Where to get Window 7?

[jaaa]

Forgive me if this has been covered before. How does one get a copy of Windows 7?

The stuff I see online, I'm hesitant to download a copy from (whereever) and I'm guessing keycodes that are posted on the internet are probably no good. Maybe that's the only way to go?

Suggestions please.

[Vopu]

Hi , i was recently looking into this as well, i am seriously on edge with Win10so i was thinking of a dual/maybe multiboot.
One option is to dig/ask around an old machine not being used or way past its time. Assuming it came with original OEM installation with the product key still readable at the bottom , grab that product key for later use for a download. I would not advise a cracked /illegal copy by torrenting sites so i am, like you looking for a legitimate way.
If you own the unit, have the product key but dont/(have not been given) have the recovery DVD and you have not created your own recovery disc there is a slight possibility you request from the manufacturer of the machine. Just like Win10 , Win 7 can be installed with OEM product keys or say system builder keys. And than there are the corporate keys that can be used by system admins within an institution that legally can be used on multiple machines as deployment units. think of your work laptop. Both these keys can offically and legally be sold. Other than this you can get either cracked keys or buy OEM keys from gaming websites. Eventhough you have mentioned you oppose anywhere as a download source, i dont see any reason not to offically download a microsoft product from microsoft. And for that here is the link mentioned at a couple of websites over the net. Mind you , i have not tried it myself yet.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softwar ... d/windows7
To start your download you need your product key, remember the one you grabbed from that old laptop at the beginning
One other option was to downgrade from Win8 machine with a recovery partition but i have not looked into this if it is still available. I am saying this and you might be thinking why would i need a Win7 recovery partition from another laptop, but there is a way to extract that partition inorder to be used for creating a bootable recovery disc.(with some modification) Limitation on recovery discs was first by manufacturer and than model based those days , not like Win10 activated based on your MB and other HW and written to bios encrypted. I cant seem to find the website now, but it is about modifying manufacturer recovery discs. I have even seen this been mentioned /done in this forum. However i believe that was for a like for like machine. what i mean is Win7 partition from a T440P wirtten/modified to bootable USB to work on say aT460 , or generally the same series of one manufacturer like T series from** to **
Ather than this there is still the official retailers to buy from if they still stock.
That is all i could dig for now , let us know how you have done please Vopu

[MikalE]

You can still buy legal, legitimate, brand new copies of Windows 7 with the COA on e-Bay.

[cadillacmike68]

^^ This.

Post your machine type and model, there might be a w7 DVD set for it.

[RealBlackStuff]

If your machine is a Lenovo Thinkpad, which came originally with a W7 sticker, or had Slic2.1 in BIOS, or had a downgrade-to-W7 option, get a set of Lenovo Recovery discs for your model.
See this: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=128170

[Vopu]

Hi RealblackStuff, This sure is an incredible service and a great piece of work, thanks to theterminator93, i have just checked the T440P factory recovery option is listed as Win7 Pro 64, does that mean throughout the production it stayed as Win7 orignal install with possible Win8 upgrade by microsoft , or the opposite Win8 install with Win7 downgrade? Second hand unit i bought recently (T440P) came with a fresh Win10Pro 64bit install preactivated & without any Lenovo SW, without recovery partition nor with any COA sticker, Only a Win8 sticker nothing else? I have tried to check the MTM listed by forum to see the original factory HW&SW specs but i am getting a wrong input error? I have also tried to trace the unit to see the region & history as i am in U.K but could not find much.
Fyi the type is 20AW-A16R00 with SN#PB-02**** 14/07 ?
I assume with a genuine OEM COA (If i can find one) i would be able use this recovery image ISO on another active partition OR on another SSD/HDD either from ultrabay or M2 SSD for a dual/multiboot ?
Thanks , Vopu

[cadillacmike68]

I wouldn't doubt it. Winblows 8 was VERY UNpopular and most corps shunned it. They bought the systems with W7 with or without an optional "upgrade" to w8. I had an acquaintance buy a T440p and it also has a w7P64 COA label. You should be ably to get a T440 W7 60P set from terminator93, if you meet the board's requirements. You can also buy an original set from Lenovo. They will sell you a set based on your SN's original build.

