Windows Vista - Where can I download a legal ISO image?

SkScotchegg

SkScotchegg

SkScotchegg

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Hi there, please can you assist, I'm just fixing my friends mums laptop and just need to reinstall windows vista as it no longer boots into windows so I'm wanting to do a fresh install.

The laptop has the CD key on the back so I am just wanting to download the image to burn to DVD, I know Microsoft have windows 7 images for download but I cant seem to find windows vista?

EDIT: It says on the CD key sticker "Windows Vista Home Premium" and its an old laptop so am presuming I need the 32bit version.
Thanks in advance.
 
I don't think Microsoft host any Vista ISO's any more. If you search for a copy of Microsoft Digital River Vista it should be a valid copy to use with your existing key.

ANdi.
 
andicole0 said:
I don't think Microsoft host any Vista ISO's any more. If you search for a copy of Microsoft Digital River Vista it should be a valid copy to use with your existing key.

ANdi.
Click to expand...

Hi mate, thanks for the quick response, yeah I read about "Digital River" elsewhere on Google and I tried there but couldn't seem to find it there either, and other website which linked to the windows vista iso files on digital river, the links didn't work.

I guess it's too old now and both digital river and Microsoft must have stopped hosting the files...

Let me ask you another question though, I just went through my old files and DVDs from years ago to see if I could find my old windows vista DVD that I owned myself. And I just found it but it says "Windows vista ultimate" so then I thought will this DVD work or not? like will it install a different version of windows onto her laptop and then her CD key wont work?

Or will it work? lol, I just don't know, I've stuck the DVD in and its asking me to install, shall I just do it? and then try it or do you think its pointless?

Thanks in advance.
 
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think you can use the ultimate disc (depending on the disc), when it asks to enter the key, dont, then you can select the correct version, and enter the key after its installed

Download
 
sunn said:
think you can use the ultimate disc (depending on the disc), when it asks to enter the key, dont, then you can select the correct version, and enter the key after its installed

Download
Click to expand...

Cheers mate, seems to be working now, its installing vista as we speak. and thanks for the download, very helpful! :D
 
ED209 said:
here you go, the MSDN link

http://46.165.222.204/Windows Vista/
Click to expand...

Cheers mate, I've been trying to reinstall windows vista on this laptop for ages and in the end it came back with an error message saying it failed to install some of the components so I truly believe the hard drive has died on this old laptop.

I thought the hard drive might have died earlier too because it wasnt booting into windows and the windows repair didnt work and it kept bring up this "checking disk sectors" error checker in the bios which was trying to fix something on the disks but never seemed to make a difference so I already had an idea it must be the HDD.

Can anyone tell me what laptop hard drives are called so I can buy one? Do they sell them on overclockers?

EDIT: Would this hard drive work for this laptop? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-139-SA&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=896

The laptop is a "Acer Aspire 5920".

Thanks in advance.
 
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the HDD you linked too should be fine, any 2.5" HDD should work just make sure its not the bigger ones as they are desktop HDDs.

at least the HDD replacement on a laptop isn't too hard to do :)
 
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Hi there, thanks a lot for your help so far, I'm still working on this laptop and it's been really annoying because I get so far and then get stuck again.

Does anybody know how I can download a windows vista home premium DVD?

I downloaded the windows DVD images from the two ftp links given to me above and burnt them to DVD and I got windows 7 to install first but I had no CD Key for that so then I installed windows Vista which you guys gave me above but when I go to enter the CD Key it says "The Product Key you have entered will not work with this version of windows. As I didn't realise until now but the version of windows vista that you guys gave me was "Ultimate Edition" but on the sticker on the back of the laptop is says "Windows Vista Home Premium" So now I have to reinstall windows for a 3rd time but I need the DVD to do it.

If you can please help me find a legal iso image it would be much appreciated!!
 
If you can install Vista from USB stick, you can follow the instructions here on making the Ultimate version prompt you to choose a version to install?

The only other thing is - the message about the invalid key may not be about the version of Vista, but could be to do with using a standard key with what might be an upgrade DVD...
 
If you haven't found any links you like the look of you can do a search based on SHA1 for specific version you want. Will probably find a torrent.

SHA1 codes taken from Microsoft site

Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (x64) - DVD (English) Includes all versions
SHA1: AAEE3C04533899F9F8C4AE0C4250EF5FAFBE29A3

And if you wanted 32-bit version ...
Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (x86) - DVD (English) Includes all versions
SHA1: 25AD9A776503E6A583BEC07879DBCC5DFD20CD6E

There are plenty of utilities to check MD5/SHA1 codes, but can't remember which I used.
 
Here you go.

Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (x64) - DVD (English)
ISO
English
Release Date: 5/11/2009
This file includes the following Windows Vista editions: Business, Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate.
File Name: en_windows_vista_sp2_x64_dvd_342267.iso
Languages: English
SHA1: AAEE3C04533899F9F8C4AE0C4250EF5FAFBE29A3

Code: 
https://copy.com/KobzBvYVm1ZGuqXm?download=1

Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (x86) - DVD (English)
ISO
English
Release Date: 5/11/2009
This file includes the following Windows Vista editions: Business, Business N, Home Basic, Home Basic N, Home Premium, and Ultimate.
File Name: en_windows_vista_with_sp2_x86_dvd_342266.iso
Languages: English
SHA1: 25AD9A776503E6A583BEC07879DBCC5DFD20CD6E

Code: 
https://copy.com/ia6bl30cOXRfeEgJ?download=1

Both files are official Microsoft MSDN files.

Use this to compare the file hash.
 
Thank you to all the responders in this thread. I had/have the exact same problem as the OP and this thread has been a big help.
 
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