They don’t validate at all. Anyone can upgrade for free, with no listed end date.
I guess that’s true, if you don’t mind lying and cheating about needing the technology. I guess the next step is parking in handicap parking spots
stusser
2784
That’s a crazy false equivalency, but I hope you enjoyed writing it.
It might be, but here is the FAQ:
We are not restricting the free upgrade offer to specific assistive technologies. If you use assistive technology on Windows, you are eligible for the free upgrade offer.
It certainly wouldn’t feel right to me to use that offer. But maybe you don’t mind abusing that kind of offer to get free software (you said: “Unsurprisingly, you can still upgrade to Win10 for free. No expiration date.” and “They don’t validate at all. Anyone can upgrade for free, with no listed end date”)?
Daagar
2786
Then you certainly don’t have to make use of it. I’m pretty sure MS could maybe find a way to add some level of validation or restrictions if they felt that it could be abused. Or remove the offer completely - does Win7/8 have no assistive tech?
Fact is, they want you on Win10. Imagine how many will install it after the deadline using that “backdoor” because they think they are getting away with something. MS is not losing in this gambit.
stusser
2787
Honestly, I don’t think the backdoor will be enough. They’ll open upgrades back up for everybody without promising, hand over heart, that they used assistive tech.
My SteelSeries Sensei Raw started experiencing major mousewheel skipping literally just as my Win10 install on my old 7 PC finished. Turns out it was a genuine hardware issue (that my warranty-replacement mouse fixed in a jiffy), but the timing was. . . exceedingly suspicious.
Here is my peeve about Windows 10. What’s up with the news app and notifications. It’s almost always bad news. I went into my options and filtered out “crime” and maybe some other topics, but I still seem to get nothing but notifications about mass murder or multiple deaths in some bizarre fashion. Today it was a hot air balloon crash that killed 16 in Texas.
Also, Cortana notifications from News and Mail apps always come twice. I have no idea why. They both come at the same time, stacking up in the notification pane. Does this happen to anyone else?
LMN8R
2791
I think the news notifications are just universal for specific (and usually pretty rare) stories, so the filters won’t work. You’d just have to turn off notifications from News entirely if you don’t want them.
As for Cortana notifications, I’m not sure - I don’t get notifications directly from Cortana. The notifications straight from the Mail app only come once for me. Is there something else you’re seeing too?
Well then I’d imagine plenty of people are eligible because Microsoft includes keyboard shortcuts in its list of Windows 10’s assistive technologies. I also use the onscreen keyboard every now and then, because it contains some functions my laptop keyboard is missing.
It certainly doesn’t look like Microsoft is putting up barriers for people to access this offer.
I’m not sure what to call them, so maybe Cortana notifications is wrong. It’s just the notifications that come in the little slide out panel on the right. I get them about the Mariners, news stories from News, and email. Maybe other things, too, but those are the ones that come to mind.
But, here’s the thing, they come two at a time for some reason!
If I get a notification that the Mariners won, I get it twice. If I get an email, I get two notifications about the same email. If I get two emails, I get four notifications.
It’s so kooky.
I have looked all over for a Windows setting or something that seems awry, but I can find nothing. Occasionally I get a single notification without duplication, but I can detect no rhyme or reason.
Nezz
2794
Cortana can’t be disabled in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
If this turns out as bad as it sounds, and Microsoft forces all local system searches through their proprietary web search engine with the only off switch hidden in some obscure group policy setting, I hope they will be facing antitrust fines higher than last time.
EDIT: And promptly, Microsoft removes policies from Windows 10 Pro.
“This deal’s getting worse all the time!”
Policies don’t seem to be wholesale removed, but a number are now suspiciously disabled in Pro as of this update. A few highlighted ones from the linked articles:
Windows Tips and Tricks
Windows Store (Start Menu) Suggestions
Turn off Microsoft Consumer Experience
Do Not Display the Lock Screen
There’s going to be a lot of backlash here. I don’t see how MS can legitimately remove functionality in what’s essentially a service pack to an existing release that people have already paid money for.
If Windows were permanently free then you could perhaps argue for these monetization attempts. As it is, it seems like an egregious abuse of power.
Diego
JeffL
2797
I noticed that Windows 10 disabled MSE when I upgraded from Windows 7 and instead uses Windows Defender.
Previously I used a combination of MSE and the paid Malwarebytes (plus malwarebytes anti-exploit.) From what I’ve read, Windows Defender is pretty “eh” in terms of protection.
So - what are the recommendations on here for antivirus in Windows 10?
In Win10, Defender = MSE.
So expect out of Defender exactly what you have had out of MSE under previous Windows iterations.
The $10 I paid my job for the Education Edition of Win10 (AKA, the “real” Win10, now that Pro is getting crippled) is feeling like a better and better investment everyday. . .
JeffL
2800
Ah, OK. I’ll stop creating new reasons to worry. ;) Thanks.
So does the 7/29 expiration mean no more accidental upgrades to Win10 via Windows Update? Can Win7 legacy users drop their guard now?