The previous owner likely ran an "upgrade" to W10 on the system. That's why no LenovoSW or recovery partition. Do you have a w7 or w8 COA? There were some systems sold with w8. Did you look under the battery for the OEM COA?

I think the change in MTM format starting with T440 series (really any x40 series) is not in this forum's DB, but you can look it up on lenovo's site.

[RealBlackStuff]

Run this Slic Toolkit from within Windows, it checks the BIOS if you have Slic2.1 in it.
If so, any Lenovo W7 Recovery set will do.

[Droider]

You can get official iso's from microsofts server using a tool called Heidoc Windows Iso downloader. I can confirm it is %100 legit and unaltered.

[Vopu]

Hi Cadillacmike68, Realblackstuff;
Yes i figured it was just an upgrade from either Win7 or Win8 which wiped the recovery partition. Unit is only a month old second hand when bought , and up until now to be honest i haven't given much tought about the product key as i know it is activated and written in bios and can be recovered either from registry or with command prompt/power shell. This unit didn't come with any sort of COA, neither Win7 nor Win8 and certainly nothing underneath or under battery except a Win8Pro Logo sticker at the bottom cover. I booted up to a system/(windows set up) configuration/hello screen and when done activated automatically when i went online. Since the company does asset management on a large scale and deals with hundreds of units (i think), i thought there is no need for me to ask the seller a COA it may have been as well a system builder or OEM corp.key anyway.
I have extracted the Win10Pro 64 key by CMD/Admin/ wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey ad it matches the Slick P.key listed as Realblackstuff suggested. I can see Win10 Pro 64 18362 / Bios Ver. GLET70WW (2.24 ), Phoenix Acpi2.0 (05/21/2014) Slick 2.1 with the product key matching what i had extracted.
Now come to think of it, do i really need a COA , i assume i can get back to the seller and ask how the unit has been activated /Win10 from an internal Win8 upgrade or a clean/fresh Win10 install with with their own system builder keys?
I know if they had used their own keys for Win10 and if a intend to do a dual boot Win7/8 from the forum DB, i will need the original product key that the unit came with What you guys think
Mind you the seller communicates and very helpfull so far. I remember seing a part of the forum with thinkpadders/forum members providing their ebay I.D's
Does anybody know ''blackwatertech'', ebay front for EOL IT Services Ltd /Maldon Essex ?
Regards / Vopu

[Vopu]

You can get official iso's from microsofts server using a tool called Heidoc Windows Iso downloader. I can confirm it is %100 legit and unaltered.

Hi Droider,
I have heard of Heidoc before but have never used it, now that i look into it i can see as you say it offers clean direct server downloads from Microsoft Tech Bench.Which is the link i mentioned . Somehow microsoft i guess is not using the term ''Techbench'' as it became to much advertised for free/direct ISO's , this in part i believe with their new marketing push towards Win10 source only , and their way to persuade customers to stricly use Media Creation Tool only. This is why the techbench kind of keeps the Win7 & Win8 ISO downloads out of sight in the page deliberately. But clever clogs figured out indeed the page has the source code embedded for Win7&8 and figured out a way .
As said i have not used it ,some further but dated info can be found here. site from 2016
https://www.ghacks.net/2016/02/17/down ... icrosoft/

Vopu

[cadillacmike68]

If the machine was upgraded from W7 or w8, to w10 it won't need a COA sticker. the product key is registered into the system's BIOS as you noted. However you will need a W7 product key unless you use a Lenovo W7 recovery set.

[Vopu]

Hi all,
I have an update on this to share which kind of raised another question. Would like to get your opinion please guys.

if you have Slic2.1, If so, any Lenovo W7 Recovery set will do.

I wouldn't doubt it. Winblows 8 was VERY UNpopular and most corps shunned it. They bought the systems with W7 with or without an optional "upgrade" to w8.

