*last updated 24OCT2016
Well it’s official. The Diagnostics Tracking Service is now a permanent part Windows 7.
Microsoft first introduced DiagTrack with KB3022345. Then they tried to sneak it back in with KB3068708 and again with KB3080149.
With these patches you could install or uninstall them and everything else was fine.
Now it is back with KB3192403 – October 2016 Preview of Monthly Quality Rollup for Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1.
As the name suggests, this update is a preview of what is to come and is an optional update. It will become a standard update next month.
So, if you are a responsible and intelligent Windows user who keeps your system patched you are stuck with DiagTrack being installed. Since as Mary Jo put it, “Each monthly rollup will supersede the previous month’s rollup. The ultimate goal is for these monthly rollups to become fully cumulative, which will happen as the team adds patches released in the past, so users need only to install the latest single rollup.”
Now you must disable it via services.msc or in the registry.
Aren’t update rollups awesome! Welcome to the new Microsoft, “Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated.”
Diagnostics Tracking Service
“Start”=dword:00000002 is default . 2=auto, 3=manual, 4=disabled
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DiagTrack
“Start”=dword:00000004
*edit 25OCT2016
I’m not sure what the confusion is but apparently I did not make myself clear above…
DISABLE this via the Services snap-in (services.msc) or manually via the registry. I provided the key above.
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For some time now I’ve been seeing posts about disabling the Diagnostics Tracking Service in Windows 7.
This is unnecessary. Uninstall it instead.
Go to Control Panel > Windows Update > Installed updates (bottom left of windows) > find and uninistall KB3022345 (right-click > Uninstall)
Re-run Windows update > find KB3022345 and hide it (right-click > Hide update)
Microsoft continues to play games with its customers. The new update is below.
Go to Control Panel > Windows Update > Installed updates (bottom left of windows) > find and unnistall KB3080149 and/or KB3068708 (right-click > Uninstall)
Re-run Windows update > find KB3080149 and/or KB3068708 and hide it (right-click > Hide update)
Done
Diagnostics Tracking Service
“Start”=dword:00000002 is default . 2=auto, 3=manual, 4=disabled
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DiagTrack
“Start”=dword:00000004
More info: KB3080149 – Update for customer experience and diagnostic telemetry
Look out: Microsoft shifts Windows 10 to ‘Recommended’ update, automatic download
By Joel Hruska on February 2, 2016 at 4:12 pm
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/222326-look-out-microsoft-shifts-windows-10-to-recommended-update-automatic-download
“Microsoft has been increasingly aggressive in its attempts to push consumers to download Windows 10. Starting today, the company is upping the ante once again. As of now, Windows 10 is now classified as a “Recommended” update, which means many Windows 7 and 8.1 users will download and begin the installation automatically.
By default, Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 shipped with updates enabled and a second box — “Give me Recommended updates the same way I receive important updates” checked as well. Plenty of users have changed these settings, but you can bet millions of people haven’t. We’ve written before about the power of defaults, and in this case, leaving automatic updates on has been a good idea for many users.”