Windows 7: Downloading a Windows OS to media

Hello,

my system is having a very high unstability. I've tried everything I can to make it more stable, yet I am falling into BSODs very often.

I am running a Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate edition.

I've finally decided to format my HDD in order to destroy all the previous data and start from a fresh table.

My problem is the following:



I have the serial key for this OS, yet I have lost the media. Is it anyhow possible for me to download the OS and burn it into a bootable DVD?

I tried to search from MS store, but they all force me to pay for a new OS.. can not find an option to download the file.

Thanks in advance,
Otto

Hello Elaydeful and welcome to the forums

It is possible to download Windows 7 however this is illegal Not only do the forum rules state that I can't send you links, but you never really know what you're downloading when it isn't an official source. For example, it could be a modified version of Windows laced with malware.

The only thing I can think of is to borrow a disc off a friend or family member and install it using that - but use your serial. It has to be the same version and architecture though! You need a Windows 7 Ultimate x64 disc, nothing else

Tom

By default, Microsoft does NOT offer a direct download of this software. Your best bet is hopefully to find a friend who can provide you with a copy of the needed disk.

A second option is to get a technet subscription from Microsoft and then you can download the media. Problem is this will cost you $199 for the 1st year. However, it might be worth it for you as you get a ton of Microsoft software including Microsoft Office.

Your worst option is to download it from some random torrent or p2p site. Problem here is that it will most likely be tampered with to bypass activation and such and thus might not be trustworthy. I certainly wouldn't install it onto any computer that I own.

I wonder why so many people seem to "lose" their Windows disk around here. I have a small 3 drawer cabinet beside my computer and it holds my media, my game disks, paperwork, etc. Why would people be so careless with the installation disc??

Hello,

thanks for your fast replies. May I ask (as not a fluent speaker of English - or the lack of brains after beers) .. Microsoft Store Online

is this a completely different tool?

This is a download manager that you can use to download the media to your computer. However, Microsoft is NOT going to give you the ISO without you buying a new license for it.

If I were to find and download it, would it just be needed to burn to a disk as any other DVD?

If you cannot borrow an installer from a friend to extract the ISO image file then burn to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed, search Google for official Windows 7 installation ISO from My Digital Life to get a safe copy.

It is not illegal to locate installation media to clean reinstall a copy of Windows 7 you already own. We simply cannot link to them to minmize piracy.

All of the steps are here to get a perfect reinstall of factory OEM: Reinstalling Windows 7