Newsletter Archives

• Free Windows 10 upgrade path disappears on Dec. 31

  Posted on October 31, 2017 at 05:57 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  One free upgrade path – the “assistive technologies” approach — will go away on December 31, according to one sentence on one web page posted sometime in the past ten days.

  Computerworld Woody on Windows.

  Windows News assistive technologies, Windows 10 free upgrade

• Of course the free Win10 upgrade continues – but who wants it?

  Posted on July 31, 2016 at 10:33 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  There’s been some comment online about the “assistive technologies” loophole in the Win10 free upgrade process. Basically (as noted in my next post), anybody can upgrade from Win7 or Win8.1 to Win10, for free, if they go through the channel set up for those who use assistive technologies.

  I’m 100% convinced that the brass at MS knew about the loophole long before it was set up. It’s very likely that this is a nod ‘n a wink pressure relief valve for those who forgot to upgrade for free.

  But you have to wonder: Is there one, single Windows 7 or 8.1 user on the face of the planet who doesn’t know that the free upgrade period expired on July 29? Just one?

  Windows News Windows 10 free upgrade

• Can you “reserve” a free copy of Windows 10, yet continue to use Win7 or 8.1?

  Posted on May 9, 2016 at 12:23 CDT by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Chris Hoffman – who’s one of my favorite Windows writers – has an article in How to Geek explaining how you can install Windows 10 now, then roll back to Windows 7, thereby locking in your free upgrade to Windows 10, even if Microsoft pulls the free upgrade offer after July 29.

  The steps he gives are clear and accurate. It’s just that… I’m not sure Microsoft will let you do that.

  Technically, physically, yes it’s possible. Today. But I don’t think anybody knows if Microsoft will throw a monkeywrench (er, a spanner) into the works in late July.

  If you want to take a chance on rolling back to Win7 (which is by no means a cakewalk), and you really want a free Win10, you can certainly give it a try. But I wouldn’t recommend it for two reasons.

  First, as I said, Microsoft may frown on the procedure, and back up the frown with a game-altering glitch around July 29.

  Second, I’m not at all convinced that Microsoft will get rid of the free upgrades after July 29. Paul Thurrott has a well-reasoned analysis on petri.com this morning. He doesn’t have any definitive answer, either.

  Windows News Windows 10 free upgrade