Windows 10 accessibility update. Update using the key from previous versions. Who needs it

Since August 2016, Microsoft has released an exclusive Windows 10 update Anniversary Update, which is designed for people with disabilities. In addition to the many special functions that were implemented in the assembly, its main feature was the ability to switch for free. We will tell you the main differences between the adaptive build and the regular one, where to download it and how to install it.

What are the differences?

Many took this news about the free transition as another way to upgrade to ten for free, because the fundamentally modified version is no different from the main one. But still, this assembly is very useful for users who are somehow limited in their work with a PC. Here are a number of new features that will be very useful for them:

Improved performance of the screen reader. You can increase the speed to 800 words per minute. New voices added. Improved punctuation mode.
The speaker will also receive support for input and output of Braille (for the blind). The version will support most tactile displays, their languages and fonts.
New languages have also been added for the speaker, which will be very useful for reading foreign resources. There is an option for simultaneous dubbing in different languages.
Simplified calling commands from the keyboard, which became similar to popular ones third party programs announcers.
Added scanning mode via CAPS LOCK + SPACE to Microsoft Edge, which allows you to follow links and buttons in the application.
Cortana voice assistant has been adapted and improved.
Office 365 also provides for blind people new technology computer vision, it will be able to describe images in Word and PowerPoint.

In general, there are many improvements and additions that I could write about for a long time. Let's show you how to quickly upgrade to this special version for limited users.

How to update?

So, the developers have simplified it to the maximum this process. You will have to download a small bootloader to your computer, which automatic mode will do everything for you. Next, we do everything point by point:

Here is a visual video instruction for this transition.

If not installed

In principle, the process is quite simple, but there are times when the new assembly simply does not load, for some it reaches 99% and also freezes. In this case, you should check the following:

Try again. Yes, this happens, we just start everything again.
Check your Internet speed and connection stability. Too much low speed or traffic limit may interrupt the connection to Microsoft servers.
Check the availability of the required space (20 GB) on the Disk. Also read again Windows requirements to the iron. We indicated them above.
Before installation, complete all third-party programs and antiviruses. In general, you can use "clean boot" An OS that completely removes everything third-party.
It is also advisable to disable external devices(flash drives, disks, cameras, etc.) except for the mouse and keyboard, of course.
If all else fails, you will need to download ISO image seven on the disk, manually reinstall the system, and then try again to run the update to ten. Let me note right away that you need to download an ISO image of a clean build, that is, without unnecessary software. These are available on resources like all-best.pro.

Conclusion

As you can see, such simple steps will help you quickly switch to this Windows version 10. In any case, this assembly will be useful to everyone. There is also good news that Microsoft cares about all its users and has so far made this transition permanent. If you have any questions, or if something doesn’t work out, ask below in the comments.

9 comments on “Windows 10 for people with disabilities: installing an update”

Hello, I have 8.1 pirated, I wanted to upgrade to 10 as you wrote above, I open the link but there is no update button now
What to do?

Answer

Hello Ivan. Unfortunately, this freebie from Microsoft is over. Here's what it says: "Free update offer for Windows users 7 and Windows 8 with limited capabilities expired December 31, 2017."
Answer

Thank you. Interesting article. I switched to ten without any problems in an hour.

Answer

Windows 10, like older versions of the system, has additional functionality for people with disabilities. We are talking about various options and programs that make it easier for such users to work with the device. But it was with Windows 10 that developers began to regularly update these special features, offering much more flexible settings.

Windows 10 review for people with disabilities

IN anniversary update Windows 10 has changed many system options. They consist in the fact that a number of accessibility settings have become more detailed:

Differences from the regular version of Windows 10

It is worth understanding that Windows 10 for people with disabilities is not a separate version operating system. You will find all the necessary options in each version of Windows, as well as the capabilities conventional system will be present in the version for people with disabilities. But the way to boot this system is significantly different:

Installing Windows 10 for people with disabilities

The process of installing the update to Windows 10 itself is as follows:

Update your system to latest version, which is available through the update center. This must be Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1.
You need to download Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant. Previously it was located at special page on the official Microsoft website and anyone could download it from there. But at the beginning of 2018, this opportunity became unavailable. You will still have to look for it in unofficial sources.
Previously, the update was available directly on the official Microsoft website, but now you will have to look for it in other sources
After downloading, run installation file.
Run Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant
Explore and accept license agreement to continue installation.
Accept the license agreement to continue installation
Your system will be checked for compliance system requirements. Just wait.
Your computer will be checked to ensure it meets Windows 10 requirements
Once the update is downloaded, you will need to restart your computer. After half an hour, it will restart automatically, so complete all your tasks before then.
Wait until the update is downloaded and ready for installation
Further installation of the update will be performed automatically, without user intervention.

