windows 10 free upgrade for customers who use assisstive technologies
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windows 10 free upgrade for customers who use assisstive technologies
That’s finished, but you may still be able to get a free upgrade to 10.
Read all of this reply:
Thank you for your interest in Windows 10. The free upgrade offer extension for Windows 7 and Windows 8 customers who use assistive technologies expired on December 31, 2017. As an alternative, Windows 10 software and devices are available for purchase from retail and online stores. In case you have other questions, we are providing some references to resources and frequently asked questions regarding assistive technologies and Windows 10 that might be of interest.
They actually kept it open until the 16-17th of Jan, 2018.
The free upgrade to Windows 10 offer from Microsoft expired on the 29th July, 2016.
But Microsoft has a number of exceptions in place for users that missed out on the free upgrade and they have currently not stated any end date to these exceptions (except for Assistive Technologies which has ended), but will adjust as necessary.
You will have to contact MS support and they may be able to assist you with a free upgrade to 10..
Also read this information:
But first make sure that you have the correct system requirements and that your Computer Manufacturer supplies the correct Drivers for 10.
» Windows 10 System Requirements»
If/When Microsoft withdraws the exception/s:
How to buy Windows 10:
Bill Smithers — Microsoft MVP July 2013 — Dec 2020
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hi Annie. I’m Greg, an installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.
While the free Upgrade ended 3 years ago, we have not heard that the ability to activate the free copy using the Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 Product Key has ended it’s extended grace period yet.
Here is what I’d do:
Save a System Image backup of your old install so you can go back in 20 minutes if desired: https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/7363/macrium-re.
do a Clean Install following the illustrated steps in this link which include everything that works best in Windows 10: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki.
Skip the Product Key during install and afterwards use the old Product Key to activate.
You can also try upgrading in-place by installing the Media Creation Tool from this link choosing Download Tool Now, install the tool, open it and choose Upgrade this PC Now. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.
I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it’s resolved.
________________________________________________________
Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.
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Over 100,000 helped in forums in 10 years
I do not quit for those who are polite and cooperative.
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How to get the Windows 10 Free upgrade + assistive technologies free upgrade availability after July 29th 2016
Technical Level : Basic
Microsoft will release Windows 10 its next generation operating system on July 29th 2015
Please note that after July 29th 2016 the free upgrade offer ended, however it is still active for users of assistive technologies.
Learn how Windows 10 will be distributed and what you need to do to reserve your free copy.
Windows 10 free upgrade for customers who use assistive technologies
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade
Windows 10 Upgrade Requirements:
Windows 8 users must have Windows 8.1 with Update 1 installed.
Read the following article:
To check if the necessary Windows Updates have been installed:
First verify that you have IE11 installed? If not then download and install IE11: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/ie-11-worldwide-languages
1) Verify that for Windows 8.1 KB3035583 and KB2976978 are installed.
(KB3035583 and KB2952664 for Windows 7)
Open Windows Update as follows:
Right click on ‘Start’ / Control Panel / Windows Updates and in the bottom left corner click on the ‘Installed Updates’ link.
In the upper right corner there is a ‘Search Installed Update’ box. Enter the appropriate pair of KB numbers (one at a time) for your version of Windows. Example: KB3035583
Note: If these updates were installed within the last week continue on to step #2, otherwise un-install both updates and re-install them and then continue to step #2.
2) Open Windows ‘Task Scheduler’ (Start / Computer / Manage) and navigate to:
Computer Management / System Tools / Task Scheduler / Task Scheduler Library / Microsoft / Windows / Application Experience
3) Right click on ‘Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser’ and select the ‘Run’ option. You may need to wait anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes or more for the task to complete and return to the ‘Ready’ Status. Press the F5 key to refresh the ‘Status’ about every 10 minutes.
4) Open File Explorer in Windows 8.1 and navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\GWX folder. Right click on the GWX.exe file and select the ‘Run as administrator’ option. Click ‘Yes’ when prompted.
5) Let the computer idle, keep your laptop connected to AC power and about 1 hour (take a good movie break), more if you have a slower computer (about 2 hours to play it safe) and if the GWX icon is still not displayed, shut you device totally down (do not hibernate or go into Sleep mode) for the night.
6) The next day power on the computer and wait about 30 minutes, the GWX icon should now be visible.
7) Click on the GWX icon in the taskbar and view the 6 slide presentation. You’re now ready to immediately make your reservation or wait a while as it’s a free upgrade for a year starting on July 29th, 2015
The Get Windows 10 app will provide with a tutorial of how the reservation works.
•Reserve your FREE upgrade to Windows 10 now. It will download* once available, and you can cancel your reservation at any time.
•You’ll get a notification after Windows 10 is downloaded to your device. Install it right away or pick a time that’s good for you.
•After it’s installed, Windows 10 is all yours.
