If you’ve misplaced your Windows 7 install disc, which may be the actual discs that came with your PC or a retail Windows 7 install disc that you bought separately, then reinstalling Windows can be a bit frustrating. However, there is a very simple way to create your own Windows 7 install disc for Home Premium, Professional or Ultimate in 32 or 64-bit versions, from scratch.
1. Identify the Version of Windows 7 and Product Key
The Windows 7 Product Key is essential for reinstalling Windows and getting it activated. If you purchased your PC from a manufacturer, the product key may be printed on a label that is attached to the computer’s case. It may also be printed on some documentation that came with your PC.
If you purchased a retail of copy of Windows 7, then the product key may be printed on the box or included as documentation.
The version of Windows 7 is also important, as product keys will only work with certain versions of Windows. You will learn more about this in the next step. To identify your version of Windows 7, simply launch the Start Menu, right-click on Computer and select Properties from the context menu. Of course, you could also look on the box or documentation that came with the Windows 7 purchase.
2. Download a Copy of Windows 7
The next step is to of course download a copy of Windows 7 that will eventually be burned to disc or moved to a USB drive. The only recommended way to download Windows 7 is from Microsoft itself.
The only thing you have to provide is the Product key. Microsoft will figure out what version of Windows 7 is needed based on the product key and give you links to download that version. If you don’t have your product key, you’re kind of out of luck.
If the content is not already in your Library, you must add it before you can download it. To download an item, find it in your Library and look for near it. You can download content from the Apple Music catalog or from your iCloud Music Library. 2017 new song download. Apple Music features might vary by country and region. Learn more about.
3. Create a Windows Install Disc or Bootable USB Drive
The Windows USB/DVD download tool is a free utility from Microsoft that will allow you to burn the Windows 7 download to disc or create a bootable USB drive.
At this point, you have now replaced your misplaced Windows install disc with either another disc or a bootable Windows 7 USB drive!
4. Download Drivers (optional)
If your PC requires certain drivers for full functionality, you may also want to download these drivers and install them with Windows.
Start by using Google or your search engine of choice to search the web for your particular PC and exact model, followed by keyword drivers. You should be able to find a quality link to a list of drivers that you need to download for your PC.
5. Prepare the Drivers (optional)
Once you’ve downloaded the drivers for your PC, you will need to move them to a removable disk or disc so that they can be used once you’ve installed Windows. Thus, you have a few options:
5a Burn the Drivers to Disc
This is very simple and can be done with any blank CD or DVD and a PC that utilizes an optical drive with CD or DVD writing functionality.
Simply insert the CD or DVD into the computer’s optical drive, create a new folder on the desktop containing all of the drivers and burn the folder to disc using the built-in Windows 7 burning option.
5b Copy the Drivers to a USB Drive
Simply insert any high capacity USB drive into an available USB port on your PC and drag the drivers to the drive to copy them.
6. Install Drivers
Once you’ve reinstalled Windows, simply insert the disc containing the drivers or USB drive with the drivers (step 5a, 5b) and proceed to install the drivers for your PC.
7. Create a Bootable Windows 7 USB Drive with Drivers already installed (alternative method)
Proceed to download a Windows 7 ISO (links above), but instead of using the USB to DVD utility, jump to our article on creating a custom Windows 7 image.
That’s basically all there is to it. Lost Windows 7 install DVD? Now you can simply replace it or create a bootable USB drive. Thank you for stopping by the site for today’s post.
Many computers ship without Windows 7 installation discs. Instead they come with 'recovery' discs and/or partitions that claim to restore your PC to its 'factory fresh' state, but include a ton of bloatware (free trials, media players, useless utilities, and the like) along with Windows. Removing each piece of bloat is time-consuming, and just not the same as truly starting fresh.
Related: Install any version of Windows using any Windows disc you can find
In this article, you'll learn how to make your own Windows 7 installation disc (or USB flash drive) and use the valid product key you already have to perform a fresh reinstallation. The following method is effective and legal, and doesn’t require a lot of technical expertise. (If you do need help with bloatware, however, read 'What to Do With a New PC.')
