OS - .iso and Software Download

I am looking at a Windows 7 Professional download from Software Plaza. They tell me that I download from the link that I buy - then burn the .iso to a DVD and then install the Win 7 Pro OS on another computer.

I have never done any type of .iso burning. What is involved? How do I do it? Do I need .iso software and what would be the best freeware to use? Is it a safe process? Is it a complete full blown WIN 7 Pro 64 Bit OS process?

The reason I am asking all of this is because I am wanting to buy a laptop from a manufacturer outlet store but the ones that I want only come with Win 8.1. I want to get 8.1 off and Win 7 on upon receipt of the refurbished laptop.

Thanks for any replies,

Dekade

 

Please do not pay for Windows downloads. At the very least it's a ripoff. Use this link instead -

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

You will need a valid product key of course.

 

I understand your reply. However, your link will only give me a copy relative to an OS that I already have installed. In my case - A desktop tower is what I currently have. I need an OS for a new laptop.

 

You can't do it without a product key, and MS don't sell them any more. You would have to transfer your present licence to the laptop.

 

If you decide to go ahead anyway then download the iso to your Win 7 tower, pop a DVD-R or DVD-RW into your drive, right click the iso file and click Burn Disc Image. It's that simple.

 

This was the link where you could get just about any W7 .iso and burn the image to DVD:

http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/


However, it no longer works and Microsoft has decided that you can't even get a copy of the OS without a valid and verifiable license key. This is most likely due to the upcoming "freebie" of W10 as an upgrade.

This is the only (reputable) site to get an image:

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

 

Thanks for the info, but, I don't want to transfer. I need both the tower and the laptop.

 

Understood. Any specific software required?

 

However, that site is still ONLY for an image of a license already owned - correct?

 

None, it's built into Win 7.

 

That's correct. However, you can download the ISO using your current Product Key for either the 32-bit or 64-bit version and burn it to DVD. Then when you want to install it and activate it on the laptop, you'll need to purchase a Product Key perhaps from ebay. That's where I got my retail Product Key for Win 8.1.

 

I see. Didn't know that it could work that way.

 

By the way,

How did you insert my handle with the quote?

 

One thing I should mention from experience is that though you enter your W7 key during install, Windows may say your copy is not genuine later on. Should it do so, enter the same key again and you should receive no further notifications about activation.

If you don't have a valid key, the install will only be good for 30 days. Also, according to the EULA, you cannot use the same key on two different machines though you own them and the key.

 

Do you mean this? At the bottom-right of the post click Quote.

 

Yes I did mean that. So, Evidently "quote" selects the entire reply and then you retain/delete the areas that you want - correct?

 

Thank you, the mekanic, for the extra info. I am just now writing another important thread about .iso stuff that I just found out. I deliberated on a new thread but I decided to proceed with it because it is so much further diversified compared to this thread.

 

That's correct. I always leave the member's name.

 

I know you said you want Win 7 instead of Win 8 on your laptop but you may want to reconsider. Not only will you have trouble locating a copy of Win 7 to install, but you may also have trouble locating Win 7 drivers for that particular laptop.

What is it that you don't like about Win 8? Have you ever used it?

Most people don't like Win 8 due to its lack of a Start Menu, that can be remedied by installing the free program called Classic Shell.

MS is due to ship Win 10 later this year and has said that it will be a free upgrade to both Win 7 and Win 8 users so it may be only a matter of a few months that you actually use Win 8.

 

Thanks strollin',

Yes, you are correct. I have heard so much about the start bar issue and difficulty navigating around in the background of the OS. Classic Shell does present an option. Yes, I am starting to study Win10.

However, I have considered giving into Win 8 or 8.1. However, I am looking at a top 5 laptops manufacturer now that is still shipping WIN 7 PRO which I currently have on all of my household desktop towers.

Thanks again for the input on the subject.

 

Why?
When Windows 10 is released, it will be available as a free upgrade to Windows 8.1 and 7 users... for 1 year! IOBit's Start Menu 8 returns the Start Menu to Windows 8.
The reason users don't like Windows 8 is because it's as flat as the back of a sheet of sandpaper. I see it every time I run CCleaner. And when helping a friend with her laptop. Again why? When we have 3D monitors, 3D TVs, 3D Printers? Why do you or I have to install a program to have the (almost) 3D Aero theme? At the end of the day... only you can decide what you like.

I will use Windows 7 Ultimate & XP Professional until I can no more...
BTW I installed Seven Remix XP and my Windows XP looks like Windows 7!

 

Well ... Eldon ... you are correct ... WHY? I am very content with Win7Pro after working with it for all of these years that there is no need to change. THE ONLY reason I was considering is because somewhere, can't bring up where it was, but, as I was reading online about Win10, that rumor comments were present that they didn't know for certain if they would honor Win7 with the free Win10.

Again, I iterate - that was only hearsay that I read online last week.

 

MS made an official announcement that Win 10 would be a free upgrade for Win 7 and Win 8 license holders so it's no longer hearsay.

In the end, whether a button or other control has a flat or 3D appearance makes zero difference in how it works so I personally don't care either way.

I like Win 7 and still have and use Win 7 on some of my machines but my newer machines came with Win 8 which is a perfectly usable OS.

My take on OSes is that I rarely upgrade a currently working machine to a new OS but new machines get the latest OS.

I doubt I will take advantage of the free upgrade offer to Win 10 as I've been testing the Win 10 Preview and don't see anything there that would cause me to switch. If I buy or build a new machine once Win 10 is released then it will have Win 10 on it.

 

strollin,

Great information. Thanks for the update. Your strategy on OS's seems to be a commonly practiced one. I gather Eldon is another with the same philosophy. It took me many years to go from XP to 7. I would imagine I'll likewise employ the same tactic relative to the arrival of Win10. Plus staying with an OS that one already has for a period of time allows the bugs to get all worked out through service packs.

Thanks again

 

Also, when you go to post a reply, you can wrap quotes around selected text by clicking on the icon in the toolbar and copy/pasting the text you selected between the quote tags (see att'd).

 

Thanks mdonah,

That part I did know and have often used it. Thanks anyway.

Dekade