I have contacted the seller and confirmed unit came with Win8 Pro with digital licence, as part of a Group Asset Management from a banking group here in U.K. What he can not confirm is if the unit had been purchased with Win7 or Win8 , if indeed win7, an upgrade has been run for Win8. One other thing he could not confirm is if Win8 purchased with a downgrade option to Win7 or it is a just a feature of Win8 by microsoft nothing to do with the purchase. I looked into this but it is not clear.
Lenovo support has the recovery discs for this model (AS-built) only for Win8.1 Pro with P.N: SDK0E50510 , and If needed and requested from forum moderators, will the product key of Win8.1 i recovered from bios work for Win7 recovery disc ISO as suggested by realblackstuff?
Thanks
Vopu

[MikalE]

Based on the machine type, 20AW, Lenovo reports Win 7 64 bit installed.

Without the complete serial number, the Lenovo search is not more specific.

[RealBlackStuff]

Did you run that tool to confirm you have Slic2.1 (for Vista and W7) in BIOS?
Because W8 and W10 use different keys in BIOS!

See also this: https://forums.mydigitallife.net/thread ... -slp.7280/
Scroll down to HotCarl

[cadillacmike68]

T440Ps came with either W7 or w8/8.1 because w10 was not out yet. Look it up on Lenovo's site with the full MTM and serial # to see the original config. MTM is machine Type and model.. It used to be 4 numbers and 3 alphanumeric. Note T440Ps no longer have a 3 position model, its a 5 or 6 position model #, still a 4 position type, but now alphanumeric.

[Vopu]

Hi Guys,

T440Ps came with either W7 or w8/8.1 because w10 was not out yet. Look it up on Lenovo's site with the full MTM and serial # to see the original config.

https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/gb/.., With type &serial , support states as build configuration is Win8.1 Pro
WIN8.1 PRO SDK0E50510 SDK0E50510 1 - (0) Substitutes (0) Bundles (0)

Did you run that tool to confirm you have Slic2.1 (for Vista and W7) in BIOS?
Because W8 and W10 use different keys in BIOS!
See also this: https://forums.mydigitallife.net/thread ... -slp.7280/
Scroll down to HotCarl

Yes when i run Slic as admin , and it brings up this.
https://imgur.com/0ywk6wj

In the link you refer to i am seeing this , "So basically, as it currently stands, you need 3 things to activate Windows 7:
1) a SLIC 2.1 enabled BIOS (emulated via lo*der, or flashed BIOS)
2) an OEM certificate file (widely available as ".xrm-ms" files)
3) a valid OEM SLP key (like the Lenovo SLP key that leaked a little while back)
of which i think i have the problem with OEM Cert file, under SLP 1.0 tab, i see (2) Valid SLP OEM string offset
Product key in Slic matches what i had recovered from bios

Hi Cadillacmike68, Realblackstuff;
I have extracted the Win10Pro 64 key by CMD/Admin/ wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey ad it matches the Slick P.key listed as Realblackstuff suggested. I can see Win10 Pro 64 18362 / Bios Ver. GLET70WW (2.24 ), Phoenix Acpi2.0 (05/21/2014) Slick 2.1 with the product key matching what i had extracted.

P.S: Bios is not modded nor updated, it is as it came with unit
Thanks again,
Vopu

[fiat682]

you download a windows 7 iso that matches the product key example the product key says windows 7 pro you should get a windows 7 pro iso image wich should be under the notebook or under the battery compartment (remove the battery) then you can activate it via phone activation.
i appreciate that you choosed windows 7 over the crappy w10

[Vopu]

Hi fiat682,
Thank you for your input on this ,and must say i feel like i hijacked the orginal question/post eventhough my problem is almost exactly the same. How one obtains Win7 ?
Also this machine will be a dual/multiboot the moment i resolve this Win7/Win8 conundrum and Win10 will be burried to the gostly depts of my ssd , happily hanging in a lonely tiny partition.
May i kindly advice you scroll (up or down) and read the posts a bit more for some background info before jumping on the gun
Your input noted and apreciated.
A.T.B
Vopu

[w0qj]

We procured one MS Windows 7 Pro, 64-bit on DVD as a general fallback option,
that we can install on any one of our machines at our discretion.