However, we don't recommend that you delete your recovery partition or throw away your existing recovery discs. Although many people have had success with the following procedure, others have not. Some users have not been able to activate their copy of Windows even after entering a valid product key, while others own PCs that require software not included in a Windows 7 ISO. You have no way to know whether this procedure will work for you until you try, and you need a backup plan in case it doesn’t.
Also, save your files and drivers to external media before you start. Reinstalling Windows wipes out all personal data and causes a loss of functionality in devices for which Windows lacks an adequate built-in driver. Plan on loading the latest device drivers from media you create before reinstalling Windows.
Reinstalling Windows 7, Step by Step
1. Find your Windows 7 product key: Typically this 25-character alphanumeric string is printed on a sticker affixed to your PC or on documentation included with your PC. Alternatively, you can use a keyfinder program such as Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to pull your product key from the Registry. You need your product key to reinstall Windows.
2. Download the ISO file for the version of Windows 7 you own:
The above links point to Digital River, a licensed distributor of Microsoft software. These downloads are each over 3GB, and your product key will work only with your edition of Windows, so make sure to select the right one. UPDATE 2/25/15 Digital River no longer works; you can now download Windows 7 ISOs from Microsoft's Software Recovery website.
3. Download the Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool. This utility lets you copy your Windows 7 ISO file to a DVD or USB flash drive. Whether you choose DVD or USB makes no difference; just confirm that your PC can boot to the media type you select.
4. Boot your computer using the Windows 7 DVD or USB flash drive. Follow the prompts to prepare the destination hard drive and install Windows.
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When you install Windows 7 on a new system, you traditionally have to go through a long process of downloading years of updates and constantly rebooting. Not anymore: Microsoft now offers a “Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup” that essentially functions as Windows 7 Service Pack 2. With a single download, you can install the hundreds of updates at once. But there’s a catch.
This update package, which combines updates dating all the way back to February 2011, isn’t being made available in Windows Update. If you’re installing a Windows 7 system from scratch, you’ll need to go out of your way to download and install it. If you don’t, Windows Update will download and install the updates one by one–the slower, more tedious way.
Here’s how to download and install the Convenience Rollup so you don’t have to do it the hard way.
Step One: Install Service Pack 1, If You Don’t Have It Already
RELATED:Where to Download Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 ISOs Legally
The Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Convenience Rollup requires you already have Service Pack 1 installed. If you’re installing Windows 7 from scratch, you can get this in one of two days:
- Install From an Disc or ISO That Contains Service Pack 1: Microsoft offers Windows 7 ISO images for download. These ISO images have Service Pack 1 integrated, so you’ll already have Service Pack 1 after installing from them.
- Download and Install SP1 Separately: If you installed from an older Windows 7 disc without SP1 integrated, you’ll need to install Service Pack 1 afterwards. Launch Windows Update, check for updates, and install the “Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932)” update to install it. You can also download Service Pack 1 directly from Microsoft and install it without going through Windows Update.
If you’re not sure whether you have Windows 7 Service Pack 1 installed, open the Start menu, type “winver” into the search box, and press Enter. If it says “Service Pack 1” in the window, you have Service Pack 1. If it doesn’t, you need to install Service Pack 1.
Step Two: Find Out Whether You’re Using a 32-bit or 64-bit Version of Windows 7
If you’re not sure whether you’re using a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 7, you’ll need to quickly find out.
Click the “Start” button, right-click “Computer” in the Start menu, and select “Properties.” You’ll see this information displayed to the right of “System type” under the System header.
( State) • There is a flaw in this diamond. Transitive Intransitive I feel a severe pain in my head. It is therefore better to say that a verb is used Transitively or Intransitively rather than that it is Transitive or Intransitive. ( Being) Most verbs can be used both as Transitive and Intransitive verbs. Verb list with meaning.
Step Three: Download and Install the April 2015 “Servicing Stack” Update
You can’t simply install the Convenience Rollup after installing Service Pack 1. You have to first install the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update first. Don’t ask us why; ask Microsoft.
Head to the April 2015 Servicing Stack Update download page and scroll down to the download links. Click the appropriate link to download the update for either an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit version) of Windows 7.
Click the “Download” link on the next page to download the file, and then double-click the downloaded update file to install it.
Step Four: Download and Install the Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup
Update: You can quickly download the Convenience Rollup using the below direct download links. Microsoft could change them at any time, so send us a note if these links appear dead. If the direct download links work, you can skip downloading the update from the Microsoft Update Catalog website. Just download the appropriate update and run it to install it.
- Download the 64-bit version.
- Download the 32-bit version.
If the direct download links don’t work or you just want to download the update in the official way, you’ll have to download the Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup from Microsoft’s Update Catalog website.
Unfortunately, this website requires ActiveX, which means it only works in Internet Explorer–you can’t use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or even Microsoft Edge on a Windows 10 PC.
After opening the site in Internet Explorer, click the yellow information bar and select “Install This Add-on For All Users on This Computer.” You’ll have to agree to a User Account Control pop-up after installing the ActiveX control.
You’ll see several update packages available for download:
- Update for Windows 7 (KB3125574): Download this if you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows 7.
- Update for Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 Edition (KB3125574): Download this if you’re using a 64-bit version of Windows Server 2008 R2.
- Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems (KB3125574): Download this if you’re using a 64-bit version of Windows 7.
To download the correct update for your system, click the “Add” button to the right of it on the page.
If you want to download more than one update–for example, if you’ll be updating both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 systems and want offline copies of the patch–you can click the “Add” button for more than one update to download them at once.
After you do, click the “View Basket” link at the top right corner of the page.
Click the “Download” button here to download the update–or updates–you’ve selected.
You’ll need to select a download location for the update. For example, you could select your Downloads folder or Desktop.
Click the “Browse” button, select a folder, and then click “Continue.”
The update will begin downloading, so wait until it does. Depending on the update you selected, the download is between 300MB and 500MB in total.
When it’s downloaded, you can open the folder you downloaded the update to and double-click it to run it and update your Windows 7 system.
You can also copy this update file to a USB drive or network location and run it on additional Windows 7 PCs, quickly updating them as long as they already have Service Pack 1 installed.
This update package only installs all the updates released after Service Pack 1 and before May 16, 2016. Future updates won’t be added to it. If you’re downloading this package after that date, you’ll need to install the Convenience Rollup, then launch Windows Update to install any updates released after this package.
Going forward, Microsoft will offer a single large update once a month with bug and stability fixes. It will also offer smaller updates for security problems, as usual. This should result in less updates to install after you’ve installed the large Convenience Rollup package.
Windows 7 is definitely the most famous OS in the World right now, so it’s not a surprise if people want to get their hands on it. There can be many reasons why you may wish to download a Windows 7 copy for free (legally). May be you lost the DVD that came with your PC or damaged it, and now you don’t want to spend money on a new copy (it’s not that cheap either).
You can easily download Windows 7 ISO image for free and legally right from the Microsoft website. However, you will need to provide the Product key of the Windows that came with your PC or your purchased.
If you are looking to get Windows 7 and its Product key for FREE, then we are sorry to say, it is impossible to get it Legally. Although, we do have a tiny trick that should help fulfill your appetite temporarily (will discuss later in the article).
AdvertisingMethod #1: Download Windows 7 Legally from Microsoft Software Recovery
You can find Windows 7 for free everywhere on the internet and it can be downloaded without any hassle or special requirements. However, these sources are completely illegal and not reliable. There can be many issues with these copies of Windows 7, they might even have malware built right inside!
