Check out or Archive.org for “Microsoft Encarta 2005” ISO files. Again, these are not official, but they are widely shared for nostalgia/educational purposes. Use at your own risk with antivirus scanning.
: Enthusiasts and historians often look to preserve the specific editorial voice and unique multimedia assets that were lost when the platform went offline. microsoft encarta 2005 download
No. Microsoft has not made it freeware. However, unused physical copies are circulating second-hand. Check out or Archive