Anyone can use the Windows 10 upgrade method for people with disabilities. None additional checks This is not done by Microsoft, so everything remains up to the user.

Video: An easy way to upgrade to Windows 10 for free

Problems with installing the update and their solutions

Since the installation is performed using the Update Assistant, there may not be many errors during the update. Here are the most common of them:

Despite the fact that the developers covered up the method official update to Windows 10 this January, you can still upgrade and get licensed version new operating system for free. To do this, you need to download the update assistant, which was previously used for free update users with disabilities. Now that you know how to perform this update, the process itself should not be too difficult.

In general, most people consider the Windows 10 operating system as something ordinary and generally accepted, which is why few people think about the fact that this OS is something more, and it has many more features that can be used even by those people who have different kind of restrictions. It is clear that there are much fewer people with disabilities than those who have everything in order, but in any case, Microsoft does not stop developing a highly specialized area of its operating system so that everyone who needs it can use it.

It is also worth noting that it is the “ten” on at the moment is one of the operating systems that actually works for everyone, all the time, which allows it to be used everywhere. So, we simply could not ignore this software, and now we will tell you everything, explain the main functions that will be interesting to you, as a “special” person.

Colorblind users using Windows 10

One of the few operating systems that can allow itself to be configured in such a way that the color scheme of certain areas of the software looks more realistic and has the most “correct” appearance.

Thanks to fine tuning colors, a user who has problems with color blindness may no longer feel like some kind of outcast who sees the usual ordinary person the colors are brighter, sometimes even acidic, which turns time spent at the computer into a real hell for the eyes. This will no longer happen, since there is a special option that allows you to perform color correction, which turns the recently bright and very acid colors visible to a colorblind person into something pleasantly perceived by vision.

Using Windows 10 by people without limbs

This is another one of the biggest positive aspects of using Windows 10 for disabled people, since the OS has excellent software in the face voice assistant with the name Cortana, which allows you to work fully with your computer without using a mouse or keyboard. Of course, it is worth understanding that at the moment there are some limitations in the work of such a plan, but Microsoft is not going to stop there and wants to continue to develop Cortana so that it only gets better and has maximum opportunities for using it with the help of voice commands.

By the way, working with Cortana is very convenient and if you want, it will be possible to give it almost unlimited possibilities on your computer, which will allow the program to run with just your voice: the necessary program, set the correct time, set an alarm, search necessary information on the Internet, read texts, etc. So, even if you do not have the physical ability to influence the computer, you can always use voice control.

Using Windows 10 for deaf people

Another rather interesting innovation in the “top ten” is that it has the ability to duplicate all audio: warnings, messages, updates, etc. in the form of visual icons, which are clearly visible even if the PC user is not able to hear any the sounds around him.

Using Windows 10 for blind people

This may seem like science fiction to some, but modern world even a person who does not have vision can use the computer 100% and Microsoft has done a good job for this. In order for the blind to be able to use a PC, a special keyboard with Braille fonts was developed, and the assistant himself learned to recognize Braille font in any of its manifestations, which allows even blind people to communicate at a distance - using only a computer. By the way, technology here has come so far that it can allow a blind person not only to communicate, but also to read texts in any of their manifestations, and if necessary, the program will even describe the visual features of figures that are in the Office 365 application.

Thus, a person with visual limitations is not alone with himself, but has full opportunities to communicate and do everything on the computer that his friends and relatives do.

Our opinion about using Windows 10 disabled

In fact, this is exactly what people need who, for one reason or another, have completely lost the ability to hear, see, distinguish colors, use their hands, etc. Exactly Windows 10 for disabled people there will be no time yet limited person see a lot of opportunities to develop and not stop for a second, since this operating system is the future, which will allow anyone who expresses their desire to go into it.

Developers from Microsoft surprised their users in 2016 - free distribution of Windows 10. Everyone could download a full-fledged OS or upgrade to it from previous versions completely free. However, in the summer the promotion was closed. But the company left it for people with disabilities, which can be used for its intended purpose, or as an ordinary operating system, since they are practically no different. In this article we will look at special Windows 10, where to download it and what functions it has.

Where to download?

All actions are performed on the official Microsoft website. You can also download the updater from the update page. On it you must click the “Update Now” button and wait for the download to complete.

Users have two options for installing Windows 10 for people with disabilities - download the distribution and write it to a USB flash drive, or download the update current version with the help of a special master. Let's consider both options.

First method

Microsoft removed the feature free download regular version, but they added an OS with special features and promise that this version will always be available for free download on the official website. Download MediaCreationTool.exe and run it. Wait until the wizard prepares the program for use. Next follow these steps:

On the first screen, confirm the license agreement with the “Accept” button.
Next, select “Create installation media.”
Set the required parameters (operating system language, edition, and architecture).
Select the type of device to record to (flash drive or disk).
Connect the media to your computer. Select it from the list in the wizard.
Next, the program will begin downloading system files and copying to external media.

