14 DAY TRIAL // Windows 10 is now a recommended update for Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs, so more users are very likely to end up upgrading their computers without actually knowing it. But it turns out that Redmond is also trying a backup tactic that could boost Windows 10 adoption in the short term.
On February 3, Microsoft started shipping a new update to Windows 7 and 8.1 PCs that’s believed to be related to the Windows 10 upgrade, although its purpose is not yet fully known.
According to its official KB page, KB3123862 is an update aimed at Windows 7 Service Pack 1, Windows 8 core and Pro, and Windows 8.1 Enterprise and “adds capabilities to some computers that lets users easily learn about Windows 10 or start an upgrade to Windows 10.”
Related to the “Get Windows 10” app
Other than that, Microsoft says absolutely nothing about this update, so although you are recommended to install it, it’s practically impossible to tell what difference it could make on your PC.
Woody Leonhard of InfoWorld reveals that, after installation, KB3123862 generates new versions of Explorer.exe, including icons, menus, and bitmaps, Shell32.dll and Authui.dll.
Moreover, he says, the update could be related to KB3035583, the infamous patch that brought us the Get Windows 10 app and that everyone removed so fast in order to make sure that the upgrade to Windows 10 is not started.
And yet, there’s still no evidence that it causes any modifications to the Get Windows 10 app, and while it might be related to the original update that “forced” the upgrade to the new OS, it’s not yet clear what the purpose of KB3123862 actually is.
In the meantime, if you just want to stick with Windows 7 or 8.1 and prevent the upgrade to Windows 10, it might be a good idea to avoid installing this new update. We’ve reached out to Microsoft to ask for more details about the changes that it might cause and will update the article when we get an answer.
Update: Microsoft has relaunched this update on February 11, so check twice before installing this month's Patch Tuesday fixes because this one could be among them.