Yes it's "free" but not really. The default settings if you happen to choose "express install" will be set to record lots of info and send it off to who knows where. You can supposedly get an option to turn this crap off (which is why it is free) if you choose the "custom install".

I'm like you still on Windows 7 and like it. I've seen the Windows 10 and don't care for it's look or function. It's bad enough the icon is on the bar in the lower right corner but like you now it's constantly popping up the blue box begging to upgrade.

I'd like to know how to disable that as well as it's plain annoying and is becoming more frequent. I'm afraid at some point it will automatically update and install it and I don't want it. Seems every time I get things set up the way I like some sort of auto update fouls something up which requires time spent to investigate and research a cure to get back to what I had before.

It's what I call the regressive progress.

Hope somebody has a simple cure.