Now you need to remove the flash drive and restart the computer. IN BIOS menu set the boot priority to the USB flash drive, or boot from it manually. Next, the installation of Windows 10 for people with disabilities will begin. Then follow the instructions. The installation will begin after you have selected all the options. Installation will not take more than half an hour:

On the first screen, select Install.
Next you need to decide hard section disk. If necessary, you can “split” the media into sections and format them.
Next, the version and architecture of the future OS version is selected. Everything presented in the installer is Windows with accessibility features.
Next the program will start copying system files on hard drive. During the operation, the computer may restart several times.
After installation is complete, you need to select a name for the PC, set a password, configure a defender, and so on.

Remember that you are installing a licensed version of Windows. Activation occurs only if you have upgraded from a license of a previous version of the operating system. If you use a pirated copy, then for the “ten” you will have to look for an activator.

Second method

To upgrade to Windows 10 for people with disabilities, you will need a program that can be downloaded from the official website. Run the update wizard and wait while it scans for the need for an update. Afterwards the program will start downloading files and installing them. Finally, restart your computer and run initial settings systems. As you can see, the second option is more convenient if you use Windows 7 or 8, or early version Windows 10

Using each method, you install the latest build at the moment - 1703. Further updates are already installed through the update center in the operating system settings.

Differences from the regular version

At first glance you will not notice any differences between standard and special versions. Therefore, Windows 10 for people with disabilities can be used instead of a regular OS. IN latest build the developers tried to improve the set of special features, eliminate bugs associated with their stable work, and expand functionality. All of it is listed below:

Screen magnifier.
On-screen keyboard.
Contrast.
Subtitles.
Narrator.

Also, special functions include the Cortana voice assistant. Unfortunately, it cannot be used in the Russian version of the operating system, so Cortana will only be useful to people who know at least English language at a basic level. After upgrading to Windows 10 for people with disabilities, go to “Settings”, open the “Time and language” section, then “Region and language”, and then change language options in English. Click on “Use as primary language”, after which the system will download the necessary language files. Restart your computer. You should now be able to launch and use Cortana from the Start menu.

Now you know what Windows difference 10 for people with disabilities from the usual one, and you can decide whether it is advisable to install one version or another on your computer. Let's take a closer look at the special functionality - how to enable, configure and use.

Magnifier

The first feature from Windows 10 for people with disabilities is They can be launched from the Start menu in the Accessibility section. After launch magnifier A small window with settings will appear in which you can:

Change the zoom scale.
Change the zoom type (window or full screen).

When you remove the cursor from the application window, it takes the form of an almost invisible magnifying glass on the screen. Thus, running program does not interfere with computer work from a visual point of view.

Narrator

This assistant comments on everything that happens on the screen and pronounces your actions. It has many settings and hotkey combinations that can be configured through Options and found in Windows Help.

In addition to the screen reader, it is now possible to connect a Braille display. For correct operation you need to download the drivers and connect the device in “Settings” - “Narrator” - “Enable Braille”. Select your display manufacturer and computer connection type.

On-screen keyboard

A feature that migrated to the version of Windows 10 for people with disabilities from previous generations of the OS. When turned on, a large window appears on the screen, copying the keyboard layout. The window can be resized. Detailed settings are also found in Settings.

There is a separate item in the parameters for mouse settings. In them you can change the color of the pointer, enable the ability to move the cursor using numeric keypad and configure related settings.

Other functions

Here you can configure subtitles that duplicate the audio from the videos. They can be customized by language, letter size, color, and so on. Contrast is applied to the entire operating system interface, including the cursor. There is a preview window for the contrasting theme.

Also, if necessary, you can enable/disable the display of standard animations of the operating system interface, switch stereo/mono sound, configure Windows notifications, etc.

Bottom line

Upgrading to Windows 10 for people with disabilities won't take you long more than an hour. If you need special ones, use our installation instructions. In case you need a licensed version of the OS - this option is the only way to obtain it. Without enabling the described features, the version of Windows 10 for people with disabilities is no different from the regular version, so you will not notice the difference in everyday use.

In future versions of the OS, developers promise to develop functionality and add new features that will allow users with health limitations to work comfortably with a computer or laptop.

Everyone knows that exactly a year after the release, every user who had the licensed Windows 7/8.1, could upgrade to the new operating system completely free of charge Windows systems 10 from Microsoft Corporation. And now July 29, 2016 has already passed and all the deadlines for the free update have expired. But it turned out that not everything is so bad for those who, for some reason, did not have time to upgrade to Windows 10. Today I want to tell you about at least three legal ways to update even after the ban.

