Windows 7 download ISO files

Topic

New Reply

I recently had to reinstall Windows on a Dell desktop that I bought from a refurbisher. It had Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1 installed and a product key sticker on the case for Windows 7 Pro for Refurb PCs. (I had never heard of this version.) Upon checking the BIOS settings, I discovered that the OS had been installed in RAID/ATA mode, not RAID/AHCI mode, and the only good way to change this was to reinstall the OS. Since I had installed updates before realizing this, I opted to do a custom install and reformatted the hard drive. I downloaded the ISO file from the Microsoft Digital River link provided here: http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59186.iso http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59186.iso The download was interrupted, I resumed it, and it completed at less than the stated size. I repeated this six times today on two different systems and got the same results. I burned several dvds with the iso file and none of them would boot the system. I went to Microsoft’s Software Recovery site and put in the product key on the case, and could not download the software as the key was not accepted. The message said to contact the manufacturer. Aaaauuuugggghhhh to quote Snoopy.
At this point my only options seemed to be: 1) see if I could buy a disk from the refurbisher; 2) see if I could buy a disk from Dell. Either of these options would entail another week wait before I could use the system. I thought, aha, I have a Windows 7 HP disk; I’ll copy it, delete the ei.cfg file and burn it to a DVD. That wouldn’t boot the system, either.
I searched and found one other person on another forum who reported this problem. Surely, we are not the only ones. What is going on with the Windows software? Why is the 3.09gb iso file only 2.619gb when downloaded, and non-bootable? It looks like someone is deliberately causing the iso file downloads to interrupt and corrupt so they cannot be used to reinstall the OS.
Anyone else try to download Windows 7 Pro x64 SP1 media refresh ISO file lately?
Kathy

Reply | Quote

Replies

Correction: The link was provided here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/cannot-find-digital-river-download-site/66a8439b-0d16-4b70-92f7-1c8486a46ebf

Reply | Quote

They are the Media Refresh editions – try one of the older versions (X17-24281) http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

A while ago I had similar problems downloading a Win 7 x64 HP so downloaded the Pro version and removed the eicfg which did the job for me, but was before the Media Refresh editions were released – of which I haven’t had any problems with.

I don’t know if you can do the same with Ultimate for your Win 7 Pro…..

Reply | Quote

I tried X17-24281 and got two messages; first, that the file couldn’t be downloaded, and on retry, that it was completed at 24,281KB, which of course is wrong. I looked at the X17-59186 ISO and it looks like all the files are there; however, the DVD when burned will not boot. I was able to burn the media refresh editions of HP 2 weeks ago, so either this is a new development, it is a problem with the Win7Pro ISO, or I’m doing something wrong. I will try your suggestions and post back with results. Thank you. Kathy

Reply | Quote

What software are you using to burn the DVD?

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

Windows 8 Disk Image Burn and also tried Cyberlink Media Suite; no go on either one.

Reply | Quote

You also have the option of using the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

Yes, that is what I used a couple weeks ago. But this time, it said the file wasn’t a valid ISO file.

Reply | Quote

I’m downloading X17-59186 now but as the download takes ~1hr 20mins on mine, I’ll let you know how I get on later and I always use the Windows USB/DVD Tool to create the bootable ISOs.

Did you try the Win 7 Ultimate download ?

Reply | Quote

The Windows USB/DVD Tool said it wasn’t a valid ISO. Will d/l Win 7 Ultimate as soon as I find a decent download manager.

Reply | Quote

Mine was also interrupted and on Resume only produced 2.4GB so I didn’t bother wasting a DVD on it.

Which program did you use to burn the ISO when you created the disk a couple of weeks back ?

This is probably a silly question but I’m going to ask it anyway – did you change the boot order so that it booted from the ODD first ?

Reply | Quote

Mine was also interrupted and on Resume only produced 2.4GB so I didn’t bother wasting a DVD on it.
Which program did you use to burn the ISO when you created the disk a couple of weeks back ?
This is probably a silly question but I’m going to ask it anyway – did you change the boot order so that it booted from the ODD first ?

