Microsoft to extend Windows 10 nagware to business PCs

Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, GO ON…

A new phase of Microsoft's campaign to chivvy users to upgrade to Windows 10 will start shortly as the company extends its "Get Windows 10" nagware app to users running Windows 7 Pro and Windows 8.1 Pro.

However, Microsoft claims that it will only affect "small business and other small organisations", rather than major organisations running hundreds or thousands of PCs - with the inevitable network and IT support issues that may entail.

"Like consumers, small businesses and organisations will soon be able to receive notifications about the upgrade and then directly upgrade to Windows 10 through an easy-to-use interface right from the system tray on their Windows 7 Pro or Windows 8.1 Pro PC," said Matt Barlow, general manager, devices and studios marketing at Microsoft, writing on Microsoft's Technet blog.

He continued: "We will begin to roll out the "Get Windows 10" app to additional devices that meet the following criteria, in the US later this month and in additional markets shortly thereafter:

• Running and licensed for Windows 7 Pro or Windows 8.1 Pro;
• Configured to receive updates directly from the Windows Update service (ie. updates are not managed by WSUS or System Center Configuration Manager on those devices);
• Joined to an Active Directory domain."

He added that Microsoft is "aware there are instances where business customers may not want to individually upgrade their devices", but in order to avoid the "Get Windows 10" app and associated notifications, they will have to follow the instructions in support article KB3080351.

Major organisations, meanwhile, should be spared the hassle, he added: "The 'Get Windows 10' app will not be introduced to PCs in large corporations who run Enterprise edition or who prefer to manage their own updates with onsite tools (including WSUS or System Center Configuration Manager)."