I read about this awhile ago, but now I have actually seen it. Microsoft is using updates to push Windows 10 upgrade files to users computers. So far I have heard about this actually happening to five friends now. Although all are in the US, so not sure if it is happening anywhere else also. One friend asked me for help when he could not delete an email from his Thunderbird email client. Turns out his SSD was filled with the win10 upgrade files. Here is a copy of an article with steps to remove if anyone needs.
QuoteDisplay MoreMicrosoft has reportedly been downloading Windows 10 installation files on to computers running Windows 7 and 8.x, regardless of whether the users plan to upgrade to the new OS or not.
If you’re thinking of making the switch, and have requested an upgrade, that is fair enough. But if you’re more than happy to stick with your older OS for now, you might not be too happy about Microsoft cluttering up your hard drive with junk install files you don’t want. Fortunately, removing these files is easy enough.
Browse the root of your system drive, and you may find one or two sizable directories -- $Windows.~BT, and $Windows.~WS. These are hidden folders that contain the Windows install files (make sure Windows is set to show hidden files if the folders aren't visible). While you can just delete large folders, the best way to remove them and regain space is by using the built in Disk Cleanup tool.
Click Start and search for Disk Cleanup. Right-click the application that appears, and select Run as administrator. Select the drive you want to clean up -- this should be your system drive -- and click OK.
Click on Clean up system files, and select the drive again. In the list you’ll see Temporary Windows installation files. If this contains a sizable number of files, select it and click OK to remove the contents. This will clean out everything in the $Windows.~BT folder, but not in the $Windows.~WS directory (Disk Cleanup doesn’t target this particular folder at the moment). You can delete it manually though.
As for preventing the files being downloaded again, go to Start > Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall or change a program. Click View installed updates on the left. Use the search box to locate the following updates: KB3035583, KB2952664, and KB3021917 (Windows 7) or KB3035583 and KB2976978 (Windows 8). Right-click each one and select Uninstall. When done, go to System and security in the Control Panel, and select Windows Update > Check for updates. Right-click each of the above updates in turn and select Hide update.
BTW - you will know the files are downloaded to your pc when you see an icon in the taskbar for the win10 upgrade.
