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Microsoft pays user S$13k after unwanted upgrade

LONDON — Microsoft has paid a customer thousands of dollars in compensation after its new software Windows 10 automatically tried and failed to download onto their computer.

LONDON — Microsoft has paid a customer thousands of dollars in compensation after its new software Windows 10 automatically tried and failed to download onto their computer.

The company paid Ms Teri Goldstein, a California customer, US$10,000 (S$13,558) after the failed update left her computer unusable for days on end. “I had never heard of Windows 10,” said Ms Goldstein to the Seattle Times. “Nobody ever asked me if I wanted to update.”

Microsoft has been accused of tricking users into upgrading to Windows 10 after the exit button on a pop-up window activated the download rather than cancelled it.

The automatic update interrupted Ms Goldstein’s work running a travel agency. Microsoft awarded her compensation to cover lost earnings and the cost of a new computer.

Users have reported similar problems in the United Kingdom. Accountant Ron Bowen was out of work for nearly a week after his machine upgraded to Windows 10 seemingly of its own volition. “I was watching my computer screen and suddenly it said that it was downloading updates,” said Mr Bowen. He called Microsoft and was told Windows 8 would be reinstated on his computer. But that did not help.

“I turned on my computer and it came up with an error message,” he said. “In the end Microsoft said ‘I’m sorry but something has corrupted in the computer and we cannot do anything else for you’.”

The software giant’s latest operating system is being offered as a free upgrade until July 29 when users will have to pay to upgrade. An anniversary update is expected to be available around the same time.

In an attempt to encourage users to download the new system, Microsoft came under fire for using the spam tactics on Internet pop-ups. Microsoft reportedly denied any wrongdoing and said customers must agree to its licence policy before the software downloads.

HOW TO CANCEL AN UPGRADE

If you have unwittingly scheduled an upgrade, it is still possible to cancel it.

Select the Windows icon on the right-hand side of the taskbar and select “click here to change upgrade schedule or cancel scheduled upgrade”. On the next screen select “cancel scheduled upgrade”.

If you want to go back to your old version of Windows, select Settings, then Update & Security, then Recovery. THE TELEGRAPH

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