That is exactly what is happening to me. I am going to try with a download manager if I can find one that isn’t full of adware.
I used Windows 8 Disc Image Burner to burn the DVDs a couple weeks ago. This time, I used that and also tried Cyberlink Media Suite 10. I’m going to try Rufus with a USB stick next time if I can get the ISO to download.
Yes and when it didn’t boot, I restarted and entered setup and made sure the ODD was first in boot order.

Thank you. I appreciate your help very much.
Kathy

Reply | Quote

Sorry, I now see how the reply function works. Should have replied with quotes.

Reply | Quote

Thank you very much for this link. I did contact Jan and he gave me the Azure links to the old software without SP1, which I will use if I have no luck with a download manager on the Digital River links. I do suspect the downloads will be retired soon as they are (not really) being replaced with the Software Recovery. I tried that and it said my key was not valid. I suspect that Software Recovery only works with keys purchased retail or through MS, not OEM, not manufacturer installed, and definitely not refurbisher keys.

Reply | Quote

OEM keys don’t always work on ISOs but in the link I’d PM’d you with, when clicking on the Windows tab has a Retail product key as well as one for Win 7 x64 bit Pro.

As it has already been suggested and is the tool I use to create the bootable disk, try Windows USB/DVD Burner Tool http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

I don’t think a download manager is going to be of much use on the Win 7 Media Refresh site as they would appear to being retired, but you could try the retail product key on one from http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links as previously posted.

Lower down the page is a link for your X17-59186.

Reply | Quote

I tried the Feb 2015 link for the Win 7 x64 Pro and got a 404 error, yet when I tried the X17-59186 lower down the page which weren’t supposed to work, I was redirected to where I had to input a product key and found that neither a Retail, x64 bit or Dell keys were accepted.

It does say that if you have any key problems, to contact MS and as you have a valid key, perhaps you should do that, explaining the circumstances why you need to reinstall – or go back to where you bought the machine.

Reply | Quote

I tried the Feb 2015 link for the Win 7 x64 Pro and got a 404 error, yet when I tried the X17-59186 lower down the page which weren’t supposed to work, I was redirected to where I had to input a product key and found that neither a Retail, x64 bit or Dell keys were accepted.

It does say that if you have any key problems, to contact MS and as you have a valid key, perhaps you should do that, explaining the circumstances why you need to reinstall – or go back to where you bought the machine.

The messages I got when I input the refurbisher key and the original Dell key were to contact the manufacturer, so there is no use contacting MS. I will contact the refurbisher seller, but I don’t expect them to help, because I could have backed up the ATA install. I’ve done reinstalls so many times that I didn’t expect any problems that I couldn’t work around. The ei.cfg unlocker worked for me before. I was surprised that it didn’t work with my media refresh HP x64 DVD and will look more into what happened there. The DVD did work on another box where I reinstalled HP, so it’s not that. I’ve been looking for a Win7Pro Dell DVD; that might work.
Thank you very much for your help and suggestions.

Reply | Quote

…The DVD did work on another box where I reinstalled HP, so it’s not that…

I regularly have to re-install Windows on customers’ computers, and have had no problems using OEM installation DVDs with retail product keys. But I haven’t had cause to try using a retail installation DVD with OEM keys, so can’t say whether that would work.

Reply | Quote

I’m in the process of downloading X17-59186.iso (no Product Key required) from here:

http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59186.iso

It’ll be a while, but I’ll report my results. This issue has me intrigued.

>>>Edit: One of the reasons I’m intrigued is that Dell is still offering Latitude laptops with Windows 7 Professional SP1 preinstalled with upgrade rights (and media, for a small fee, if requested) to Windows 8.1 Pro. Also, it hasn’t been all that long ago (late December 2014) that I downloaded 7 HP SP1 from the Digital River site. Also, it would seem that if MS were shutting down the Windows 7 downloads, they would just take them offline, not pooch the downloads as a means of discouragement.<<</Edit

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

That one got interrupted at 36%. After resuming, it finished in about 5 seconds, yielding a 1GB file, which I deleted. Trying another approach.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

As that link is a direct download link for X17-59186 – do you have a link for the main site where there would be a choice of Win 7 ISOs ?

