Two methods of obtaining Windows 10 for free appear to still be open

Back in January, we shared that an author at ZDNet was still able to upgrade to Windows 10 even though the official free upgrade period had ended several months earlier. The method involved using a Windows 10 ISO and initiating an update from a valid installation of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. At the time Microsoft was also still allowing users of assistive technologies to upgrade free of charge, due to the improved accessibility settings in Windows 10.

Darren Allan from TechRadar has recently tested these methods and found that he was still able to initiate an upgrade to Windows 10 for free. Similarly to before, a user can select the option to say that you're upgrading using assistive technology and Microsoft will allow you to change from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10 without asking for proof that you use assistive features. Obviously, there is somewhat of a gray zone here since you are taking advantage of a program for people with disabilities for your gain. TechRadar summarizes this method as such: "Microsoft says: “If you use assistive technology on Windows, you are eligible for the upgrade offer.” The company uses the terms assistive and accessibility rather interchangeably, and accessibility features include elements like Windows 10’s Speech Recognition, or even Cortana or keyboard shortcuts."

The second method of using an ISO and a valid Windows 7 or 8.1 install plus product key also still worked for TechRadar. In January we expressed how surprised we were that this method still worked, and mirroring TechRadar's sentiments, we are even more surprised that it is still available a year after free upgrades were meant to have ended. If you are considering taking advantage of this to upgrade to Windows 10, we suggest you do it now as there is no guarantee that Microsoft won't block these methods.

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