Microsoft Discontinuing Free Windows 10 Upgrades Using Assistive Technologies December 31st
Still haven’t upgraded to Windows 10? If you have Windows 7 or Windows 8 and use Assistive Technologies, here’s your last chance to upgrade for free.
All good things must come to an end they say. That looks like the case for one of Microsoft’s loopholes to still get the Windows 10 free upgrade. The free Windows 10 upgrade for Assistive Technologies targeted users with an impairment or disability using third party software or hardware. There is no verification process for users who qualify. Users without an impairment could easily use the offer to upgrade their devices running Windows 7 or Windows 8. But the offer will finally come to an end on December 31, 2017.
Microsoft Ending Free Windows 10 Upgrade Offer for Some
We don’t know if this is a sign of things to come for other methods to get the free Windows 10 upgrade offer. Currently, if you have an activated Windows 7 or Windows 8 installation, you can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free; our previous instructions proved it. Here is what Microsoft had to say about its plans for Assistive Technologies users:
If you use assistive technologies, you can upgrade to Windows 10 at no cost as Microsoft continues our efforts to improve the Windows 10 experience for people who use these technologies. Please take advantage of this offer before it expires on December 31, 2017. Source
You would be surprised to know there are users who still are not aware of the free Windows 10 upgrade offers, even after its highly publicized launch from July 31, 2015, to July 31, 2016. Many held out to the very last minute or still did not initiate the upgrade after Microsoft forced them to download it to their devices.
Windows 10 is now stabilizing and starting to mature after five major feature updates; the company is probably looking to monetize Windows again. Microsoft still makes money on Windows from Microsoft Store apps and OEM licensing, but I’m sure the free upgrade must have taken its toll on client revenues. Once a cash cow, Windows has slipped to third place in Microsoft’s revenue stream, behind its Office 365 and Azure cloud services.
So, if you still haven’t jumped on the free upgrade, do it now while you can. It’s only a matter of time until Windows 7 and Windows 8 keys and activated installations no longer qualify.
4 Comments
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Tom
No, stick with Windows 7. I jumped for the free upgrade, and after the 30 day period to go back had passed I started having one headache and problem after another. Tons of problems, crashes, fixes–just many a whole afternoon or evening curing one thing or the other, and sometimes just having to make a big effort to get all of my settings back the way I like them. No longer hardwired into the ethernet, that failed with Windows 10 and I had to buy a USB stick to WiFi to my desktop tower sitting right next to me desk and even with that it’s not uncommon for me to lose internet connection several times a day, sometimes several times an hour. Just in the past week several surprise shutdowns, followed by having to restart 4 to 10 times before automatic repairs finally succeeded-for now. I so wish I was still stable Windows 7, and was so happy with nothing hardly ever changing or going wrong with Windows 7, but now with Windows 10 it seems like ongoing changes seem to bring me ongoing problems, but nothing new that I like or use.
George
Perhaps you’re using old hardware or something? I’ve been using Windows 10 for a few months now and it works like charm. No problems whatsoever.
Sherri
It drives me nuts that verbiage isn’t spent reminding folks that if we upgrade to 10 (especially on my desktop) that many of the programs I depend on (and use frequently) might not work – meaning I’d have to also upgrade or purchase new software altogether!! (Quicken, Excel, etc)
I love Win 10 on my phone….but simply jumping up and upgrading on my desktop would create so many problems. Most of which would cost $$$ to fix of which I’m not prepared to do!!
PoopTickler
I’ll still be able to download ISO’s in case my HDD ends up breaking, right?