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    LEGAL Windows 7 Download Links (Just like Vista before!!!)

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by timtravel42, Oct 23, 2009.

  1. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Hi Joe, and welcome to NBR forum.

    Thank you so much for sharing your success story. You're right... good news is worth repeating.

    We hope you hang around and we look forward to seeing more posts from you. There are threads for almost everything imaginable, and there's bound to be dozens of topics that will interest you and will benefit others through your collaboration.

    Have a great weekend.
     
  2. JoeEkaitis

    JoeEkaitis Newbie

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    Has anyone used this procedure to replace Windows 7 (any edition) SP1 32-bit with the 64-bit configuration of the same edition using the product key from the 32-bit Certificate of Authenticity and a 64-bit DVD made from the .iso image that doesn't include SP1?

    In other words, does the product key care whether the installation media includes service packs?

    Anyone willing to give it a whirl? ;)
     
  3. JoeEkaitis

    JoeEkaitis Newbie

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  4. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Won't swear to it, but I do not believe that it matters.
     
  5. timtravel42

    timtravel42 Notebook Virtuoso

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    The product keys are independent of whether or not there is an SP
     
  6. Faideelah

    Faideelah Notebook Consultant

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    I'm trying to do a clean install on a desktop with a USB drive and it is giving me "A disk read error occured. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart". I've used the USB drive on another laptop to clean install and I can confirm that it is not the USB drive that is having problems. It reads/writes in W7 just fine. Does anyone know the solution to this?
     
  7. Neubeehunhun

    Neubeehunhun Notebook Evangelist

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    I tried to make a bootable ipod nano(4th gen) with the iso using the microsoft tool, it successfully copies the iso to the ipod but always says "bootsect stopped working", thus unable to make it bootable. Can this not be done with an ipod nano(4th gen) or am I doing something wrong?
     
  8. deeplyblue

    deeplyblue Notebook Guru

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    Have you checked the boot order as given in the BIOS? If not the machine could be trying to boot from some other disk.

    The other machine might have had the USB set above the HDD and CD/DVD already.
     
  9. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    It sounds like it could be something with the laptop then, because my first guess was going to be that the USB drive was not bootable. You will want to make sure the BIOS tries to boot from the USB drive prior to the hard disk. It could be a simple matter of changing the boot device order in the BIOS, but there are some old BIOS that do not support booting from USB. If that is a possibility, you might be better off downloading the ISO and creating an installation DVD.
     
  10. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    I have been running a trial of windows 7 Ultimate that I loaded from this site and saw a 7 pro system builders version I want to purchase. Will this version of Windows 7 Pro work on my computer. Will I need to do a clean install etc.
     
  11. MoabUtah

    MoabUtah Notebook Consultant

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    You can try the system builder product key on your current installation, see if it will activate, if not you will have to clean install.

    Where did you get this "trial" version of Ultimate?
     
  12. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    I downloaded the files from the original posting here and made an ISO and put it on a dvd and did a clean install on my Sony XP Pro computer. The only thing I was unhappy with was the bluetooth stack that Microsoft automatically downloaded. It was more like cripple ware. I have the XP Pro disk set for my computer and used the Widcomm stack from it. I had to rename the bluetooth inf file and hide an update so it would not reload the Microsoft bluetooth stack.
    Fry's has the 7 pro on sale until the 21st. I will be going to the Anaheim store.
     
  13. dkukade

    dkukade Notebook Consultant

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    Hey is it possible to do this without a usb or dvd, in other words could i virtually mount the iso? if so is this even recommended?

    also if i could do this, er..how would i do it?

    thanks in advance
     
  14. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    How are you going to virtually mount an ISO in DOS mode? You may be able to launch Windows setup in Windows, but I doubt the ISO would be readable the moment you attempt to restart. This might be doable, but I do not think it is.
     
  15. dkukade

    dkukade Notebook Consultant

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    makes sense mr. fox. thanks. just gotta get my self a big enough usb now (my laptop/netbook does not have an optical drive)
     
  16. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    I think an 8GB thumb drive might be large enough for the Windows installation. Although, it would be good to pick up an external USB HDD of 500GB or larger for data backup and drive imaging for disaster recovery. I think you can find external optical drives pretty cheap on the web (for less than a USB HDD) if cash flow is tight right now. Here are two examples: LINK and LINK.
     
