Microsoft still allows you to download Windows 7 SP1 ISO directly through their website. However, you need a valid product key in order to download this file, and OEM keys (such as the one found on your laptop) won’t be able to work for this process. So, what do you do if you don’t have a valid product key? Downloading Windows 7 ISO is still possible with the help of handy third-party tools.
Downloading Windows 7 using a free third-party program
Although Microsoft used to make a number of ISOs available to download through a website called Digital River, they don’t do that anymore. Instead, they store the ISOs on their TechBench website, where they can be incredibly difficult to find, particularly when it comes to older versions of Windows. That’s where third-party tools come in.
While there are many similar programs available, we will use the Microsoft Windows and Office ISO Download Tool for the purposes of this article, as it’s a free tool with a simple interface that lets you navigate easily, and download a number of Windows (and even Office) ISOs. Here’s how to use it:
- Firstly, download the free software using the provided link. As it’s a portable tool, it won’t require installation; all you have to do is launch the executable file once the download is completed.
- In the main window of the tool, there will be a Choose Software list on the right-hand side, where you can check the circle next to Windows 7.
- Next, click on the Select Edition drop-down menu, where you can choose the exact edition you want. Note that apart from the regular editions of the OS, such as Home or Pro, you can also opt for region-specific versions, like the Windows N (European market) and Windows K (Korean market).
- After you choose the Windows edition of your preference, press Confirm.
- A drop-down menu will now appear, where you can select the product language you’d like to download. After the language is chosen, click on the Confirm button located under the language menu.
- Then, choose whether you want to download the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows. Finally, press the Download button to initiate the downloading process. Keep in mind that you will need to keep the ISO download tool open until the download is complete.
While you won’t need a valid product key to download the ISO, you might need one to activate Windows 7, and complete the installation process. Thankfully, a working key can easily be found through many free key generators available online.
