Solved Is it legal to download a copy of Windows but use a legit-

dukethedj

Squidward Q. Tentacles
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Opps, Sorry! The full title is: Is it legal to download a copy of Windows but use a legit Product Key?


So any ways, I WAS thinking about getting a new copy of Windows because my old hdd died so yah.. (I found a nice HDD for a replacement) I thought to my self "Wait a minute, I still have that Windows 7 Home Premium product key from when my computer was OEM." It is not being used at the moment so it just might work. I just don't know if it is legal to download a copy of that and use my totally legit product key. Is it totally legal? Will it work with no errors? Will Microsoft think that it was illegally activated? These are answers I need to know. I will love it if you guys would help.


And thanks again.

If that key is alive, It probably would be happy to find out it will be put to good use.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom ll X4 840
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2
    Memory
    Crucial 4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GeForce GTX 560 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC887 (OnBoard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer V196WLB, HP w1907
    Screen Resolution
    1440, 900 (60 Hz)
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar SE16 (568 GB),
    WD Caviar Blue (500 GB)
    PSU
    Corsiar CX 600
    Case
    Some case from 2001
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper T4
    Keyboard
    Dell USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Gateway USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Wave Cable
    Browser
    IE11, Safari, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials, MalwareBytes, EMET v4.0
    Other Info
    Rosewell front USB and cardreader,
    HP DVD burner(x2),
    Pinnacle Systems Firewire card
I'm not sure but I think an OEM version is only good for the computer it originally installed on by the manufacture.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
It is going on that same computer. I upgraded/changed everything but the motherboard. I have heard that the mobo is the ID for and OEM Product Key. The MOBO is the only thing not changed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom ll X4 840
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2
    Memory
    Crucial 4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GeForce GTX 560 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC887 (OnBoard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer V196WLB, HP w1907
    Screen Resolution
    1440, 900 (60 Hz)
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar SE16 (568 GB),
    WD Caviar Blue (500 GB)
    PSU
    Corsiar CX 600
    Case
    Some case from 2001
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper T4
    Keyboard
    Dell USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Gateway USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Wave Cable
    Browser
    IE11, Safari, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials, MalwareBytes, EMET v4.0
    Other Info
    Rosewell front USB and cardreader,
    HP DVD burner(x2),
    Pinnacle Systems Firewire card
If it's going back on the same compute, you should be fine. You may have to use the phone option to activate though.

If you do not have a Windows 7 installation DVD, or it's not up to the Service Pack level currently installed, you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here:

Windows 7 Direct Download Links

Make sure you get the same version you have, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file. Just be careful during the install not to accidentally install some of the bundled junk that comes with it. Always take The Custom Install option.

You can do this on any computer capable of burning a DVD.

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID KEY TO INSTALL THIS .ISO.
The one on the COA sticker on your computer will work.

If you are just using the Recovery Console you do not need a key.

You can also create a bootable USB Flash drive (4GB or larger) to install Windows 7 from.
  1. Download and run Universal USB Installer Easy as 1 2 3[/*]
  2. Select Windows 7 from the first drop down list, all the way to the bottom[/*]
  3. Select the downloaded Windows 7 iso file[/*]
  4. Select your USB flash drive[/*]
  5. Click Create[/*]
For techies or folks who work on computers:

Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility.

This will fit on a 6GB flash drive or can be burned to a DVD.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
The product key I have was for Win 7 Home Premium without the first Service Pack. Would an ISO with sp1 still work with that product key?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom ll X4 840
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2
    Memory
    Crucial 4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GeForce GTX 560 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC887 (OnBoard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer V196WLB, HP w1907
    Screen Resolution
    1440, 900 (60 Hz)
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar SE16 (568 GB),
    WD Caviar Blue (500 GB)
    PSU
    Corsiar CX 600
    Case
    Some case from 2001
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper T4
    Keyboard
    Dell USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Gateway USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Wave Cable
    Browser
    IE11, Safari, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials, MalwareBytes, EMET v4.0
    Other Info
    Rosewell front USB and cardreader,
    HP DVD burner(x2),
    Pinnacle Systems Firewire card
Yes, it will work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Thanks! Just need to get my new HDD in and I will be off to the races!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom ll X4 840
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2
    Memory
    Crucial 4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GeForce GTX 560 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC887 (OnBoard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer V196WLB, HP w1907
    Screen Resolution
    1440, 900 (60 Hz)
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar SE16 (568 GB),
    WD Caviar Blue (500 GB)
    PSU
    Corsiar CX 600
    Case
    Some case from 2001
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper T4
    Keyboard
    Dell USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Gateway USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Wave Cable
    Browser
    IE11, Safari, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials, MalwareBytes, EMET v4.0
    Other Info
    Rosewell front USB and cardreader,
    HP DVD burner(x2),
    Pinnacle Systems Firewire card
I did this quite some time ago. It worked, did have to make the phone call to activate though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
Thanks for all the help! Saved me $100 for a new Windows license.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom ll X4 840
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2
    Memory
    Crucial 4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GeForce GTX 560 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC887 (OnBoard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer V196WLB, HP w1907
    Screen Resolution
    1440, 900 (60 Hz)
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar SE16 (568 GB),
    WD Caviar Blue (500 GB)
    PSU
    Corsiar CX 600
    Case
    Some case from 2001
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper T4
    Keyboard
    Dell USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Gateway USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Wave Cable
    Browser
    IE11, Safari, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials, MalwareBytes, EMET v4.0
    Other Info
    Rosewell front USB and cardreader,
    HP DVD burner(x2),
    Pinnacle Systems Firewire card
You want the SP1 U (media refresh ). Get the bit version you want, might as well get the one called Home Premium, saves fiddling with ei.cfg

I update my installtion media periodically.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom ll X4 840
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-78LMT-S2
    Memory
    Crucial 4 GB DDR3 1333 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac GeForce GTX 560 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC887 (OnBoard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer V196WLB, HP w1907
    Screen Resolution
    1440, 900 (60 Hz)
    Hard Drives
    WD Caviar SE16 (568 GB),
    WD Caviar Blue (500 GB)
    PSU
    Corsiar CX 600
    Case
    Some case from 2001
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper T4
    Keyboard
    Dell USB Keyboard
    Mouse
    Gateway USB Mouse
    Internet Speed
    Wave Cable
    Browser
    IE11, Safari, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials, MalwareBytes, EMET v4.0
    Other Info
    Rosewell front USB and cardreader,
    HP DVD burner(x2),
    Pinnacle Systems Firewire card
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