Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Legally Download Windows OS

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Merseyside
    Posts
    359
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts
    • chavo's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabertooth x79
      • CPU:
      • i7 3820
      • Memory:
      • 16gb corsair vengeance red. 1866
      • Storage:
      • Corsair force 3 240gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Matrix 5770 2Gb
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster M2 850w modular
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Cosmos S
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64 ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2x Acer 27 inch led
      • Internet:
      • virgin 100 down 10 up

    Legally Download Windows OS

    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
    I am the gadget man!

  2. #2
    radix lecti dave87's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    England
    Posts
    12,806
    Thanks
    657
    Thanked
    931 times in 634 posts
    • dave87's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus
      • CPU:
      • i5 3470k under Corsair H80 WC
      • Memory:
      • 8gb DDR3
      • Storage:
      • 240gb SSD + 120gb SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus HD7950
      • PSU:
      • XFX 600w Modular
      • Case:
      • Lian Li PC-A05FNB + Acoustipack
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2x Dell S2309W (1920x1080)
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity Option 2

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    Technet subscription would give you access to everything you need afaik

  3. #3
    You're god damn right Barry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    1,484
    Thanks
    70
    Thanked
    75 times in 59 posts
    • Barry's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z270M-D3H
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7 7700
      • Memory:
      • 16GB (2x8GB) Avexir 2400
      • Storage:
      • Samsung 860 256GB SSD, Sandisk Ultra 3D 500GB, LG BR Writer
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Evga GeForce GTX Titan X 12GB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair RM750I
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Focus G
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Professional
      • Monitor(s):
      • 28" Acer UHD 4K2K
      • Internet:
      • Sky Fibre

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    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)
    Someone left a note on a piece of cake in the fridge that said, "Do not eat!". I ate the cake and left a note saying, "Yuck, who the hell eats paper ?

  4. #4
    jim
    jim is offline
    HEXUS.clueless jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Location: Location:
    Posts
    11,435
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked
    1,639 times in 1,304 posts
    • jim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z
      • CPU:
      • i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Sandisk SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX650
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT03
      • Operating System:
      • 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2716DG
      • Internet:
      • 10 Mbps ADSL

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    Quote Originally Posted by Barry View Post
    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.

  5. #5
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    /dev/urandom
    Posts
    17,074
    Thanks
    228
    Thanked
    1,027 times in 678 posts
    • directhex's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 5900x
      • Memory:
      • 64GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Seagate Firecuda 520
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 850W G3
      • Case:
      • NZXT H210i
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 20.04, Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34GN850
      • Internet:
      • FIOS

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

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

  6. #6
    ɯʎɔɐɹsɐʌʍ mycarsavw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4,945
    Thanks
    1,097
    Thanked
    653 times in 482 posts
    • mycarsavw's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P8H77-M Pro
      • CPU:
      • i5 3350P
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb
      • Storage:
      • Lots
      • Graphics card(s):
      • R9 285
      • PSU:
      • HX 620w
      • Case:
      • FD Define Mini
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL + GL2450HT
      • Internet:
      • Sky

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    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.
    |Kata: "Read title as 'fisting'. Not sure why I clicked. Relieved, really."|
    |TAKTAK: "It was so small that mine wouldn't fit into it"|

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Merseyside
    Posts
    359
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts
    • chavo's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabertooth x79
      • CPU:
      • i7 3820
      • Memory:
      • 16gb corsair vengeance red. 1866
      • Storage:
      • Corsair force 3 240gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Matrix 5770 2Gb
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster M2 850w modular
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Cosmos S
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64 ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2x Acer 27 inch led
      • Internet:
      • virgin 100 down 10 up

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    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.
    I am the gadget man!

  8. #8
    aka .:iGi:. Calcutter DannyM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Location Location!
    Posts
    915
    Thanks
    111
    Thanked
    125 times in 97 posts
    • DannyM's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z68MA-D2H-B3
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5-2400
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 - PC-12800
      • Storage:
      • 120GB A-Data SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 1GB Nvidia ASUS 560Ti DirectuII
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 620W HX Modular PSU
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define Mini
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Pro 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • 23" Dell UltraSharp U2311H
      • Internet:
      • 50Mb Virgin Media Cable Broadband

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    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/

  9. Received thanks from:

    CALLMENUJAK (13-03-2012)

  10. #9
    jim
    jim is offline
    HEXUS.clueless jim's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Location: Location:
    Posts
    11,435
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked
    1,639 times in 1,304 posts
    • jim's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z
      • CPU:
      • i5 2500K @ 4.5GHz
      • Memory:
      • 8GB Corsair Vengeance LP
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Sandisk SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS GTX 970
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX650
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT03
      • Operating System:
      • 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2716DG
      • Internet:
      • 10 Mbps ADSL

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    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.

  11. #10
    Seriously casual gamer KeyboardDemon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,013
    Thanks
    774
    Thanked
    280 times in 242 posts
    • KeyboardDemon's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabretooth Z77
      • CPU:
      • i7 3770k + Corsair H80 (Refurbed)
      • Memory:
      • 16gb (4x4gb) Corsair Vengence Red (1866mhz) - (Because it looks good in a black mobo)
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M550 SSD 1TB + 2x 500GB Seagate HDDs
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 980 SC ACX 2.0 (Warranty replacement for 780Ti SC ACX)
      • PSU:
      • EVGA 750 watt SuperNova G2
      • Case:
      • Silverstone RV03
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus Swift PG278Q
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity (40mbs dl/10mbs ul)

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    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.

  12. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Merseyside
    Posts
    359
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts
    • chavo's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabertooth x79
      • CPU:
      • i7 3820
      • Memory:
      • 16gb corsair vengeance red. 1866
      • Storage:
      • Corsair force 3 240gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Matrix 5770 2Gb
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster M2 850w modular
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Cosmos S
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64 ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2x Acer 27 inch led
      • Internet:
      • virgin 100 down 10 up

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    Tried calling MS and they said that you need to call the individual computer compnies to arrange replacment discs.
    I am the gadget man!

  13. #12
    Seriously casual gamer KeyboardDemon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,013
    Thanks
    774
    Thanked
    280 times in 242 posts
    • KeyboardDemon's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabretooth Z77
      • CPU:
      • i7 3770k + Corsair H80 (Refurbed)
      • Memory:
      • 16gb (4x4gb) Corsair Vengence Red (1866mhz) - (Because it looks good in a black mobo)
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M550 SSD 1TB + 2x 500GB Seagate HDDs
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 980 SC ACX 2.0 (Warranty replacement for 780Ti SC ACX)
      • PSU:
      • EVGA 750 watt SuperNova G2
      • Case:
      • Silverstone RV03
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus Swift PG278Q
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity (40mbs dl/10mbs ul)

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

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

  14. #13
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    3
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Legally Download Windows OS

    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.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •