Microsoft finally offers Windows 7 ISO downloads Fixing problems with Windows or doing a simple reinstall became a real annoyance when you had to use the install DVD, especially if your machine came without one. Luckily, Microsoft is finally offering Windows 7 ISOs for download. Many users have probably ran into a problem with Windows at some point and decided that a clean reinstall would fix everything neatly. Unfortunately having to deal with DVDs is always a pain: you either don’t have the disc, or your machine doesn’t have a DVD player, or the disc is so old and scratched that it's barely usable anymore. Until now, there wasn’t an easy solution to this, especially as many OEMs don’t pass along install and recovery media like they should. But luckily, Microsoft has finally decided to offer a simple way of downloading Windows 7 straight from their site. Obviously this isn’t a free version, as you’ll need your license key to authenticate the copy. And if your device came with an OEM volume license you might be completely out of luck. Still for those of you out there who have access to their license, this is a great way to legally download a Windows 7 ISO. All users need to do is head over to Microsoft’s website, http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-recovery type in their product key and select which product language you need. Why did Microsoft take so long before finally deciding to give users this option? We don’t know, but later is better than never, right? http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-finally-offers-windows-7-iso-downloads
How to Find Your PC’s Windows Product Key So You Can Reinstall Windows You’ll need a unique product key to reinstall Windows on your PC. This is more confusing than it sounds — you may not be able to re-use the key your computer’s manufacturer used. Reinstalling Windows often feels necessary, especially on new PCs that come packed with bloatware. You can legally download Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 installation media directly from Microsoft. Three Places You Might Find the Key The key you need will be in one of three places: Stored in software on your PC: When you (or your PC manufacturer) installs Windows, Windows stores its product key in the registry. You can extract this product key, and — often — enter it when reinstalling Windows on your PC. Crucially, you’ll need to grab it from your operating system before you begin reinstalling Windows or it could be deleted if you format your hard drive. Printed on a sticker: Some PCs use a technology called “System Locked Pre-installation,” or SLP. If your PC uses this, the product key on your PC — the one stored in the registry, and the one key-viewer applications display — will be different from the actual key your PC needs. The actual key is on a certificate of authenticity (COA) sticker on your PC or its power supply. The one in the registry and key-viewer application is a red herring. This system was common for Windows 7 PCs. Embedded in your PC’s UEFI firmware: Many newer PCs that come with Windows 8 use a new method. The key for the version of Windows the PC comes with is stored in the computer’s UEFI firmware or BIOS. You don’t even need to know it — assuming you’re installing the same edition of Windows the PC came with, it should automatically activate and work without you needing to enter a key. It’ll all happen automatically. Be sure to use the same version and edition of Windows the computer came with. In other words, if it came with Windows 7 Home Premium, you can’t install Windows 7 Professional. READ MORE http://www.howtogeek.com/209975/how-to-find-your-pc’s-windows-product-key-so-you-can-reinstall-windows/