Reply | Quote

Looks like you’re hitting the same brick wall that we have.

Reply | Quote

Looks like you’re hitting the same brick wall that we have.

I tried again on my Windows 7 Pro desktop with nothing else running, and it was interrupted.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

If you have your Win 7 Pro product key, have you tried any from http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links to see if it will accept your key ?

The keys I’d tried were from a Tips & Tricks Blog which it wouldn’t accept just as it wouldn’t for Kathy’s Refurbisher key.

Reply | Quote

Upon checking the BIOS settings, I discovered that the OS had been installed in RAID/ATA mode, not RAID/AHCI mode, and the only good way to change this was to reinstall the OS.

There might be another solution. I think you could create a backup image of your RAID/ATA, switch modes, format and restore from the backup.

Reply | Quote

I discovered that the OS had been installed in RAID/ATA mode, not RAID/AHCI mode, and the only good way to change this was to reinstall the OS.

There might be another solution. I think you could create a backup image of your RAID/ATA, switch modes, format and restore from the backup.

That won’t work because the restored image will still be using the ATA driver.

Also, I thought the OP had already reformatted the drive so the ATA installation is no longer available to make an image from. But if it does still exist, and if there’s no reason besides the AHCI issue to go through a clean install, the OP should try this technique. I’ve used it a few times to switch customers’ Win7 systems from ATA to AHCI without any problems.

That doesn’t resolve the question of why everyone is having trouble getting the ISO, though, and that’s a genuine concern in its own right.

Reply | Quote

Re dg1261 #27 post concerning ATA (AKA “IDE” or “Native IDE”) and AHCI. See Neowin Guide: How to change from IDE to AHCI without reinstalling Windows.

Reply | Quote

That won’t work because the restored image will still be using the ATA driver.

Also, I thought the OP had already reformatted the drive so the ATA installation is no longer available to make an image from. But if it does still exist, and if there’s no reason besides the AHCI issue to go through a clean install, the OP should try this technique. I’ve used it a few times to switch customers’ Win7 systems from ATA to AHCI without any problems. That doesn’t resolve the question of why everyone is having trouble getting the ISO, though, and that’s a genuine concern in its own right.

Thank you. I did try the technique for switching from ATA to AHCI and it didn’t work. I think it was because the AHCI drivers weren’t on the HD. Went back to ATA, tried to add the drivers manually so Windows would install them when I switched to AHCI and rebooted, still didn’t work. That is when I decided to reformat and reinstall.

Reply | Quote

Why haven’t you contacted the company who supplied your refurbished computer? Surely they are in the best position to assist you?

Reply | Quote

Try checking this article:
Windows downloads for all operating systems – gHacks Tech News -> http://www.ghacks.net/2014/12/18/windows-downloads-for-all-operating-systems/

Tom

Reply | Quote

Try checking this article:
Windows downloads for all operating systems – gHacks Tech News -> http://www.ghacks.net/2014/12/18/windows-downloads-for-all-operating-systems/

Tom

I tried the X17-59186 from there and that was interrupted as well – just glad I’d already created a number of bootable disks.

Reply | Quote

X17-59186.iso (which I downloaded from DigitalRiver in April last year) is 3.09 Gb.
39286-win7pro
Click to enlarge

Hope this helps…

Reply | Quote

Seems to have migrated to here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

Zig

Reply | Quote

Seems to have migrated to here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

Zig

That’s where you get sent to when you click the lower ones in http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links but it doesn’t seem to be accepting any product keys.

Reply | Quote

That’s where you get sent to when you click the lower ones in http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links but it doesn’t seem to be accepting any product keys.

I just tried my Windows 7 Professional Upgrade key and it wouldn’t take it, either.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

That’s where you get sent to when you click the lower ones in http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/14-windows-7-direct-download-links but it doesn’t seem to be accepting any product keys.

It wouldn’t accept my product keys either; it just returned a “unsupported product” message.

Seems likely the ISO files are for retail versions, not OEM (my product keys are OEM).

Note that in the purple square in the upper-right it says “This site enables you to recover and install Microsoft software purchased through a retailer”.

