I've lost my W7 retail disc, any way of downloading it and using my existing serial number, legally?

[Converge]

As the title suggests chaps,

I was wondering if there's any way that I can download Windows 7 legally from Microsoft or something, as I can't find my Windows 7 Home Premium disc anywhere. Moving house is still haunting me it seems! Misplaced so much stuff...


I've got the serial number saved on my current install, but I really want to install again as I've got a new machine with my own hard drives and would like a fresh install. Any ideas? I don't know anyone with a retail copy

 

[reflux]

I have got away with downloading it from somewhat... dubious... sources before and using my legit key. All works fine

 

[Converge]

Ignore this post!

 

[monkeyspank]

http://www.ictofficers.co.uk/blog/2011/08/19/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/

 

[rgzcampbell]

Download the iso legally from mydigitallife and use your existing coa key

 

[reflux]

http://www.ictofficers.co.uk/blog/2011/08/19/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/

+1 for this, forgot about Digital River! By far the best and easiest solution

 

[Morfik]

As above, you can legitimately get the files from Digital River, with SP1 included too.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

 

[Converge]

Excellent! Thanks very much chaps

 

[s452]

Sorry to hihjack, but im in the same position but with vista home, is there a link for downloading it too?

 

[KIA]

Sorry to hihjack, but im in the same position but with vista home, is there a link for downloading it too?

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/w/microsoft_os/3317.aspx

 

[Magic_x_uk]

http://www.ictofficers.co.uk/blog/2011/08/19/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-digital-river/

Do you have to burn it to cd with something ? is it in some bizarre format?

 

[Deluxe1]

it'll be a iso just use imgburn to burn it and your good to go.

 

[Tute]

Is there the same thing but for XP SP3?

 

[K.C. Leblanc]

it'll be a iso just use imgburn to burn it and your good to go.

It's a bit fiddlier, but there is also a method for putting the files on a USB key instead.

If you have a google you'll find destructions.

 

[Magic_x_uk]

is there any advantage to putting it on a USB key instead of a DVD. Or is that just if you do not have a CD/DVD Drive, ie for netbooks ?

 

[cats_five]

My ISO is 3GB which won't fit on a CD, so you need a working DVD burner and a spare writable DVD. So if you don't have one or other of those, then a USB stick will work without buying more hardware - so long as you have one with enough spare space on. However you can pick one up at the supermarket if it's really, really necessary to do it Right Now.

 

[mikester]

My ISO is 3GB which won't fit on a CD, so you need a working DVD burner and a spare writable DVD. So if you don't have one or other of those, then a USB stick will work without buying more hardware - so long as you have one with enough spare space on. However you can pick one up at the supermarket if it's really, really necessary to do it Right Now.

I've got an 8GB USB stick to use, but how do I turn it into a bootable device (aside from changing the BIOS on the netbook itself)? Do I simply drag and drop the .iso file into the USB drive and away we go?

 

[Dirk]

I've got an 8GB USB stick to use, but how do I turn it into a bootable device (aside from changing the BIOS on the netbook itself)? Do I simply drag and drop the .iso file into the USB drive and away we go?

This is the simplest method:

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

 

[K.C. Leblanc]

is there any advantage to putting it on a USB key instead of a DVD. Or is that just if you do not have a CD/DVD Drive, ie for netbooks ?

It gives you a faster install, it's also fairly easy to mod it so it'll offer you all the editions (although you can only use ones you have a license key for).

It's also very handy if you don't have any DVD-Rs.