Up until now, there wasn’t a good way to do a clean installation of Windows 7 without the proper media, as Microsoft didn’t offer a way to download the ISO files. Today this is changing, Microsoft recently launch the Software Recovery Center website, where users can easily download the x86 or x64 version of Windows 7 ISO for free.
Before you could download the installation files from Digital River’s servers, but that is no longer an option.
Downloading the Windows 7 ISO file to make a custom installation, run the operating system from a USB drive, or to simply do a clean install of the operating system is a pretty simple process, you only need need a valid Windows 7 product key and you will also need to register your copy of Windows.
If you purchased a retail version of Windows and you lost the DVD, enter the product key found on the package. If you can’t find the product key, use this tool to retrieve the licensee from your current installation of Windows.
Then you’ll have to validate the product key, once Microsoft knows it’s a genuine license, you’ll be able to download the version of Windows 7 for your PC. After downloading the ISO file, use the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool to burn the installation files into a DVD or USB drive.
Here is the only downside, the new site is to download a retail version of the operating system. If your PC came pre-installed with the operating system, it’s likely that this is a OEM version of the operating system, which means that you won’t be able to download the bits from the new Software Recovery Center. In which case, you’ll need to ask someone if you can borrow the DVD to reinstall Windows 7 with your product key.
The Software Recovery Center not only allows you to download the ISO file for Windows 7, but you can also download the ISO file for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 without needing a product key.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].