Reply | Quote

Seems to have migrated to here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

Zig

I just tried that one and it validated my retail key.

39303-Screenshot-11
The links point here, will try thr smaller one now.

39304-Screenshot-1239305-Screenshot-13

Dowloaded & the size matches, created a boot USB using rufus and will be back shortly.

eta (cmtrgy has posted after this) The x86 download worked fine, it was bootable and ran the Windows installation fine up to the accept license page. I backed out at that point.

Reply | Quote

Out of curiosity I checked the Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO Image Downloads today
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/ to see what would happen

NOTE! Newer SP1-U (Media Refresh Edition) Links are available >>HERE<< comes up with
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/page-2#post-124821

Selecting the link for Windows 7 Home Premium x86 English comes up with
http://microsofthup.com/hupus/error404.html
The Page or File You Requested Could Not Be Provided
The resource you are looking for has been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.
HTTP Error 404 – File or directory not found
— The same results occur on other ISO links also plus a few other computers I checked out had the same results

Has anyone seen that today?

I don’t know what’s going but maybe there are attempts going on to fix the interrupted downloads and then upon resuming the download it “completes” within seconds situation

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

Reply | Quote

Looks like MS are making people jump through hoops just to get a valid download for themselves as they will probably have to contact MS to authorise the download.

Reply | Quote

I haven’t tried any for Win 7×64 HP with my Toshiba generic key as the problem is with getting a Win 7 x64 Pro version for Kathy – however when I had to reinstall Win 7 to get back in once using one of the older Win7forums ISOs, the Toshiba generic key worked.

So, Coochin – if you run something like Belarc Advisor you can get the vendor’s generic key to see if it will accept that.

Reply | Quote

…So, Coochin – if you run something like Belarc Advisor you can get the vendor’s generic key to see if it will accept that.

The keys I have are “generic” OEM keys for OEM installation kits I purchased from my supplier (a wholesaler) along with parts to build my PCs. As such, I am the “vendor”.

Reply | Quote

The keys I have are “generic” OEM keys for OEM installation kits I purchased from my supplier (a wholesaler) along with parts to build my PCs. As such, I am the “vendor”.

I’d assumed you were talking about an OEM machine where Belarc gives the vendor’s generic key which is different to the COA sticker key.

Reply | Quote

I’d assumed you were talking about an OEM machine where Belarc gives the vendor’s generic key which is different to the COA sticker key.

That’s all right Sudo15. Reasonable assumption.

Reply | Quote

I am going to work on this a little more and will post back with my results next week. I am going to try to find a version I have that will unlock after deleting the ei.cfg file or using the ei.cfg unlocker. The DVDs I have now were made from the HP SP1 media refresh versions, and the x64 one didn’t unlock for me for some reason. I don’t have another box with Pro so I never had a backup for it. My home PCs with Win7 were installed with the HP Family Pack upgrade.

Reply | Quote

I am going to work on this a little more and will post back with my results next week. I am going to try to find a version I have that will unlock after deleting the ei.cfg file or using the ei.cfg unlocker. The DVDs I have now were made from the HP SP1 media refresh versions, and the x64 one didn’t unlock for me for some reason. I don’t have another box with Pro so I never had a backup for it. My home PCs with Win7 were installed with the HP Family Pack upgrade.

Well, I finished the Win7Pro reinstall and delivered the PC. What I finally ended up doing is installing HP, then using the Anytime Upgrade option to upgrade to Pro, entered the refurbisher key from the case sticker and, surprisingly, it activated. I also ordered a Dell Win7Pro DVD from a seller on eBay, but by the time I received it, I didn’t need it.

I have since learned that burning the image from the ISO to a DVD or USB drive doesn’t automatically make it bootable. Nor does copying a DVD. Finally, I have learned that my Memorex DVD+R disks aren’t burning very well. I had 8 bad ones out of the last 14 tries. Don’t know if it is the burning software, the drivers, the disks or another problem at this point, but that’s another subject.

Thanks to everyone who pitched in to help me with this project. I greatly appreciate your kindness and time.
Kathleen Matlock

Reply | Quote

HP Compaq 6000 Pro desktop Win 7 Pro
Belarcs product ID matches the System page Product ID
Belarcs product key matches the COA sticker key

Is there any time the numbers won’t match?