After that, we procured one MS Windows 7 Pro, 32-bit on DVD a few years ago.
Had a devil of a time trying to find this 32-bit version Win7 Pro.
And don't ask us why we wish for this 32-bit Win7 Pro

[dr_st]

I can confirm that the Heidoc Windows 7 (August 2018) ISO works well. You should provide your own license, of course. If it's a Thinkpad with a valid SLIC table, there should be no issue.

To properly install the latest updates (up to January 2020, the end-of-support date), you may first need to manually install the servicing stack updates:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/hel ... er-2008-r2
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/hel ... 008-r2-sp1

[Vopu]

Hi All,
Lenovo support website indicates (as said here) there is an option to order recovery discs (With a Fee)based on original built configuration. Also there is another option for downgraded os's (for Win8.1 and Win10) a one time free of charge recovery disc. (Windows Recovery Media Systems Program) I assume Win7 is not listed as its EOL.
See here https://support.lenovo.com/gb/en/solutions/ht035659
"The Windows Recovery Media Systems Program is applicable for"
Windows 10 Pro systems that are downgraded to Windows 7 Pro (Downgrade program) > (get Windows10 recovery media)
Windows 8.1 Pro systems that are downgraded to Windows 7 Pro (Downgrade program) > (get Windows8.1 recovery media)
Windows 10 Think systems and selected idea laptops and desktop systems (get Windows 10 recovery media and Digital Download only) > (Non-Downgrade program)

Solution & steps for (what i suspect my problem) the OEM certificate file and how to rebuild certificate store can be found in this blogpost.
https://blog.hqcodeshop.fi/archives/207 ... drive.html, some links are broken as its an old post mind you.
And some further reading on the issue /SLP/Slic here.
https://techdoors.wordpress.com/2012/09 ... 7-oem-way/
However, this still does not solve my problem , as this T440P came with factory installed Win8.1(with/without Win7 downgrade option perhaps?) and i still dont know if i can use the SLP i recover (Win8.1Pro) will work with Win7 either obtained from moderators, direct download as mentioned also by dr-st & realblackstuff.
Regards
Vopu

[789]

(as is often the case, the original poster faded away)

Ye gentlemen are making this very simple predicament a difficult, complicated one.

There are plenty of un-modified .isos available for download that will activate using the sticker on the bottom of your laptop.

And there are perfetly good, not cracked, merely stolen and il-legal .isos available for download which will install 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (home, pro, ultimate) on any machine without the need to activate. There is an .iso that will even put on the company branding (from Acer to Toshiba).

The Lenovo recovery set for T420 is available for download. Perhaps it works on a T440.

HP and Dell always gave you an installation CD or DVD that could be used to install and activate XP, Vista, Win 7 on any machince. IBM wanted to be difficult and developed this recovery set concept. In the case of XP, after installation one could make an IBM XP CD, and never bother with the 7-CD set ever again. In the case of Windows 7, if you have a Lenovo machine your best bet is an .iso that Microsoft never expected to be released to the general public.

[dr_st]

And there are perfetly good, not cracked, merely stolen and il-legal .isos available for download which will install 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 (home, pro, ultimate) on any machine without the need to activate. There is an .iso that will even put on the company branding (from Acer to Toshiba).

Such ISOs typically contain a loader, which installs a certificate (and possibly, branding, as you say) and modifies the bootloader to inject SLIC into the memory. I don't think it's accurate to call them "not cracked". In the end it is a question of whom you trust and how much you are willing to venture into the "shady" area. After all, modifying one's bios to install a SLIC table to activate a Windows version the computer wasn't originally licensed for, is just as much a violation of the EULA as using a loader.

[cadillacmike68]

No loaders, etc. for me.

For a while, earlier this year, there were plenty of genuine w7 pro upgrades available on fleabay. This was after the Jan 2020 death knell by microweenies. I'll bet there are Still more W7systems in use than W10...

