Where can I legally download Win 7 from?

[Denis54]

My PSU has died and it killed my MB and my CPU at the same time. I need to build a new PC. I cannot find where my Win 7 discs are. Fortunately I have noted my product key separately so I still have it.

Is there any place I can legally download Win 7 from and use it with my legit product key?

 

[Brink]

Hello Denis, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Since you have your product key number, you could use a friend's Windows 7 installation disc that is the same edition as yours. You would just enter your product key number instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[tea]

You can download from Microsoft but you will have to pay again. Category Results for Windows 7 on Microsoft Store

But I would call Microsoft, they will probably ship you a disc.

 

[bobkn]

My PSU has died and it killed my MB and my CPU at the same time. I need to build a new PC. I cannot find where my Win 7 discs are. Fortunately I have noted my product key separately so I still have it.

Is there any place I can legally download Win 7 from and use it with my legit product key?

I'm not sure whether the forum rules permit posting links, but a web search engine may show non-warez sites that have the retail .iso files available for download, without hacks. "mydigtallife" has some links from online stores.

You may have to do the "ei.cfg" thing to make the version that you download generic.

 

[theog]

Hello Denis, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Since you have your product key number, you could use a friend's Windows 7 installation disc that is the same edition as yours. You would just enter your product key number instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

If your friend has a low edition than yours, you can still use the disk to install that edition & than you can use Anytime upgrade to go up to your edition.
Note: DO NOT USE YOUR FRIENDS PRODUCT KEY.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html

 

[whs]

If your product key pertains to a full retail version, you can use it. If it is an OEM, it will not work besides being illegal.

 

[Denis54]

I have a retail version product key.

My problem is that I use the English version of Win 7 and all the people I know use the French version (I am from the French part of Canada).

I could possibly convince a local store to make me a copy of the OEM version. Would it be legit for me to use such an OEM version with my retail product key?

 

[BugOutMachine]

You should be able to change the language during setup despite the install disk being in French.

 

[Denis54]

I am no expert but I tought that you could only switch languages in the more expensive versions. My license is for Home Premium

 

[whs]

If you have a 5 language version (En, Ger, FR, SP, JPN), then you can select one of those during installation.

 

[gregrocker]

If your product key pertains to a full retail version, you can use it. If it is an OEM, it will not work besides being illegal.

Starting with Vista all retail installers will reinstall both retail and OEM Windows of your version. If you have a Product Key it will work for the licensed version only, and may require a quick robocall to MS to sort out the key.

We cannot link to downloads as it encourages piracy, so it is best you borrow or find a retail installer (not a branded Recovery Disk). If you cannot find your version, then you can extract the ISO using ImgBurn, unlock all versions using the ei.cfg removal tool, then burn to DVD an all versions DVD to install your version with key.

The product keys are language-specific except in Ultimate which features language packs. The expert on languages here is Kari if you need to ask him directly.

 

[DeaconFrost]

If it is an OEM, it will not work besides being illegal.

You can use a retail disc to install and activate an OEM key. I've done it several times.

I could possibly convince a local store to make me a copy of the OEM version. Would it be legit for me to use such an OEM version with my retail product key?

If a local store would burn you a copy, it wouldn't matter what type. The license is what changes/matters. If you use a disc to install, just don't enter your key until after your version of the OS is installed. There is no reason to put the key in during the install anyway, so why bother.

 

[zay]

is it true that all installations are the "same", that it is the product key that "tells" the installation what version make accessible? Basically, depending on the product key you enter, will determine if you end up with home, business or ultimate, etc?

 

[DeaconFrost]

No, you still need to pick the version you have a key for, or else the key won't be accepted. However, given that most people remove the ei.cfg file, and install from a flash drive, this isn't a big deal...it is just a matter of picking the right version during the install. No reason not to, to be honest. You are asked to pick your version before you get to the question about the key. There isn't any reason to pop in the key during the install process anyway, yet many reasons for not entering the key.