Belarcs 25 character product key has always worked for me when I’ve had to reinstall an OS
Is that because I’ve always worked with an OEM machine?

My edit: are retail vendor keys from when you are the “vendor” building your a computer yourself?

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

Reply | Quote

HP Compaq 6000 Pro desktop Win 7 Pro
Belarcs product ID matches the System page Product ID
Belarcs product key matches the COA sticker key

Is there any time the numbers won’t match?

Belarcs 25 character product key has always worked for me when I’ve had to reinstall an OS
Is that because I’ve always worked with an OEM machine?

I guess it must depend upon the manufacturer.

Belarc gives a different Toshiba key to what is on my COA sticker and what it gives as the OEM key bears no resemblance to either, but the one time I needed to do a clean install, the Toshiba key was accepted.

I didn’t try the sticker key as I figured that would only apply to the OEM install and not the ISO I’d downloaded from Digital River.

Reply | Quote

I didn’t try the sticker key as I figured that would only apply to the OEM install and not the ISO I’d downloaded from Digital River.

The origin of the ISO is immaterial, as long as it matches the license of the COA—Windows 7 Home Premium ISO for Windows 7 Home Premium COA, Windows 7 Professional ISO for Windows 7 Professional COA, etc. The COA should work for either 32-bit or 64-bit.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

The origin of the ISO is immaterial, as long as it matches the license of the COA—Windows 7 Home Premium ISO for Windows 7 Home Premium COA, Windows 7 Professional ISO for Windows 7 Professional COA, etc. The COA should work for either 32-bit or 64-bit.

I’ve seen it reported where the sticker key hasn’t always worked, which is why I’ve advised running Belarc, but in the light of cmptrgy’s post regarding a HP machine – that’s probably when they have when they are the same.

I still think it would be a wise move to check with Belarc first before going ahead with whatever install.

Reply | Quote

Thanks for your inputs. There have been times I have read that they do not match but I didn’t pay attention to figuring out how true the statement was or whether or not manufacturer or versions matter, However, following this thread piqued my curiosity. Whenever I start to work on any computer two items I always do are Belarc and Speccy. From now on I plan on comparing the units COA sticker with Belarc’s & Speccy’s results. I started using Belarc after a couple of friends XP computers ran into serious trouble and of course they didn’t have an install disc and their COA stickers were ineligible.

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

Reply | Quote

I’ve always used Windows USB/DVD burner tool to create my bootable ISOs http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool but ImgBurn is also an excellent tool as it auto burns at the slowest rate that your computer can handle which gives a better burn, but it only does DVDs and not USBs. http://filehippo.com/download_imgburn

Can’t remember if FileHippo bundles any unwanted software with this download, but as always, look for the check boxes before hitting Next or Install.

Reply | Quote

Windows 7 includes .iso burning capability. We’ve used it many times at home with complete success (no coasters!).

Reply | Quote

Microsoft Windows 7 is now downloadable for free – if you own a legal retail copy. According to a LifeHacker story, Microsoft has at last added a direct download to their website for an ISO of the popular 2009 operating system, after the previous downloads were removed from their digital distribution partner, Digital River, last year. Users will need a valid Microsoft Windows 7 retail key to download the file, which can be then be burned to a blank DVD or used to create a bootable USB flash drive.
For the particularly technically-savvy, Windows 7 can also be installed from a virtual machine or virtual drive.

That being said, there are still some major limitations. Microsoft will only unlock the Windows 7 download for a copy purchased independently at retail, which is to say, only keys from copies of Windows purchased in a store, from an authorized website or from the Microsoft website itself, will work. If your copy of Windows 7 came with your PC, otherwise known as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) copy, you’re out of luck; OEM users will be met with an “Unsupported Product” message when attempting to verify their Windows product keys.

http://www.inquisitr.com/1882947/microsoft-windows-7-finally-legally-downloadable/#utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+google%2FyDYq+%28The+Inquisitr+-+News%29

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does 🙂
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

Reply | Quote

Here is the Microsoft link:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote