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Microsoft Finally Allows Customers To Legally Download Windows 7 ISOs
MojoKid writes: It's long been a pet peeve of many end users that Microsoft has made it such a challenge to procure a legitimate ISO image of its various operating systems. It seems like the company should have no problem offering them in an easy-to-find spot on its website, because after all, it's not like they can be taken utilized without a legal key. Sometimes, people simply lose the disc or ISO they had, and so it shouldn't be such a challenge to get a replacement. Fortunately, with a new feature on the Microsoft site, you are now able to get that replacement Windows 7 ISO. However, it's behind a bit of protection. You'll need to provide your legal product code, and then the language, in order to go through to the download page. If you've somehow lost your key but are still using the OS that it's tied to, you can retrieve it through a few different third party tools. However, it does seem like not all valid keys work properly just yet, since some users are reporting valid keys throwing errors or not enabling a download for some reason.
I've got an ISO image I downloaded from Microsoft back in April of last year without having to provide any details.
MS is still paranoid about media distribution because, institutionally, they still link media control to piracy.. Even though that ship sailed looooooooong ago.
Of course, you can do fun things with windows activation..
Did you know you can install windows without a key and it will be completely fully functional for 30 days and not bug you once? This is called the activation "Grace Period" and it's a built in facility specifically designed to make deployments/testing/imaging/etc easier.
Did you know you can reset the grace period timer up to three times with a simple built-in command line tool?
Did you know that if you boot up in safe mode and apply a little registry hackery to reset the grace period "Re arm" counter?
Did you know you can automate all of the above with a clever batch file?
Did you know the best way to pirate windows is to ignore all that silly cat-and-mouse nonsense trying to subvert windows activation with special bootloaders and just use built in commands that shipped with windows?
If you want to "make your own" copy of Windows 7, similar to the slipstreaming method, you can download a legit copy of Windows 7, SP1 but the updates much beyond that are missing.
The only way to make your own, is a very complex process, but you basically install Windows 7, install all the updates, then run a sysprep to remove all your customisations (but keep updates) then you boot off a bootable ISO and re-compress that install into a .WIM file and put that on your DVD / USB key. It's .. interesting but overly complicated.
Also a Windows 7 installable ISO, if you use an ISO editor and delete the fucking STUPID "EI.CFG" file (google it) from the ISO, when you install it will prompt you "which would you like to install" - from Home Basic up to Ultimate, saving you needing multiple forms of media (fucking Microsoft)
I do not however, believe you can install Windows 7 Ultimate, install patches, ("slipstream") sysprep re-compress back into a WIM file AND then install from a single ISO without EI.CFG - it will specifically install whatever version you've done your slipstreaming on, unfortunately.
Why can't these cocks make it easy? Single image file, installs any version, dependent upon key, and up to date?