Microsoft pays $10,000 for unwanted Windows 10 update

Microsoft has agreed to pay $10,000 (£7,500) to a Windows user after its latest operating system left her machine unusable for several days.

Teri Goldstein, a Californian business owner, sued the company after Windows 10 tried and failed to automatically download itself onto her PC, rendering the computer useless and compromising her business.

She said she had "never heard of Windows 10" nor given anyone or anything permission for the upgrade, reports the Daily Telegraph.

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Microsoft agreed the payment to cover the cost of lost earnings and a new computer.

While in the grand scheme of things, the story and pay-out are small, it's indicative of the larger criticism levelled at Microsoft for some time now – that it is nagging and sneakily tricking users into Windows 10 updates they may not want.

Many users have complained about what they say is the company's "aggressive" strategy to get people to upgrade, says The Verge.

Windows 10 became a "recommended download" last October, meaning those with automatic updates enabled found themselves unwittingly downloading it.

Microsoft has also been strongly criticised for its use of pop-up boxes – in one, users thought they were selecting to reject the OS but instead began the download, while another offered two options, both of them to upgrade.

The BBC adds that in February, Microsoft bundled Windows 10 into a security upgrade that users had to opt out of manually.

Many users do not want to upgrade because Windows 10 cannot run on their system, it may invalidate key software or because of concerns over the operating system's tracking and data-mining features, says the broadcaster.

"Many users feel that Windows 10 is being forced on them," agrees Alphr, which says the company has "been a bit too heavy-handed".