Microsoft to Block Free Windows 10 Upgrade “Assistive Tech” Trick

[Batu69]

The company will change the upgrade system in this case

The free Windows 10 upgrade offer ended on July 29, but you can still get the new operating system completely free of charge by downloading the version aimed at users with assistive technologies, even if you don’t use any.

This is because Microsoft isn’t restricting this offer to certain tech and doesn’t make any verification in this regard, so pretty much anyone can download Windows 10 without paying using this trick.

Since this isn’t exactly fair play, and users can abuse this method to get the new operating system free of charge, Microsoft is planning to block it in the coming weeks and make it available only with Microsoft support.

Users already abusing this method

The moderator of the Windows 10 subreddit, Swaggy_McSwagSwag, says he’s been in touch with Microsoft over this method of getting the new operating system and claims that the company will remove the page to make the upgrade exclusively available through support services.

“As it stands, that method of upgrading is based on an honour rule. However, having spoken with MS earlier today, they inform me that within the next couple of weeks that webpage and tool will be removed and instead require you to contact MS support directly to upgrade this way,” he explains.

Basically, keeping Windows 10 free for users with disabilities was a decision that Microsoft made because the operating system might not be fully compatible with assistive tech, so some people need to delay the upgrade until support is being offered.

But in the last few days, however, the number of users who have actually tried to upgrade free of charge using the assistive tech trick has exploded. And what’s more, a Microsoft Disability Answer Desk tech engineer says that the number of people calling for support for this version has increased significantly just because users need help to download Windows 10, even if no assistive tech is employed.

Certainly, Microsoft is making the right move here, but for the moment, there’s no specific info on when this is projected to happen, but more details should be provided in the coming weeks.

Article source

[Petrovic]

Microsoft may discontinue the Windows 10 free upgrade offer for customers who use Assistive Technologies. While the free Windows 10 upgrade campaign has ended on July 29, some users are taking advantage of this offer from Microsoft to avail of the free upgrade offer, whether or not they really use assistive technologies. wwindows 10 free upgrade

 

 

Earlier last month, Microsoft said,

Quote

“For the general public, the free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ends on 29 July. However, if you use assistive technologies, you can still get the free upgrade offer even after the general public deadline expires as Microsoft continues our efforts to improve the Windows 10 experience for people who use these technologies.”

An alternative way for genuine customers who use Assistive Technologies

Now this particular page was specifically designed and developed for the users with challenges. While the free Windows 10 upgrade was stopped for all users on 29th July, this offer was still available for the users using these assistive features. Seeing the abuse of this discounted service, Microsoft has decided to stop giving free upgrade even to the users with assistive technology features – in the current form at least. The genuine users with challenges can, however, contact the company via the Disability Answer Desk and get the free upgrade after proper verification.

 

A post on the Windows SubReddit states,

Quote

 

We have noticed that there are a lot of threads and articles lately regarding using a link for those requiring assistive technologies to upgrade to Windows 10 after July 29th, 2016.
Assistive technologies are for those with disabilities and who cannot use a computer in a conventional manner (e.g. narrators for the blind, eye tracking machines for those unable to move a mouse, suck and puff machines, etc). Unless you use those, please do not use the link floating about to late upgrade.

As it stands, that method of upgrading is based on an honour rule. However, having spoken with MS earlier today, they inform me that within the next couple of weeks that webpage and tool will be removed and instead require you to contact MS support directly to upgrade this way. This is being done, to, (direct quote) stop people who are currently abusing the tool

 

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Seeing the abuse of this offer, Microsoft has now decided to withdraw the web page and the relevant tools of the upgrade very soon.

Article source

[Akaneharuka]

I guess it the same topic as

 

 

[Batu69]

Topic merged.