where to legally download windows 7 iso?

I don't think it is illegal to download a copy of the iso if you own a legitimate cd key. I know it is illegal to use the activation key that comes with it though

Every response in this thread is false.

The ONLY legal place is from Microsoft via MSDN/AA or TechNet.

Any downloading of a torrent from ANY torrent site whether it's private, public, or whatever, is illegal.

Yes, even if you have a legit product key.

The removed you from the ACM access because you weren't a legit student and that was everyone trying to get free software.

If you are a legit student, you can give the information of your teacher and your school to the ACM site and you will have your status updated to be able to get your software again, but it's for legit students only.

You can possibly get alternative-media from Microsoft for a small price, but I don't remember if you can do it with Windows 7 yet.

I do remember you could pay a small price and give Microsoft your authentic key and they will ship you a 32-bit or 64-bit disk of Windows Vista and they might have that for Windows 7. It's basically a replacement media program.

I'd say the latter is your best bet, since it's cheap and will give you what you need if they have it set up for Windows 7.

If not, then you're most likely out of luck.

By the way, why do you need a 32-bit ISO? I'm pretty sure if you are using the key from ACM it's good for only ONE activation, so if you've already activated it for 64-bit, you cannot use it again once you obtain a 32-bit copy.

Edit: Here's the link to the alternative media for Windows Vista in can't get a 32-bit of Windows 7 from the sources I've mentioned above.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...a/default.mspx

That's not entirely true. It's considered as a backup copy. There is NO WHERE in the EULA that states how the backup is obtained. As long as he has a LEGIT Registered key, then it is fine.:

10. BACKUP COPY.
a. Media. If you acquired the software on a disc or other media, you may make one backup copy of the media. You may use it only to reinstall the software on the licensed computer.
b. Electronic Download. If you purchased and downloaded the software online, you may make one copy of the software on a disc or other media in order to install the software on a computer. You may also use it to reinstall the software on the licensed computer.
11. DOCUMENTATION. Any person that has valid access to your computer or internal network may copy and use the documentation for your internal, reference purposes.
12. NOT FOR RESALE SOFTWARE. You may not sell software marked as "NFR" or "Not for Resale."
13. ACADEMIC EDITION SOFTWARE. You must be a "Qualified Educational User" to use software marked as "Academic Edition" or "AE." If you do not know whether you are a Qualified Educational User, visit www.microsoft.com/education or contact the Microsoft affiliate serving your country.
14. GEOGRAPHIC RESTRICTIONS. If the software is marked as requiring activation in a specific geographic region, then you are only permitted to activate this software in the geographic region indicated on the software packaging. You may not be able to activate the software outside of that region. For further information on geographic restrictions, visit
go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=141397.
15. UPGRADES. To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligible for the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from.
16. PROOF OF LICENSE.
a. Genuine Proof of License. If you acquired the software on a disc or other media, your proof of license is the genuine Microsoft certificate of authenticity label with the accompanying genuine product key, and your proof of purchase. If you purchased and downloaded the software online, your proof of license is the genuine Microsoft product key for the software which you received with your purchase, and your proof of purchase from an authorized electronic supplier of genuine Microsoft software. Proof of purchase may be subject to verification by your merchant's records.
b. Windows Anytime Upgrade License. If you upgrade the software using Windows Anytime Upgrade, your proof of license is the proof of license for the software you upgraded from, your Windows Anytime Upgrade product key and your proof of purchase. Proof of purchase may be subject to verification by your merchant's records.

You just need to make sure you find a legit student iso that has not been modified in any way.

A backup copy is not the same as someone creating an unauthorized copy of it and uploading it to a torrent site.

The disk itself tells you you may not make unauthorized duplications of the disk.

If you have a key, you CANNOT download a torrent of the software. It was uploaded without permission and you when downloading it are sharing it as well. You are not allowed to upload it to the internet and share it.

When you download the ISO from a torrent site, you're sharing pieces of the file back to others. That's illegal.

If Microsoft allowed this, they would host them for people who lose their disks or have theirs scratched or broken.

NOTHING you stated above has anything to do with this. You CANNOT make a backup of the disk and then upload it to the internet OR download it from the internet unless it's from an authorized source.

Downloading it from BitTorrent isn't an authorized source.

As easy as it may be, it still doesn't change the fact that it's illegal to download it from that source and you while downloading it are sharing pieces back which is also illegal since you are distributing the disk which is not allowed.

Have you ever seen a legit disk? Look on it. It tells you exactly what you need to know.

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yep. I've owned legit disks since Win95. tyvm.

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Okay, then you should see the sentence on the disk stating you cannot make illegal copies of the disk. That also means you cannot make a copy of it then put it on the internet, and you cannot download it from the internet unless it's from MSDN/AA or TechNet. That's why they have those, for a reason.

If it was perfectly legal to download a torrent of it that was uploaded without permission then half of the torrents on torrent sites wouldn't be allowed since it would be considered free software.

Sorry, but you obviously don't understand what you're saying or what I'm trying to say.

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You can't do that. But you can still download windows 7 from ACM. Just go to view your products and download it

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Legality hasn't stopped me from doing anything else before lol.

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And that doesn't make it legal at all.

Downloading an ISO is NOT legal, unless it's from where I have stated three times already in this thread.

You're buying a license to the software, yes. But that does NOT entitle you to downloading an ISO that was illegally duplicated and uploaded.

Just because a store you went to downloads them doesn't make it legal at all, and I can assure you over and over that it is NOT legal to do so.

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I don't see what point you're trying to make.

It doesn't matter what you do, but it doesn't change the fact that it's illegal and the OP has asked if it's legal to do so and IT IS NOT.

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Yes, sure, if I download a CD that I have already bought just to have it on mp3 it may still be an illegal download, but I already purchased the content, just like you already bought a key. I'm pretty sure that's almost legal.. it's like borrowing the installation disc from a (online) friend when yours is scratched, and use your own original key with it.

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You're missing something here.. it's not free software, just the data which you can't use without a legit key, so I wouldn't worry about it. It's "officially illegal", but you already paid for it.

I think it's worth a try especially because they might have blocked your key (you're not a real student?). Or maybe if you really want to be really by the books you could contact Microsoft like the other guy said and ask if they could send you a copy.