Concerned by this batch file from an elevated command prompt to clean things up. I adapted it and slimmed it down from the to my eye excessive version at wildersecurity.com.
Text of the key parts of the file below if your system blocks downloads of .bat files, as well it might.
ECHO OFF
REM --- remember to invoke from ELEVATED command prompt!
REM --- or start the batch with context menu "run as admin".
SETLOCAL
REM --- (as of 2015-08-26):
REM KB3022345 - Telemetry [Replaced by KB3068708]
REM KB3068708 - Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
REM KB3075249 - Update that adds telemetry points to consent.exe in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7
REM KB3080149 - Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
REM KB2977759 - W10 Diagnostics Compatibility Telemetry
REM KB3068707 - Customer experience telemetry point. W7,8,8.1
REM --- uninstall updates
echo uninstalling updates ...
start "title" /b /wait wusa.exe /kb:3022345 /uninstall /quiet /norestart
echo - done.
start "title" /b /wait wusa.exe /kb:3068708 /uninstall /quiet /norestart
echo - done.
start "title" /b /wait wusa.exe /kb:3075249 /uninstall /quiet /norestart
echo - done.
start "title" /b /wait wusa.exe /kb:3080149 /uninstall /quiet /norestart
echo - done.
start "title" /b /wait wusa.exe /kb:2977759 /uninstall /quiet /norestart
echo - done.
start "title" /b /wait wusa.exe /kb:3068707 /uninstall /quiet /norestart
echo - done.
timeout 10
echo ... COMPLETED (please remember to REBOOT, and Hide the Following KB Updates)
echo ...3022345
echo ...3068708
echo ...3075249
echo ...3080149
echo ...2977759
echo ...3068707
echo - done.
pause
REM --- EOF
For Windoze 10 there’s: https://github.com/dfkt/win10-unfuck
But seriously folks… Use Linux. If you need simplicity of operation and upkeep try Linux Mint. (ubuntu-based). You can run it off a LiveCD before you install it, or install it in a separate partition if you feel insecure without MicroSoft stalking you. Even an old computer from XP days will run like a supercomputer if you install the XFCE desktop in Linux, and if you absolutely need to run Windoze-specific software WINE works like a charm, even on exotic GUI software like my Acoustica Mixcraft digital audio studio.
WINE doesn’t claim great compatibility with WordPerfect. That’s my biggest obstacle to Linux. (The second is my hope to get Dragon Dictate working some day….)
by neglecting all of the “compatibility updates” you are including a shitload of telemetry gathering.
just using a very basic, common sense, logical explanation of what a “compatibility update” means:
it means microsoft CHECKS YOUR COMPUTER to see if it is compatible to update to windows 8/8.1/10.
in other words, it gathers information about your computer, such as the state of various hardware components, including details from your NIC.
the point is: compatibility updates are *ALL* telemetry gathering software.
EVEN IF the goal of that telemetry is to genuinely determine if your computer can be upgraded, the result is still the same: MS is gathering the data, regardless of whether or not the purpose is to respond with a “yes you can upgrade” response.
in terms of going overboard:
there are a few updates that update the intel microcode and give MS more control over the operation of your CPU. IE9 uninstall might be overboard, even if the browser itself is riddled with spyware or unstable or clunky.
all of the nagware are also, de facto, telemetry, as they BY DEFINITION tell microsoft that you still have Windows 7 installed.