  17. vaio.phil

    vaio.phil Notebook Evangelist

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    ^ note: The second link (newegg) is just the enclosure alone (without optical drive). The first link is a great price!
     
  18. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    Ooops. Sorry about that. My bad.
     
  19. JoeEkaitis

    JoeEkaitis Newbie

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    A company called Soft Unique in Sunny SoCal is selling 32-bit Windows 7 Professional system builder DVDs (without Service Pack 1) labeled Dell but usable on any PC for just $94.50. I bought one so I could activate Windows 7 Professional 32-bit on my late-2006 iMac using Boot Camp. Worked like a charm!

    Great way to save some dough on Win 7 Pro if you don't mind waiting for SP1 or have burned your own SP1 DVD.
     
  20. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

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    You can get Win 7 Home Premium (32 or 64 bit) OEM with SP1 pretty much anywhere for $95-99.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
    http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premium-64bit-System-Builder/dp/B004Q0PT3I
     
  21. JoeEkaitis

    JoeEkaitis Newbie

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  22. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    Fry's has the 7 Pro 32bit or 64bit system builders version for 119.99 until 7/21/2011. I picked up a copy of it Sunday. I first made sure that everything would go smoothly by running the Ultimate trial version I created from the directions here.
     
  23. mbickerdike

    mbickerdike Notebook Enthusiast

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    Great find! I will bookmark this for when I misplace my DVD.
     
  24. topgun007

    topgun007 Newbie

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    will the links given in the 1st post install WIN7 Home Basic as well?
    Can a HB product key load HP, Pro or ultimate?
     
  25. JoeEkaitis

    JoeEkaitis Newbie

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    The DVD you make will stop and prompt you for the edition you want to install. The product key will only activate the edition (Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate) printed on the product key label (also called the Certificate of Authenticity [COA]).
     
  26. greenguy

    greenguy Notebook Enthusiast

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    So if my laptop comes with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit the only things I can install are Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and 32-bit?
     
  27. MoabUtah

    MoabUtah Notebook Consultant

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    You can install any version you have a Legal product key for.
     
  28. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    If you purchase a computer with 7 home premium on it and want Pro or Ultimate than you can use the anytime upgrade version. It can be done directly through Microsoft from your computer or you can look for a better deal through Newegg, Fry's etc. As with all versions it comes in 32bit or 64bit. You need to specify which you need.
     
  29. greenguy

    greenguy Notebook Enthusiast

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    What do you mean the anytime upgrade version? Like I need to buy a upgrade disc and key?
     
  30. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    Do you need a disk and a key. The anytime upgrade is for people who need it. You may find that you don't now and do later. I need some of the features of 7 Pro on my next computer. Pro is not offered as a manufactures option on the computer I am looking at. So I will purchase my computer and spend around 10 minutes upgrading over the web with Microsoft or shop around. No disk needed. The feature is built into your computer.
     
  31. greenguy

    greenguy Notebook Enthusiast

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    How much does it cost through microsoft?
     
  32. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    I believe through Microsoft for 7 Pro around $90. and 7 Ultimate around $130. I have seen the 7 Pro anytime upgrade as low as $59.99 .
     
  33. XX55XX

    XX55XX Notebook Evangelist

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    Are there are legal downloads of these ISOs with SP1 slipstreamed?
     
  34. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    I do not know if there are any legal downloads with SP1 in them. I ran a trial without it from here then purchased 7 Pro system builders for my old Vaio.
     
  35. KLF

    KLF NBR Super Modernator Super Moderator

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  36. radopod

    radopod Notebook Evangelist

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    I have pretty much tried every single link for a 64 BIT version of Windows 7 given on this thread. And sadly every single one of them fails after reaching 80 odd percent during installation. What's wrong? Any idea?
     
  37. MoabUtah

    MoabUtah Notebook Consultant

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  38. radopod

    radopod Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks for the reply. But as I mentioned in the last post, the download happens fine. I used downthemall as suggested in the initial post. Its the installation which stalls after reaching 80pc.
     
  39. Drjones

    Drjones Notebook Consultant

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    Oh, the INSTALL fails at 80%??

    How many computers have you tried? Usually if Windows won't finish installing, it's due to a dying hard drive....are you positive the machine you are trying to install on is functioning 100%??

    How much memory is installed? I don't believe 7 will even install on a PC with less than 1GB RAM...
     