[789]

Such ISOs typically contain a loader

I wish I could post the links here and you would tell me where the loader is. I can't find win loader or grub loader in these two.

____________________
Has Microsoft produced Windows 7 installation DVDs that were expected not to get into our hands ?

I would like an explanation on SLIC.
A Dell (IBM, HP, Toshiba &c) XP CD from 2002 can install XP pre-activated on Dell machines up to 2014. (Similarly, a Dell or HP Win7 DVD will install for years into the future)
How did the installation CD in 2002 know what the ID in 2014 will be ?

(I would also like to know what the guy did who modified the XP installation files to install pre-activated on any brand)

[dr_st]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Lo ... stallation
This should explain it all.

If you are installing from an OEM ISO onto a PC of the same OEM (which was sold with an OEM license) then the SLP (SLIC) is already embedded in the BIOS, and the certificate in the ISO matches the SLP, so Windows activates automatically.

Vista and later ISOs straight from Microsoft contain no OEM certificate. A loader can inject such a certificate (it's just a file). However, to have such an ISO activate on a PC that was not originally sold with an OEM license (and has no SLP embedded in the BIOS), either the BIOS has to be modified to embed the SLP, or a loader has to be used to manipulate the memory during boot. Both cases are, by definition, software piracy.

XP also had Volume Licensing Keys, which were generic keys that would auto-activate regarding of OEM licensing. They were intended for large organization. Because of how easy it is for such a key to leak, Microsoft discontinued this method starting with Windows Vista.

[789]

If I understood the Wiki article correctly:
Every major brand is SLP-enabled
Manufacturers of SLP-enabled motherboards pay a fee to Microsoft (who is the robber baron pirate here ?)
This, I think, would entitle me to a Microsoft product. And how could anyone fault me for using a stolen or a properly modified installation DVD to put OS on this motherboard ?

If the original poster purchased in the store a Windows 8.1 ThinkPad, he already paid for Windows. Even Microsoft acknowledged these backward entitlements. When Vista was brought out, Microsoft announced that a Vista sticker entitled the owner to XP, w2k, NT 4, and NT 3.51 (until then they didn't even acknowledge that NT 3.51 existed). There is similar acknowledgement relative to Win 7 and 10 ---a person is entitled to "upgrade" to Windows 10, or downgrade to Windows 7. How and where could someone purchase a laptop without giving money to Microsoft ?

Operating systems that use SLP 1.0 (2.0, 2.5) check for a particular text-string in a computer's BIOS upon booting.

T500
Manufacturer: Lenovo
Model: 2055A38
SLP: 4C454E4F 564F ---correct ?
But how can an OEM CD printed 7 years earlier know this ? Where is "the certificate in the ISO" that accepts this SLP ? Could I take the certificate from a Dell CD and insert it into a Fujitsu CD ? Could I take the certificates from every OEM CD and insert them into an .iso that would recognize every SLP as his friend ?

Volume Licensing Keys

Entering this key at the beginning of the installation "MVF4D-W774K-MC4VM-QY6XY-R38TB" would really install Windows XP Professional (32-bit) pre-activated ? Nothing needs to be modified ? Could this be the "trick" that makes a universally pre-activated XP installer ?!!

I am using a volume licenced Windows 2003. It installed without ever mentioning product key or asking me to activate. In which file is this instruction given to XP not to bother with key and activation ?
After installation it is easy to read the key, but before installation in which file would I have to look, and would winvi be enough to read it ?

[dr_st]

Manufacturers of SLP-enabled motherboards pay a fee to Microsoft (who is the robber baron pirate here ?)

They are basically buying an OEM license. Except instead of putting a code on a sticker on the back of the case as used to be done, they are embedding it in the BIOS. Makes sense.

But how can an OEM CD printed 7 years earlier know this ? Where is "the certificate in the ISO" that accepts this SLP ?

I presume the OEM certificate did not change. It's up to the Windows activation service to recognize the OEM certificate on the 7-year old CD, not the other way around.

