Where can I download Windows 7 Pro ISO? I have the product key
My PC is running really slow now so i just want to give it a fresh start. I have the product key on my computer case. Where can I download an official and genuine windows 7 pro ISO from Microsoft?
Step 1: If your computer already came preinstalled with Windows 7 Professional, try using the recovery partition to reinstall it:
New computers that come preinstalled with Windows 7 often have what is called a recovery partition. This is used to reinstall the operating system in the event of a system crash. To access it, you will need to boot into when you start your computer by pressing a function key. This can be either F1, F2, F9, F10, F11, F12 or even DEL or Tab key. Consult the owners manual that came with your PC for instructions about how to reinstall Windows.
This is how the recovery partition is accessed for the most popular makes..
For Dell, press F8 on the keyboard until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears on the screen.
For HP, press F11 directly after powering up the unit
For LG, press F11 directly after powering up the unit
For Toshiba, press and hold '0' BEFORE and during the power up
For Acer, press and hold ALT + F10 as soon as you see the logo
For Asus, press F9 as soon as you see the Asus logo.
For Samsung, press F4 at power up..
For Fujitsu, press the F8 key repeatedly directly after powering up
For Advent, restart your computer. Then Press F10 repeatedly until the message "Starting System Recovery" is displayed
For Sony VAIO, restart and press "F8" or "F10" repeatedly until the "Advanced Boot Options" screen appears.
Option 2: Speed up your computer using the solutions in the following article:
how to speed up your Windows 7 system:
http://techingiteasy.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/speed-up-your-system-for-the-new-year/
Option 3: If there are no improvements, go ahead and download the following if your recovery partition is not working:
Download the corresponding edition of Windows 7 you have a license for from the following link. You can identify the edition on COA sticker attached to your machine, with at bottom or battery compartment (laptop) or top/side if its a desktop computer.
COA Certificate of Authenticity:
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa
What is the Windows Certificate of Authenticity?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-Windows-Certificate-of-Authenticity
• Windows 7 Professional (x86) - 32 bit
• Windows 7 Professional (x64) - 64 bit
32 vs 64 bit
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions
Is my PC running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/find-out-32-or-64-bit
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Installing-and-reinstalling-Windows-7
ImgBurn - In addtion to supporting the creation of CD's from .ISO files,
it supports a wide range of other image file formats, and it's free.
(BIN, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, MDS, NRG, PDI and ISO)
http://www.imgburn.com/
http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/G/Burning+ISO+Images+with+ImgBurn
Note: Always use the slowest burn speed (4x or 2x) if offered a choice.
---------------------------
You can also create a bootable copy on a USB Thumb drive if you don't have blank DVD:
Once one has the .iso file they may wish to use the Microsoft .iso to USB/DVD tool to create a bootable DVD or USB (requires a blank DVD or USB flash stick of at least 4 GB).
Boot from the Windows 7 DVD OR USB thumb drive
Click Install Now
Accept License Agreement
When the option is displayed to select an installation type, click (Custom Advanced)
select the disk partition where you would like to install Windows 7 Click Next.
You will receive the following warning:
The partition you selected might contain files from a previous Windows Installation. If it does, these files and folders will be moved to a folder named Windows.old. You will be able to access the information in Windows.old, but you will be able to use your previous version of Windows.
(At all cost, do NOT click anything named Format or Delete or Partition. So even doing a custom install, your personal files are still preserved. Click OK
Setup will now start the installation. During the installation, your machine will be restarted several times.
When the installation is complete, you can complete the Out of Box experience such as selecting your laptop, create a username, password, your time zone. You can then proceed to download the latest updates for Windows and reinstall your applications and drivers.
You can then recover your personal files from the Windows.old folder and reinstall all your applications and drivers.
Once you have installed it, all you need to do is change the product key located on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA). Lets take a look at how to do that.
Click Start, right click Computer
Click Properties
Scroll down to Windows activation.
You will notice it displays a time until Activation but be completed. Also the Product ID indicates it is using a default key, this is only for the 30 day grace period allowed until you must activate Windows 7.
Click the link, Change product key
Enter the product key located on the COA sticker located at the bottom or (sometimes in the battery compartment of your laptop), you can also find it at the top or side if its a Desktop computer. It looks something like the following:
Proceed to enter the product key and click Next
Wait while Windows attempts to activate.
If all goes well, within a minute, you should see this screen.
You can further confirm Windows 7 is activated by checking the Windows Activation status:
Notice Windows 7 now displays OEM within the Product ID to indicate the product channel it is licensed from. Please note, this also works with Windows Vista if you are still running that version.
If you are unable to activate Windows 7 using the Change product key method, you can try phone activation and speak with a call agent who will assist with reactivating Windows 7:
How to activate Windows 7 manually (activate by phone)
1) Click Start, and in the Search box type: slui.exe 4
2) Next press the ‘ENTER’ key
3) Select your ‘Country’ from the list.
4) Choose the ‘Phone Activation’ option.
5) Stay on the phone (do not select/press any options) and wait for a person to help you with activation.
6) Explain your problem clearly to the support person.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929/en-us
Resources:
COA Certificate of Authenticity:
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa
What is the Windows Certificate of Authenticity?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-Windows-Certificate-of-Authenticity
UPDATE:
For the past 5 years Microsoft made it quite easy for users of the Windows 7 operating system to obtain reinstall media. If you lost your retail installation disc or recovery media; either it was damaged or faulty; you could download a copy of the edition you have a license for from an affiliate website named Digital River. Most recently, Microsoft ended availability of reinstall media which you could download as a .ISO file from Digital River, which is a digital replica of a optical disc.
This was especially handy for persons who could not easily obtain recovery media from the manufacturer, did not want to pay the cost required to obtain it or preferred a clean configuration without the manufacturers bundled software or even a non-functional recovery partition. It was easy to use, all you had to do was reinstall and reactivate using the product key located on the certificate of authenticity and download any appropriate drivers from the manufacturers website.
Since this option is no longer available, what are your options? See article for details:
How
to: What are my options for obtaining Windows 7 reinstall media?
Question Info
Last updated April 24, 2024 Views 64,560 Applies to: