my old PC died and i was forced to buy a new one with windows 10 on it. problem is, it has no option to downgrade it to windows 8. i don't have the patience to craw through all my settings every now and again to make sure nothing was changed on my behalf. i also think the updates thing is a nightmare and i would rather not have to deal with that.
so, has anyone figured out how to make windows 10 at least as useful as windows 8/7. without sharing my data, for my benefit.

i feel like this has been done before.
thanks for your help, if you chose to do so

Windows 8? Lol. Windows 10 is centuries ahead of win 8.

The forced updates are definitely not a welcome addition, but nothing we can do about that except to postpone them until we're no longer given the option (~1 week).

Unfortunately, I believe it's been found that you cannot stop your OS from sending Microsoft your personal data and info, as well as files despite the options in Privacy settings.

Welcome to the future. The OS itself is quite good, but the privacy intrusions and forced updates are something we can't do anything about.

My OS doesn't send my info to MS :D switch to a friendlier OS like Linux

If you intend to stay in the Windows camp, then yes it is normally inevitable that you'll be using their newer or latest Windows version at some point. Most people start using it when they buy a new PC, and it comes preloaded with the newest Windows. Also at some point the support fo the old Windows versions will die.

(I will most probably continue using Windows 7 on this PC as long as it works, and my next PC will become preloaded with Windows 10 or newer. And that's how it goes.)

Or alternatively, you can jump to Linux, but then you lose all the compatibility to Windows that made you a Windows user to begin with. You have to try it to make up your mind if it works for you. You'll have to re-learn many things for more advanced use (e.g. you'll be using command prompt probably more than in Windows, but the basic things (web browsing etc.) are similar in Linux.

Your OS is Linux? If it is then of course...

If it's Windows, it will send even the tiniest info to Microsoft starting from activation. Google "OOSU10", you'll find your answer.

You are in a tight spot. But it is a good opportunity for you to check out Linux, even if it is just to play around and see what it is like. People say that Mint is a nice place to start, and GOG supports it.

Well, firstly I wouldn't want to go back to 8 which was rubbish. I am not a big fan of 10, but it's marginally better than 8. I try to keep best of all worlds, one ssd for each win 7, 10, and Linux so I can chop and change.
If you google remove windows 10 spyware, you will find some programs and details on what to do. That can turn off most off it, and even uninstall some of the bloatware which comes with it. Even after removing all the tiles on start bar I still don't like it though.

Grab a linux distro of your choice and you'll be fine.
Check <span class="bold">adamhm's guide</span>, nothing to be afraid of really : )

you give me hope guys, thank you. I'm one of those who refused to learn anything about windows 10 after learning of the privacy issue. i have resisted the free upgrade for almost a year now, just never came to mind that my trusty PC would die on me i guess.
as for Linux, i already use as my main OS, i dual boot and log in rarely to my windows partition. i'm writing this from a fresh Linux mint install.

I'm just so afraid to connect my windows 10 to the internet lest it show me how little it cares about my freedom.
i cant believe it, I'm gonna be a Linux greybeard

What do you do when the choices are all horrible?

Why would you want to go online on windows if you have Linux installed? What a weird idea..
Then you grab kernel source and start from scratch : D

I don't know. The good news is that you don't have to worry about that because they aren't.
^This. I would immediately disable networking.

Well at least you can enjoy DirectX 12 benefits :)

This. Win10 as an OS is fine, even good. Win10 as the platform MS has made it where they dictate how you can use your computer and claim ownership of it, etc, etc, is horrible. That's why I still use 8.1.

As for "can't do anything about": Yes there is. Don't use Windows 10. MS will get the message. They're already well under the numbers they wanted and are burning bridges trying to get to them [see: forced upgrades].
One should not have to hack one's own OS to control it. It's YOUR computer. If you have to do this shit, clearly the company is not respecting you and your property and you should not be using that OS.