Legally Download Windows OS

[chavo]

Hi all,

Is there a place where i can download microsoft OS legally to enter my key? I have started a new job and we have many PCs coming in for rebuilds and stuff like that many of them are dell or hp with say vista on them but the discs are not with them.

Can i download an OEM from M$ and use the key on the COA? whats the score with it?

Thanks

[dave87]

Technet subscription would give you access to everything you need afaik

[Barry]

afaik unless the ISO's have changed since I last used my technet account the OEM keys won't work with the ISO's supplied from the technet site because they are all retail copies.

Also technet subscriptions are for evaluation and testing purposes only and the licence can not be used for business use (talking use of technet keys ofcorse)

[snootyjim]

afaik unless the ISO's have changed since I last used my technet account the OEM keys won't work with the ISO's supplied from the technet site because they are all retail copies.

Also technet subscriptions are for evaluation and testing purposes only and the licence can not be used for business use (talking use of technet keys ofcorse)

IIRC Windows 7 keys don't matter whether the disc is OEM or Retail or whatever, but Vista and XP may not be the same - in fact I seem to recall that they are fussy.

[directhex]

More than that, vendor OEM keys differ. An HP key will not work with a Dell ISO, etc

[mycarsavw]

Contact each of the OEMs and ask for DVD installation media - they'll charge you ~£10 but you'll then have a master DVD which you can use on any future OEM machines.

[chavo]

tried that, toshiba have about 10 different discs in circulation and want 30 per disk, one disk wont work with the others. we are looking at up to 3000 quid on copies of discs for software that has already been purchased. pure scam.

[DannyM]

So far as I am aware the installation type is determined by the key so if you can get your hands on a Vista install disc, any should do (home, home premium etc...) it will be fine, you would however have to get the drivers for each machine seperately. Also the Windows 7 ISO's were provided on the internet by MS a bit back.

http://www.windows7hacker.com/index....icial-website/

[snootyjim]

A couple of people on the web have suggested that if you try activating by phone MS can sort it out for you, but that would be on an individual key-to-key basis.

[KeyboardDemon]

The last time I had a copied version of Windows I was running Windows 98se, but while the disk itself was a copy I did have an authentic COA for the OS.

Now as I understand it, the COA is for the use of the software and not the disk so if you had an original disk and copied it to create a slipstream version with all the latest updates using that copy would not violate any copyright laws just so long as you have the COA to prove you have the authority to use the software and even if you no longer had the original disk.

If that is correct there is no reason why you couldn't find/buy one copy of the required OS and then use the genuine COAs to activate it. I would start by ringing MS and explaining to them that you need to get a copy of the OS so that you can reinstall using genuine COAs and see what advise they give you. I think they would be helpful and may even surpass your expectations.

[chavo]

Tried calling MS and they said that you need to call the individual computer compnies to arrange replacment discs.

[KeyboardDemon]

hmmm.... It was worth a try I guess, sorry it didn't work out as I had hoped.

[CJDWales]

This rang a bell, so I checked it and sure enough someone had this problem in Micromart (issue 1188, 15-22 dec 2011) 'Ask Jason' problem page. He suggested going to " bit.ly/tXuMm4 " . I just tried it and it's a short link to another forum, which has a link to a turbobit.net page (which I've never heard of).
I'm not connected in any way to this, but as columist in a respectable mag which I have read for years, it should be safe. Happy hunting.