  40. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist

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    It's got to be a problem with your download integrity (corrupted files), optical disc problem or something with your computer, like a defective hard disc or bad stick of RAM. The ISO downloads from this thread have worked flawlessly for me.

    What sort of error messages are you getting? Any particular verbiage or message codes that can be Googled for answers? "Failing" is too broad of a description to understand what you are experiencing.

    If you're not getting any error message, just a freeze, try installing from a different media source (USB thumb drive versus DVD, or vice versa).
     
  41. radopod

    radopod Notebook Evangelist

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    I have tried it on 3 PCs already. The first one's a Centrion 2 with 4 GBs of RAM. The second one an i3 (one week old) and the last one is an AMD X2 (desktop).

    The systems are all fine and have a pretty decent configuration as you can see.

    I have used a USB drive for the install. The funny part is that the same drive installed a 32 BIT copy of Windows 7 on one of the above mentioned PCs easily, but when used for the 64 BIT copy, it fails.

    I have already downloaded three ISO files. The two mentioned in the first post. And the last one being an SP 1 copy that a user linked here on this thread just the day before yesterday.

    P.S: I am trying to use an alternate USB drive now (8 GB). Will update the thread in case something new comes up.

    UPDATE: Worked like a charm! Turns out it was the crappy pen drive to blame for this mess. Thanks all for the help!
     
  42. akshay_bombay

    akshay_bombay Newbie

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    Hi Gurus,

    I have a quick question for you , I am new to this website, and i am pretty sure this question has been answered before, I did lot of search but couldnt find anything like my question.

    I got a new HP Laptop with WIN7 Home Premium 64 Bit , but as i wanted to remove the bloatware , I wanted to install just the clean OS , plus required drivers.

    1. I used ABR to create a Key as well a Certificate Copy from my Original OEM installed win 7 Home Premium.
    2.Downloaded the WIN7 Home Premium 64 bit fromm http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/X15-65733/X15-65733.iso
    3.Used ABR to install the backedup key and certificate.

    My Winodows says that it has been activated and the Product Key in the Systems Tab does say that a OEM product is installed and activated.

    Just wanted to make sure that , i have done nothing illegal, as the http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/X15-65733/X15-65733.iso is basically the Retail and not the OEM version of win7 home premium 64 bit.
     
  43. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    I believe you should turn yourself in. You are a software pirate. Even now some little faction of the federal government is hunting for you. Just remember when you hear the door crashing down to bend over and kiss it goodby.
     
  44. hyrule4927

    hyrule4927 Notebook Consultant

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    Is it really necessary to use a download manager? I use Chrome, and Downthemall seems to be Firefox specific. Is there a Chrome equivalent, or should I be fine without any such program?
     
  45. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    There are probably many download managers that will work. You can set some up so they do not attempt to download multiple streams. Mine will do this automatically if there is a problem with the site. I used to have my internet through a wireless modem. It was slow and unstable on large downloads. The download manager kept me from having to start over when the signal failed. Just query free download managers to find one. There is also a thread here somewhere about this subject also.
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/windows-os-software/603350-download-managers-do-they-work.html
     
  46. hyrule4927

    hyrule4927 Notebook Consultant

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    Well, I decided to just use Firefox and Downthemall. One question, to satisfy my paranoia . . . what is the chance of an error somewhere in the process (downloading, building the ISO) that could render Windows useless or worse when I use it for a clean install? And if such a problem were to occur, would I be able to restore my system back to it's original state via a disk image?
     
  47. ragna

    ragna Notebook Guru

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    I assume these windows 7 ISO links works also for desktops? (install/upgrade)
     
  48. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    Your ISO will work or not work. If you were to get inpatient and stop the instillation or you had a power failure this might cause what you are worried about.
     
  49. reb1

    reb1 Notebook Evangelist

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    ragna: These are the same files you would purchase in the store or off the web on a disk with the exception that they have no key with them. I ran a trial on my Vaio to make sure everything was going to work prior to purchasing an OEM Systembuilders build. I have a trial running on are Toshiba right now. There is no laptop or desktop specific version on the market for 7. It is all in one ISO for either or disk when you purchase.
     
  50. Drjones

    Drjones Notebook Consultant

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    It either will install or it won't. I'm sure it will be fine, don't worry about it.

    If you have already imaged your system, you are fine.
     
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