Microsoft has ended free Windows 10 upgrades through Assistive Technologies

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 01/18/2018 06:06 PM | source: | 41 comment(s)

It had a good, nice and long run. But the options to freely upgrade towards Windows 10 through the Assistive Technologies option, has been removed from the website, the upgrade feature has been halted.

The corresponding webpage now reports that the upgrade options have ended last December 2017 (MS expanded that towards January 16th). Interestingly enough, if you are fast, the upgrade link is still online, so you could still use the workaround, we're just not sure for how long this will work though.

One Bypass Left

However, this bypass (I think) still works: users who used the Media Creation Tool to upgrade Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 towards Windows 10: with that license for that specific OS you can still upgrade and activate Windows 10, at no additional cost. So basically you enter your Windows 7 or 8 license, and then Windows 10 gets activated.

Technically, this feature now requires a license for Windows 10, and this method supposedly already expired July 31th, 2016. Here again, Microsoft has made little effort to close that option. So you could (if you desire to) upgrade swiftly and cheap.

Should you opt to purchase Windows 10 at a later stage from the Microsoft Store, a license for the Home edition of Windows 10 costs 140 euros and for Pro customers have to drop 260 euros.

Related Stories

Microsoft Classic IntelliMouse Makes a Return - 01/16/2018 03:57 PM
Microsoft started selling its classic IntelliMouse here in the EU. it is based on the IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0 dating back to the year 2003, but has seen a few upgrades....

Microsoft Ends Mainstream Support for the somewhat failed Windows 8.1 - 01/12/2018 09:33 AM
Microsoft halted supporting Windows 8.1 this week, the OS will continue to remain in an &lsquo;extended support&rsquo; for a few years state though, which will be prolonged towards 2023....

Microsoft Fall Creators Update available to all Windows 10 users - 01/12/2018 08:47 AM
Microsoft Windows 10 version 1709, or the Fall Creators Update is now available to all systems that are eligible for the update. The Enterprise and Pro editions of Windows 10 will be updated on Januar...

Microsoft Talks About Spectre and Meltdown Patches Performance Impact - 01/10/2018 03:59 PM
Microsoft states that apps with older Windows versions such as 7 and 8 and servers will become slower after updates close the major vulnerabilities Meltdown and Spectre. However, most users with Wind...

Microsoft States It's Time to Kill Off the Password - 01/02/2018 08:49 AM
Microsoft's solution to the password would be you. In what seems to be evangelizing for Windows Hello, its facial, fingerprint, and iris-scanning system, the company is promoting its superiority of...