Method No. 1. If you previously upgraded to Windows 10, then rolled back to the previous version, and now you’ve changed your mind

The method is very simple and understandable for everyone. I have already written more than once, and recently I myself was convinced of personal experience, that if you have updated your device to Windows 10 at least once, then the license is tied to your hardware forever. It doesn’t matter whether you rolled back to a previous version, for example, Windows 7, or completely installed Windows 7 after updating, the Windows 10 license for your device remains.

True, you have to do it clean install from a flash drive (I already wrote about this), and you just need to skip the requirements for entering a key. The licensed operating system of the new generation Windows 10 will still be installed on your device. This is because you received a digital license and no matter how many times you reinstall the system if necessary, it will still be licensed.

The same aspect applies to changing PC configurations. In practice I saw how they changed different components device, I even recently changed the HDD to an SSD, but the license Windows installation 10 was still saved. I’m just not sure whether it will survive the change motherboard or processor. Maybe you had such an experience? Share.

Method number 2. Change the date on PC

As you can guess from the subtitle, this method involves simple shift dates on your device. Then in the lower right corner click Windows icon 10, With the help of which the update to the new operating system was previously launched, you will see that the countdown that Microsoft launched quite recently is still running

If you have at least a couple of seconds on your watch, you can safely start the update process for your device. After some time, the update will be completed and you will receive the new Windows 10 OS. That is, everything is the same as before July 29, 2016.

I learned about this method on one of the Internet resources, where you can even watch a video of this process.

You have to remember, something can go wrong. If you are not confident in your abilities and knowledge, then it is better not to even start this method.

However, it is not yet clear how long this trick will work and whether it will lead to the loss of the license. I didn't have a chance to try it out personally.

Method number 3. Windows 10 for users with disabilities

Just yesterday, one of my friends asked me to help him upgrade his laptop to Windows 10. He simply forgot that he could upgrade for free. I had to explain to him for a long time that the free update period had already ended and now you can only update for a fee. I suggested that he try this method. I'll tell you briefly about it.

It has long been known that people with disabilities and using special equipment will have the opportunity to upgrade to Windows 10 for free even after July 29, 2016. True, few people attached importance to this, but in vain. It turned out that it was very simple and, most importantly, completely legal way upgrade to Windows 10.

Microsoft even created a special website for this update. Here is the link to it: https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/accessibility/windows10upgrade

You will see a text about why the renewal period will be indefinite for people with disabilities. This is where I take my hat off to the sensitivity of the company. After all, caring for such people speaks of the humanity of the company.

Below you will see an item Update now, click on it. The utility will be downloaded to your device Windows 10 Upgrade24074, a kind of Update Assistant,

which you just need to run. The utility will analyze your computer for compatibility with Windows 10,

and then download and install the operating system itself.

No special equipment checks, no questions about whether you are a disabled user. Maybe over time, during use, somehow Microsoft checks this item, although it’s unlikely. After downloading the update, you need to restart your computer and the update will be installed on your device.

We just updated a friend's laptop and the operating system is no different from the usual one. That is, the method works well and is legal: you get a licensed version of Windows 10. How long this method will remain available to everyone is an open question.

Who needs it?

This question definitely torments some of you, since there has been a lot of debate about whether it is necessary to update at all.

All of the above methods are needed for those who simply didn’t have time, didn’t know, or forgot to upgrade to Windows 10, but still want to do it. They will also be useful to those who, after July 29, 2016, buy a device running Windows 7/8.1 and want to upgrade it to the new Windows 10 operating system. Something tells me that very soon devices running Windows 7/8.1 will drop a little in price, so as they will not be in demand. The buyer always wants his device to run on the new OS. And for stores that sell PCs, laptops and tablets - a chance to sell at a higher price outdated devices, if they have not yet managed to update them. And of course, it’s nice that Microsoft takes care of people with disabilities and provides them with an unlimited period to update their device.

Anniversary Update

From August 2, 2016, Microsoft intends to begin distributing the first major Windows updates 10 called Anniversary Update.

I would like to give users some tips to avoid problems installing the update. Please note that before updating, the system will back up all your files on the system disk. So be sure to clean it before installation. system disk, using system utility Disk Cleanup, but be sure to clean up your system files and, if necessary, uninstall previous versions of the OS. This will significantly free up the disk.

If your device has Windows 10 Pro installed, you can either delay the update or start the process manually. The reason is that the update will be large and you will need to have good connection with the Internet. I highly recommend connecting the device to the network when downloading and installing the update, so as not to interrupt the update process and not cause failures or errors. Also disconnect all other devices: speakers, flash drives, memory cards, etc. from your laptop. They may also be the reason for the update to fail.

If errors or failures do occur, do not panic and do not try to fix them. Just cancel the update and run it again after some time. Happy update everyone.