( 948359 ) <alexgieg@gmail.com> on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @07:40PM (#61930231) Homepage

      They have. It's called Windows 10 LTSC. You need a Windows 10 Enterprise license to install it, since it's an alternate version of Enterprise.

      Windows 10 LTSC is fundamentally what Windows 10 would have been had Microsoft continued the path they were going in up to Windows 7. It's Windows 10 minus all the BS, having nothing from Cortana to the Windows Store, no ads, and none of the spyware. And only absolutely required security updates are provided, nothing more.

      • Just grab a copy from bittorrent. No MS store is installed which can bite you when it’s the only way to get certain programs.

      • Windows server OSs are now merged with LTSC. I got the latest version running now on my work computer. I still disabled a ton of stuff with NLite, but it's nice to have the hope I'll get no more 'feature' updates for five years. Very helpful for a complicated situation that must not change without my approval. (not too worried about security as it only gets online once every few months for application updates...) And it's free for 180 days. So far so good, so guess I'll buy a license...

        OTOH, my win 10

    • Quite the reverse. Business sales can be more complex, but it should be mandated by law that any product which is presented as being sold to ordinary people becomes their property at the time of sale, and the vendor or manufacturer will not do anything to that product without the consent of the owner. No getting around this with shrinkwrap licenses. If you sell software or anything containing software, you must be selling all rights needed to run the software at the point of sale, or you are knowingly selli

    • They....do [wikipedia.org]?

  • More annoyingly ... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @06:57PM (#61930147)

    I'd like to configure Windows Update to stop displaying the little red "X" and "This PC doesn't currently meet all the system requirements for Windows 11". Forget "currently", nothing's going to change the fact that my system is a 14 year-old Dell XPS-420 with an Intel Core2 Quad, no TPM, etc... (that I got free from a friend) and will *never* meet their stupid Windows 11 "requirements". It runs Windows 10 just fine and I'll keep using it until Win10 support expires in 2025 and then make the switch to using my Linux system full-time.

  • This BS is why (Score:5, Insightful)

    by RitchCraft ( 6454710 ) on Tuesday October 26, 2021 @07:05PM (#61930167)
    I have not adopted any version of Windows higher than 7. It's my computer, I'll decide what I want installed in it. You could easily stop and block updates with 7. Switch to Linux people. I've been migrating for the past year. It's not nearly as easy to move to Linux as others make it out to be but over time you'll get the hang of it. I've found the most difficult obstacle to learning Linux is the community. Lots of "elitists" out there that tell you to RTFM but many times the FM is very confusing. Don't let that stop you though.

  • But only because I enjoy a good train-wreck like everybody else.

  • We shouldn't have to trick our computers into doing something we don't what them to do
  • you can breathe a sigh of relief.

  • Linux, but still not ready for prime-time (Score:3)

    by bradley13 ( 1118935 ) on Wednesday October 27, 2021 @02:05AM (#61930865) Homepage

    Microsoft says that users who do not want PC Health Check on their system can simply uninstall it

    again, and again, and again... I've dropped my Win10 usage to nearly zero, but it used to be that there were several apps that kept re-installing themselves. Some of them were really, obviously important for MS to have on my computer - I think CandyCrush was one of them.

    My current system has a Win10 install (next to my main OS of Linux). I used Win10 over the weekend. Could be the first time this year. Anyway, the machine is slowly getting wonky about booting, and one of these days it just won't. Next machine won't have a Windows partition at all, I mean, what for?

    That said, Linux is still not ready for prime time, and may never be. i don't know why, but it's not. Just yesterday, I told my laptop to shut down. It hung, showing a screen full of text that would scare any non-Linux mortal. I have no idea what wen't wrong, I could still get to a non-GUI login prompt, issue commands, but the thing would not shut down. In then end, I had to power it off the hard way. Crap like this happens ever more rarely, but it still happens, and it is not acceptable for the non-technical masses.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by dddux ( 3656447 )

      You don't have to be afraid of turning it off because Linux, unlike Windows, has a Journaling file system - EXT4, so just turn it off whenever you need to, it will start again like nothing happened. You will just see some journaling messages.

      • Windows' NTFS is a journaling file system. Also, I've lost at least two or three Linux installs due to widespread corruption on EXT4 partitions after an unexpected power loss. I've since banned EXT4 and switched back to XFS which has never failed me on any of the many machines I've used it. The only exception is that some machines can't boot from an XFS partition, so I created a small boot partition with EXT4 and my root partition with XFS.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by dddux ( 3656447 )

          Interestingly, I use XFS on my NAS even though it's not a journaling FS. It somehow just works nicely. Regarding EXT4, I never experienced any problems when my Debian Linux stopped working due to "faulty" [underclocking and undervolting] hardware [I was still at the stage of optimising BIOS settings]. When restarted, it simply found some orphan nodes and repaired the FS. Oh well, who knows what happened on your PC. Different configurations = different problems.

          Cheers!

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by dddux ( 3656447 )

          True, NTFS is a journaling FS, but my experience with it in comparison to EXT4 is quite different. As I said, could be hardware differences. I must have forgotten that it is a journaling FS because I had too many bad experiences with it and don't use it much nowadays.

    • That said, Linux is still not ready for prime time, and may never be.

      Worse is that we're now seeing an industry shift towards more vertical integration with custom processors. Google, Microsoft and Apple are all starting to create their own custom silicon rather than using the off-the-shelf technology from AMD/Intel. Sure they are all based on ARM cores (presently) and Linux can run on ARM but it's all the custom pieces and additional proprietary accelerators that count Linux out as an alternative operating system on some of this hardware.

      Running Linux on an M1 Mac is lookin

  • After I dumped Windows for Linux, I traded in my car for a used Yugo and never looked back. It provides great transportation and I love tinkering with it in my spare time.
  • Thank you for the interesting information. https://www.repairmyphone.toda... [www.repairmyphone.today]

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