Where to get Windows Retail CDs?

1

Possible Duplicate:
Where do I download Windows 7 (legally from Microsoft)?
How can I reinstall Windows 7 if I lost my installation DVD?

So I am starting a position as a contractor for an on-site tech company. They recommend having installation CDs for each OS. In the past, I'd tell customers to re-order their recovery CDs, which wouldn't work in this case.

I saw TechNet you can download full software, but that's insanely expensive [$200] for just the downloads. Is there ANYWHERE else I could gain access to just the CDs/DVDs without the licenses? I can't afford to pay $200 out of pocket for that.

Joseph

Posted 2012-02-29T20:55:51.300

Reputation: 617

Question was closed 2012-03-01T21:23:18.363

1$200 for Technet "insanely expensive"? Access to media for most products and two free support calls. Seems pretty reasonable. Especially at 2AM when you need media or help. – Dave M – 2012-02-29T21:10:15.177

@Dave, it's expensive when you're paying out of pocket. And all I need are the ISO files. I'd rather not pay if I can help it. – Joseph – 2012-02-29T21:18:57.680

Answers

2

Since all you need is the media, I'd recommend Bittorrent, but with the qualification that you need to be very careful what you download.

Only download well-recommended files with many seeds to minimize the chance of getting a cracked copy.

Also, searching for the full and correct name of an ISO should help minimize possible malware. Then always mount the ISO's and run full scans with a few different malware tools and AV scanners just to be completely sure.

Before I worked someplace that had TechNet this is what I did for years, and taking these and other common-sense precautions I have never found I was using a bad or cracked disk.

music2myear

Posted 2012-02-29T20:55:51.300

Reputation: 34 957

Do you have a recommended site to search for? And yea, the idea would be to use the customer's existing license should they not have their disk. – Joseph – 2012-02-29T21:01:54.397

3

You might look over here for the legit MS ISO downloads (which yes, are readily available): http://superuser.com/questions/78761/where-do-i-download-windows-7-legally-from-microsoft

– Shinrai – 2012-02-29T21:02:58.960

1I'd just google the full name of the ISO file and add the word "torrent". For server 2008 r2 with sp1 it's: SW_DVD5_Windows_Svr_DC_EE_SE_Web_2008_R2_64Bit_English_w_SP1_MLF_X17-22580 – music2myear – 2012-02-29T21:12:06.857

Or this question, same info as the other question link, but it explains more about where the ISO's are coming from.

– Scott Chamberlain – 2012-02-29T21:43:02.143

Asked: 2012-02-29T20:55:51.300

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Active: 2017-11-23T05:22:36.990