You WILL have Windows 10 whether you want it or not, as Windows 7 upgrade patches come back to life

Microsoft still hasn't answered the Windows 'snooping' accusations either

Microsoft seems to be getting keener on mopping up the last of the Windows 7-running machines in the world, with the company reportedly re-releasing Windows 10 upgrade patches that are appearing on Windows 7 machines even if the previous wave were blocked.

Microsoft revealed during its recent launch of new Surface devices that Windows 10 is now running on more than 100 million devices - eight million of those in the enterprise. And it seems that the company is re-doubling efforts to make sure it achieves its 2017 goal of placing Windows 10 on one billion devices worldwide.

But is browbeating users the answer? Some may even call Microsoft's methods misleading.

The Windows 10 patches take the form of six files, some of which are marked "Important" in the Windows Update area of Windows 7. End users with Automatic Update activated will download the patches automatically.

The six patches, as well as being responsible for constantly ‘nagging' users to update, have also been accused of feeding system information back to Microsoft.

Specifically, the file named KB 2952664 has been identified by InfoWorld.com as a "snooping patch", its official existence being a "compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7" - but re-issued and evading blocks on individual systems.

Another file - KB 2976978 - stands accused of being a "scanning program", its apparent links with the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program still not explaining why the patch has been re-issued.

Another patch activates a regular telemetry process between the end user system and Windows.

The implication of Microsoft's decision to re-release these patches is to not only to make all prompts to upgrade again visible to those who have rejected them, but also, it seems, to keep collecting information on users who are refusing to make the jump to Windows 10.

Computing has approached Microsoft for official comment and will update this story when we receive it.