When you purchase Windows, you don’t actually pay for the Windows itself. You are actually paying for the Product Key which is used to activate the Windows. If you don’t activate your copy of Windows then after the trial period it will not work properly, making it almost impossible to benefit from it. This is why Microsoft doesn’t mind people downloading its Windows 7 operating system for free, as it is almost useless after the trial period without the product key.
So, if you still have the product key, then downloading Windows 7 for free is not really an issue. You can download your Windows 7 ISO image from the Microsoft Software Recovery site by providing your valid product key.
Just visit the Microsoft Software Recovery website and follow three simple instructions to download the Windows 7 ISO image. You will have to provide the Product key that came with your original Windows 7. If you have lost your Product key, then don’t worry, there are still many ways to recover it.
Once the ISO image is downloaded, you will need to burn it to an external drive, such as CD, DVD or USB drive. You will also require an ISO Burning software to burn the ISO image to an external drive.
Here is a Video as well, showing how you can Burn a ISO image to a DVD:
Now, you can just use the external drive on which you burned the ISO image and boot your PC with it to install Windows 7.
Get a Replacement Disc
If for some reason the above mentioned method didn’t work for you, then you can also get a replacement disc (in most cases for Free). This is another legal way of getting your hands on Windows 7, but it might not be as simple as the above process.
If your Windows 7 came with your PC, then you will have to contact the Manufacturer of your PC to send the replacement disc. They might charge a tiny fee for the replacement, but it is definitely worth it instead of getting into illegal methods or buying a new one.
If you bought Windows 7 separately, then you will have to contact Microsoft Supplemental Parts team to get the replacement disc. The customer representative will let you know if there are any fees or charges in the process of replacement.
Extend the Free Trial for 360 days
If you have never purchased Windows 7 and are looking to get your hands on Windows 7 and its product key for free and legally, then you can’t do that. However, as we promised above, we do know a trick that should help you use Windows 7 for almost a year without paying a penny.
When you install Windows 7 by any means, you are prompted to provide a valid product key to activate the Windows. But you also have the option to skip the prompt and access Windows 7 30 day Trial version.
The trial version will come with all the features, but when it will expire your Windows will not work properly (although it will still turn on). However, there is a way to extend the trial period by 30 more days using slmgr -rearm command, which has been added by Microsoft to extend the trial period. You can use the slmgr -rearm command up to 3 times, which means you effectively get total 120 days out of your Windows 7 trial.
Now, you can also make another tweak that will let you use the slmgr -rearm command up to 8 times. This means you get to use Windows 7 Trial for up to 240 more days and 240+120 = 360 days, that is almost a year. If you are okay with using slmgr -rearm command after every 30 days, then you can easily use Windows 7 for free with all the features for almost a year.
Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn’t offer a Windows 7 trial anymore, so you will have to get Windows 7 by any other mean, such as from a friend’s DVD.
Download And Install Windows 7 For Free
How to Use slmgr -rearm Command
Just press Windows+R buttons to open “Run”, you can also open it from the Start menu. In the “Run” window type “cmd” and click on “OK”.
This will open “Command Prompt”, just type slmgr -rearm or copy paste it in the Command Prompt (Ctrl+V shortcut for “Paste” will not work in Command prompt, you will have to right click and select “Paste” from the context menu).
Now press enter and after a short delay you will be prompted to restart your computer (nothing will happen during the delay, so don’t be disappointed). Once restarted the trial period will reset to 30 days.
Note: To take full advantage, make sure you go through the process when there is only 1 day left before the trial expires. If you do it before, the trial period will reset and you will not receive the remaining days of previous 30 day trial period.
Use slmgr -rearm Command up to 8 times
For this Trick, you will have to tweak the Windows registry. Press Windows+R button to open “Run” just like we did above. This time type “regedit” in the blank field and click on “OK”.
This will open Windows Registry Editor, in there you will have to reach this directory:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion > SoftwareProtectionPlatform
In “SoftwareProtectionPlatform”, you will see an option of “SkipRearm”, double click on it.
Another window will pop up where the value will be set to “0”. Set it to “1” and hit “OK”.
