Windows Vista, 7 and 8 ISO / Image file Download Links   

[ Edited ]

Step 1 - Get the ISO - ISO Download Links

First, look at the Product Key label on the bottom of the computer and make sure you can still read it, before proceeding.

How is this legal?   As long as you have the Product Key (from the bottom of a computer you paid for) for the corresponding version of Windows you download, it is perfectly legitimate and legal.





The ISO Links: 


Windows Vista SP1  32 & 64-bit
*****With that link, you will have to combine the three files into an Image file (aka ISO) first (How to create an image file from files/folders) , using a program like ImgBurn.*****


 tep 2 - Burn the ISO to a DVD or USB
   

I've Got the ISO, Now What?

• DVD Option 

Once you've got a Windows ISO, you have to put it on some type of media, like a DVD or USB flash drive. Burning the ISO to a disc is made easy with ImgBurn's 'Write image file to disc'  -  Option B below.

Vista users: If you used the Vista download link in Step 1 above, you've got 3 different files that must be combined. You'll have to use Option A first to create an Image file from those 3 files and then use Option B to burn that ISO to a DVD (or see the USB Option below)

• USB Option

It wouldn't be necessary to put the ISO on a USB if you have a DVD drive and it is working. Newer, slimmer laptops sometimes don't come with DVD drives anymore, so they must use the USB option.

For putting the ISO on a USB flash drive, another program is required to make the USB drive able to be seen and booted to by the BIOS. "To be seen and booted to by the BIOS", means making the USB "bootable".

Rufus is a good program that creates bootable USB drives. Again, there are other programs out there that do this same thing too.

See Step 3 - What to do with the ISO DVD/USB? Change the Boot Order