Could I take the certificates from every OEM CD and insert them into an .iso that would recognize every SLP as his friend ?

That's what some of the generic installation CDs / loaders are doing. The legality of this is questionable.

Volume Licensing Keys

Entering this key at the beginning of the installation "MVF4D-W774K-MC4VM-QY6XY-R38TB" would really install Windows XP Professional (32-bit) pre-activated ?

If you read the Wikipedia page where I presume you took this key from, you will learn that it is a generic OEM SLP key, not a VLK. As such, it will not activate without an SLP. VLKs would activate without an SLP.

I am using a volume licenced Windows 2003. It installed without ever mentioning product key or asking me to activate. In which file is this instruction given to XP not to bother with key and activation ?
After installation it is easy to read the key, but before installation in which file would I have to look, and would winvi be enough to read it ?

I don't know the answers to these questions.

[Vopu]

Hi ,
Will try to contribute as far as i know and searched
Microsoft works with 3 group set of keys.
1-Retail keys, alpha-numeric keys printed on official retail purchased media. Notice microsoft store is also a retail channel. Since they shy away from normal media to digital downloads.
2-OEM keys, Lenovo buys these keys from Microsoft at a fraction of a price , i belive the price ratio for OEM was 1-2/15 and embed them into bios for the entire say T44* series , unit comes pre-activated but needs to be validated at first internet connection. You connect directly to microsoft activation servers, it is said an activated batch file copies the sys info and matches to bios slm before transfering of all data while verification.. OEM's are said to be not unique meaning the amount purchased by lenovo with a couple of different number letter variations, whats not important here is the OEM key , but the Slic more precisely the SLM key embedded. I mean it does not matter what OEM key you have , it is just a permutation of the same key purchased by lenovo from microsoft. Activation, or checking &validation is done on microsoft's end by their own servers so it does not matter what the oem key is , meaning the key represents only the "Lenovo Licence" which is already in bios & sent to microsoft by validation , together with the sys.info.
3- Volume Licence Keys, Corporate and Enterprise customers buy this licence from Lenovo on behalf of microsoft.
-MAK keys, (Multiple Activation Keys), Barclay's bank orders 1200 T480's from lenovo corporate channel, and gets a 1 MAK key from lenovo , IT dept. gets the code and goes to special/corporate microsoft volume licencing activation servers, Microsoft keeps track of all 1200 keys(infact these are virtual permutations of 1 Master Volume MAK key) and uses the specific count to enable activation of set number of (1200) T480's . As agreed between Microsoft and Barclays with a set number of licences, MAK keys can only be used once.Once activated there is no need to reactivate as the key is written in bios. Key extracted from bios for a volume licence will never be an original one but a permutation.For piracy.
-KMS keys, (Key Management Service Key)s, again for corporate /very large scale customers , for units staying on the corporate network. not necessarily an internet connection needed. Units connect to /can be remotely activated via inhouse server connected to internet and only local exit to microsoft volume licencing servers. KMS key together with enterprise Microsoft Software Licensing Service only runs on the inhouse server , this is the only server connected to licencing and holds all corporate device details for activation, to be verified only via corporate network/intranet. KMS keys resets after 180 days and can be used again. More precisely a KMS key for a T480 can be used ona T450,T460,..., KMS keys are not tied to bios as corporate changes /updates /upgrades/repairs units inhouse. If unit will stay in corporate network and will not possibly leave the intranet , KMS keys makes sense as these keys are reusable/reconfigurable on any device within the corporate network. Since activation/validation is done inhouse server and via intranet these units do not need internet for validation , nor they are infact kept away from corporate or end user microsoft activation servers not to mess up things. Again like MAK keys , a key extracted from the bios of a corporate laptop activated by KMS will never be an original but a permutation. For piracy.
You can check the version of your licence by this command prompt.
CMD/admin/slmgr /dli

One dip note.. as far as i know Microsoft validates activations by extended ASCII characters not by numeric or alpha.
Regards
Vopu