Now, you will be able to use the slmgr -rearm command for up to 8 times.
Download And Install Windows 7
Note: Use this trick when you have used all the three attempts of slmgr -rearm command i.e. used Windows 7 trial for 120 days.
If you have any questions or would like to add more information, let us know in the comments below.
Filed in
You can reinstall Windows from scratch using the product key that came with your PC, but you’ll have to find installation media yourself. Microsoft offers free ISO files for downloading; you just have to know where to look.
There area few ways to do this, but they’re all on the straight and narrow–you won’t have to visit a shady BitTorrent site to download ISOs that may be filled with malware. Instead, you get official installation media straight from Microsoft.
NOTE: Depending on the OEM version of Windows that you are running, you might run into an issue using the OEM key with a retail version of Windows. If it won’t activate, you can always install and then call Microsoft to get them to straighten it out and allow your copy to activate. The most important thing is that you have a valid license key.
Download the Windows 10 or 8.1 ISO Using the Media Creation Tool
If you’ve got access to a Windows machine, the official method for downloading ISOs for Windows 8.1 and 10 is the Media Creation Tool. The process for using the tool is largely the same for both versions of Windows, so we’ll be using the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool for our example. We’ll just note where anything differs.
RELATED:How to Find Your Lost Windows or Office Product Keys
One caveat you should be aware of up front is that you can no longer download an ISO for Windows 8–just 8.1. And the product keys are different for Windows 8 and 8.1, so if you have a Windows 8 product key, you can’t just use it to install Windows 8.1. Instead, you’ll have to install Windows 8, then do a free upgrade to 8.1. After you do the upgrade, Windows will assign the new product key to the installation. You can find that product key in a number of different ways and save it for the future. After that, you should be able to do a clean installation of Windows 8.1 using the new product key and won’t have to worry about installing Windows 8 first and going the upgrade route.
Start by downloading either the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool or the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool. Once the file has downloaded, just double-click it to start the tool and then click “Yes” to give it permission to make changes to your PC. When the tool starts, click “Accept” to accept the license terms. Note that the Windows 8.1 version of the tool does not ask you to accept license terms.
(If you don’t want to use the Media Creation Tool and just want to download an ISO file directly, just change your browser’s user agent to a non-Windows browser like Apple Safari on iPad while you’re viewing the download page. Microsoft will offer you a direct download of the Windows 10 or Windows 8.1 ISO file instead of the standard Media Creation Tool, which only runs on Windows.)
When the tool asks what you want to do, select “Create installation media for another PC” and then click “Next.” The Windows 8.1 version of the tool also does not provide this option; it just defaults to creating installation media for another PC (which is what we want).
The tool will suggest a language, edition, and architecture for Windows based on information about the PC on which the tool is running. If you’re going to use the installation media on that PC, go ahead and just click “Next.” If you’re planning to install it on a different PC, clear the “Use recommended options for this PC” check box, select options that are more appropriate for the license you have, and then click “Next.” Note that if you’re using the 8.1 version of the tool, you actually start with this screen. The tool also won’t recommend options; you have to select them yourself.
Remember, your license will only work with the correct version of Windows–if your license is for 64-bit Windows 10 Pro, you can’t install 32-bit Windows 10 Home with it, so ensure your selections here match what’s listed on your product key.
Next, select whether you want the tool to create a bootable USB flash drive with the installation media, or just create an ISO file that you can use or burn to a DVD later. We’re going with the ISO file in this example, but the process is much the same either way. If you go with the USB option, you’ll need to provide a USB drive with at least 3 GB of space. Also, the USB drive will be formatted during the process, so make sure there’s nothing on it you need. Select the option you want and then click “Next.”
Choose a place to save the finished ISO file (or point the tool toward the right USB drive if that’s the option you chose).
At this point, the Media Creation Tool will begin downloading the files and assembling your ISO, which can take a fair bit of time depending on your internet connection. When it’s finished, you can click “Open DVD Burner” if you want to go ahead and create a disc or just click Finish if you don’t want to make a disc right now.
