Now the big question will be what updates do I allow???

I was happy to lean how to kill the Skype update. My Win 7 has wanted me to install Skype for over a year. I need Skype like I need a Barbie app. The computer does not even have a camera or microphone hooked up.

Call Microsoft and ask for "Vince"... sounds reasonable :)

I'll PM him:D

I'd be concerned about getting a virus from "Vince."

Nah, seriously. I called them at their software tech support line. Told them nicely if I woke up with Win10, I'd drive to the main Redmond campus and throw the PC through a window. No kiddin'.

The phony "Windows Tech support" didn't call me.

"Vince" spoke good English. The only drag was that after uninstalling the KBwhatsitnumber update, the system took a while to reboot.
He went through the installed updates, found the stuff, did some registry edits, took care of GWX.exe, and took care of the nagging popup that comes up every few hours for me.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ie/gp/customer-service-phone-numbers/en-us

Good reading here:

Microsoft Reveals Real Cost Of 'Free' Windows 10

Thanks to advise here from friendly Pelicans, I have Linux Ubuntu running one one laptop and working on Linux Mint for 2 others......Might need someone to hold my hand on putting an "ISO" file to boot from USB?

Sooo, has anybody actually had this happen? Know of anybody that has had this ACTUALLY happen?

When I checked the available updates on some of my computers at work there was an optional update called Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro and the box to select it for installation was ALREADY pre-checked, which suggests to me that the next time the computer were to be shut down this update would occur. I unchecked it and hid this update.

edit: I'm keeping my eyes peeled for this automatically selected 'optional' update to show up on other computers. I feel better that I could hide it from future updates. where I have caught it so far. Not sure if the GWX file is a prerequisite to receiving the Upgrade to Win10 upgrade download... I hope it is otherwise we are going to have to scrutinize every update before allowing them at shutdown. Very frustrating at work because I know I'm going to have 10 staff members asking me everyday about which updates to install and I'll have to check carefully for MS shenanigans.

I have found out that unless you get the KB3035583 update on your blocked list (hide it from Windows Update), the GWX folder, the task bar icon and the constant reminders to upgrade to Win10 will be reinstalled over and over. You have to uninstall the KB3035583 update from installed updates and then run Check for Updates again. Review the updates Windows has found for your computer and KB3035583 will be on the list of important updates again to be reinstalled next reboot. Find it and hide it, then you can hope to remove the GWX folder (in C:/Windows/sys32/GWX) permanently. First stop the GWX.exe program and reassign ownership of the GWX folder to delete. It's like chasing down a frickin virus, I swear. Microsoft should name their next release Skynet!

Another reason to not "upgrade"
Windows 10 will keep spying on you no matter how hard you try to stop it | Fox News