These downloads are the generic, retail versions of Windows. For best results, you’ll want to burn that ISO file to a DVD, which in turn should behave pretty much like an original installation DVD. Depending on your internet speed, that could be anywhere from an hour to several days’ worth of download. You’re looking at a download of several gigabytes for most Windows editions. Important things to know about your Windows download You can download Windows 8.1 in ISO form directly from Microsoft here.Īgain, the link is to the US-English download site. Once again, that’s a download of the US-English version directly from Microsoft. That’s a download of the US-English version directly from Microsoft.Įven though Windows 11 may be automatically downloading on some machines, downloading the ISO or running the installation assistant is often the fastest, most reliable way to perform the upgrade or re-install. So I must cover my assets and include this bottom-line caveat: if you elect to take this download from anywhere other than Microsoft itself, you assume all risk and potential liability relating to its legality. Legal issues aside, I will say this: in my opinion, downloading Windows is ethical if (and only if) you already have a valid, purchased product key, or the machine you are installing on already has a digital license from a previous installation. (There are some exceptions around Windows 10’s upgrade path.) Those you cannot just download for free: you’ll either need to have one that works (and not all do), or you’ll need to purchase a new one. I know of no legal places to download Windows XP, Vista, or 7.īeginning with Windows 7, Microsoft made full ISOs of the operating system available for download.īut you’ll still need your product key. I believe that’s still true for versions prior to Windows 8.1. Even if you had a copy of a product key to activate it, simply downloading a copy of the software breaks copyright law. It’s been my understanding for years that downloading a copy of Windows from … well, from just about anywhere, was illegal. You can upgrade any machine already running a licensed copy of Windows to Windows 10 for free, otherwise you’ll need to purchase a license key.

Windows 8.1, 10, and 11 can all be downloaded from Microsoft directly.

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