Learn more about the new features:
Windows 10 Faqs:
Additional Wiki articles you may want to read:
How to upgrade to Windows 10 for free in 2020 [QUICK STEPS]
Microsoft announced that the Windows 10 free upgrade offer ended on December 31.
As a quick reminder, the Redmond giant initially introduced this loophole to allow assistive technology users to install the latest Windows 10 version for free.
Later on it was proved that all Windows users could take advantage of this loophole to upgrade to Windows 10 at no cost.
Of course, some said that Microsoft had been aware of this fact from the very beginning and used it as an incentive to convince more users to install the latest Windows 10 version.
But what happens in 2020? Is the free upgrade offer really over?
Can I still upgrade to Windows 10 for free in 2020?
The short answer is Yes. Windows users can still upgrade to Windows 10 without shelling out $119. The assistive technologies upgrade page still exist and is fully functional.
However, there’s a catch: Microsoft initially said that the offer would expire on January 16, 2018.
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 January 16, 2018.
But somehow nobody believes that’s true. The free upgrade offer first expired on July 29, 2016 then at the end of December 2017, then on January 16, 2018. But somehow that happened only in theory. In practice, the upgrade has always been free or charge.
Place your bets
We’re pretty sure that Microsoft will support this free upgrade offer for years to come. The company made it clear that it wants as many users as possible to jump on the Windows 10 boat.
However, making them pay $119 to install the latest Windows 10 OS is not the best strategy to adopt.
Allowing this free upgrade loophole to exist increases the chances that more users will agree to upgrade — and Microsoft is aware of that.
Install Windows 10 Home Single Language on your PC — the perfect solution if you don’t need multiple language packs.
Try activating Windows 10 using Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 key
Some users claim that you’re still able to upgrade to Windows 10, as long as you have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 running on your PC. Bear in mind that you’ll need to run a genuine copy on your PC in order for this process to work.
In addition to the genuine copy of Windows, it’s also a good idea to have your product key available since you might need it to activate Windows 10.
If you don’t have the original Windows DVD with the product key available, you can get the product key from your PC by using NirSoft’s ProduKey software.
Once you obtain your key, write it down and keep it safe because you might need it later. After that’s done, your next step would be to back up your files just in case anything goes wrong.
If you can, create a hard disk image and use it to restore your system in case things go south. If you want things to go smoothly, we’ve got for you a list of back up software that will get the job done easily.
After creating your backup and obtaining your product key, you can start upgrading to Windows 10. This is fairly simple, and you can do that by following these steps:
- Download and run Media Creation Tool . You can get this software from Microsoft’s website .
- Accept the terms of service and select Upgrade this PC now option.
- You’ll be asked to download the important updates. Usually, it’s advised to download them, but if you’re in a hurry you can choose Not right now
- Windows will now configure your PC and get the necessary updates.
- Follow the instructions on the screen until you reach the Ready to install screen. Click Change what to keep
- Now you can choose between three options. We suggest to use Keep personal files and apps option, but you can also select Nothing if you want to completely remove the previous Windows installation.
- Now follow the instructions on the screen to complete the upgrade process.
After doing that, you should have Windows 10 up and running. To make sure that everything is in order, check if your Windows installation is activated. If not, use your Windows 8.1 or 7 serial number to activate it.
If you’re having trouble accessing the Media Creation Tool, take a look here and solve the problem with a few easy steps.
Alternatively, you can create an installation media and use it instead. To do that, follow these steps:
- Start Windows Media Creation
- Select Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC and click Next.
- Make sure that Use the recommended options for this PC option is selected. If you want to manually configure language, edition, and architecture, you can uncheck it. Click Next to proceed.
- Make sure that your USB flash drive is connected to your PC. Select the drive from the list and click Next.
- The process will now start.
Once the process is finished, you can boot from the USB flash drive and try to install Windows again. Be sure to use your Windows 7 or 8.1 key during the installation process.
After the install, if you can’t change your product key be sure to check this guide to find some easy solutions for your problem.
Many users claim that this method works, so before you try to upgrade to Windows 10, be sure that you have a genuine copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 installed and your Windows 7 or 8.1 product key available.
You can get now Windows 10 License Key from our trusted retailer at the best prices (huge discounts). Click the buttons below to choose your Windows 10 version.
So, what’s your take on this matter? Do you think Microsoft will ever end this free upgrade loophole? Let us know in the comments below.
Windows 7 end support
Microsoft ended mainstream Windows 7 support on January 14, 2020. Long story short, you’ve got all the reasons in the world to switch to Windows 10. However, OS upgrade processes are never easy. We covered the upgrade topic extensively, in order to help you transition from Windows 7 to Windows 10 as smoothly as possible.
Check out the guides below, put them into practice and enjoy your upgrade:
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in January 2018 and has been since revamped and updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.