Now that you have your new ISO saved, you’re ready to make use of it however you see fit. You could go ahead and perform a clean installation of Windows (which technically you don’t even need a product key to do), use the ISO to create a virtual machine, or just save it for when you need it down the road.
Download the Windows 7 SP1 ISO Directly From Microsoft’s Website
Microsoft makes the Windows 7 SP1 ISO available for direct download through their site. The only catch is that you’ll need a valid product key in order to download the file–and OEM keys (like the one that came on a sticker under your laptop) won’t work. If that’s you, proceed to the next section.
If you do have a valid retail key, head to the Windows 7 download page, enter your product key, and click “Verify” to start the download process.
After your product key is verified, select the product language you want to download and then click “Confirm.”
Next, choose whether you want the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 7. When you click whichever version you want, the download will begin. Note that download links generated by the site are only valid for 24 hours. Of course, you could always come back and walk through the verification and selection process again to generate new links.
After downloading the ISO file, you can burn it to a DVD by right-clicking it in Windows Explorer and selecting “Burn disc image” to burn it to a disc. If you want to install Windows 7 from a USB drive, the best way is to use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to put that ISO file onto a USB drive.
The downloaded ISO you’ll get from Microsoft includes Windows 7 with Service Pack 1. When you install Windows 7, you can avoid the hassle of downloading and installing the hundreds of updates that came out after SP1 by installing the Windows 7 SP1 Convenience Rollup. Even better, why not take a little extra time and slipstream the Convenience Rollup right into your Windows 7 ISO? That way, whenever you install Windows 7 in the future, you’ll have one ISO with all the updates (at least up through May 2016) already included.
Download Any Windows or Office ISO Using a Free Third-Party Tool
Microsoft used to make all these ISOs available through a site called Digital River, but it doesn’t anymore. Instead, they’re stored on its TechBench site. The ISOs can be hard to find, though, and for versions of Windows other than the most current, the site tries really hard to push you into using the Media Creation Tool instead. Enter the Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool. This free utility provides a simple interface that lets you select the version of Windows you want, then downloads an ISO for that version straight from Microsoft’s download servers. This includes various builds of the Windows 10 Insider Preview. You can also use the tool to download ISOs for certain versions of Microsoft Office.
First, head over to HeiDoc.net and grab the Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool. It’s free and it’s a portable tool, so there’s no installation. Just launch the executable file. In the main window, choose the version of Windows or Office you’d like to download.
Click the “Select Edition” drop-down menu and then choose the edition you want. Note that in addition to the regular editions of the product (such as Home or Professional), you can also download regions specific editions such as Windows N (which is sold to the European market and does not include multimedia apps like Media Player and DVD Maker) and Windows K (which is sold to the Korean market).
After you select the edition you want to download, click “Confirm.”
Next, use the drop-down menu that appears to choose the product language you want to download and then click the “Confirm” button under the language drop-down menu.
Finally, choose whether to download the 32-bit or 64-bit version of the product. Clicking either download button will initiate the download using the ISO download tool, so you’ll need to keep it open until the download finishes. Alternatively, you can use the “Copy Link” buttons to the right to copy the direct download link to your clipboard and then download the file using your browser. Either way, note that most links generated by the tool are only valid for 24 hours, though you can always come back and generate new links.
And that’s all there is to using the Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool. Yes, you could accomplish some of this by digging around the TechBench site, but using this clever little utility is quicker and saves a lot of hassle. Plus, for some products, like Windows 8.1, finding the direct download on the site is next to impossible.
Microsoft also provides other software via the TechNet Evaluation Center. For example, you could download a trial version of Windows Server 2012 R2 and enter a legitimate product key to get the full version. Just click the “Evaluate Now” header on the site to see what trial versions of software are on offer. You will need to sign in with a Microsoft account before downloading.
Image Credit: bfishadow on Flickr