Uninstall Windows Update KB2952664 in Windows 7 – How to

cpu usagemigrationwindows 7windows update

Update KB2952664:

Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7

This update performs diagnostics on the Windows systems that
participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program.
These diagnostics help determine whether compatibility issues may be
encountered when the latest Windows operating system is installed.
This update will help Microsoft and its partners ensure compatibility
for customers who want to install the latest Windows operating system.

Said otherwise Microsoft uses your CPU and power to detect potential problems they may encounter if you move to Windows 10 (or if they force you to move to this version because it suits they agenda for not loosing against Google and Apple smartphones OSes).

They scan your files, and send the analysis to their servers. The problem is that users who "participate in the Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program" have seen their system slowed a lot with e.g. 70% CPU monopolized by the MS scanner, a program named Compattelrunner.exe. The latter can be launched on 100 or more concurrent threads.

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(Source: Microsoft Community)

At some point users want to stop being used as Microsoft's auxiliaries at their own expenses and discomfort.

The usual way to remove an update, and prevent it from reinstalling is (details on Microsoft's site:

  • Switch Windows Update in manual mode
  • Uninstall KB2952664
  • Reboot
  • Get new Windows updates
  • In the new updates "hide" KB2952664.
  • Switch Windows Update back to your usual mode.

Problem: In some cases this doesn't work. As soon as the system is rebooted, the KB2952664 update is reinstalled automatically, in spite of it being on the "hidden updates" list, even if you are in manual mode. Said otherwise it installs without your permission. Some have filled a complaint to the FTC (US Federal Trade Commission) to try and stop this:

Microsoft updates install a program called compattelrunner.exe on my
computer without my authorization even though my update settings say,
"Download important updates but let me choose whether to install
them." Compattelrunner.exe serves no legitimate or beneficial purpose,
and causes serious performance problems (applications running slowly
or freezing up); I caught it on my computer this afternoon consuming
71% of my computer's CPU (central processing unit) capacity. I have
previo…

(Source: Microsoft Community)

Question: Is there a way to get rid of the update, without it reinstalling at the next reboot?


I'm posting a solution, as I believe it will be useful for others in the same situation. There are many online endless posts and useless suggestions. This question and its solution should save time. Self-answered questions don't add to reputation, feel free to post better answers.

Best Answer

A simpler way to stop the CPU usage is to disable the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser task in Task Scheduler under \Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience.

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