If you have a Windows 7 system and ever need a full installation disk for some repair function such as a failed Windows 10 upgrade, you are likely to be out of luck. Nowadays, most PCs only come with a restore or recovery partition or sometimes a restore disk. However, neither of these provides a full installation but only returns a system to the same setup that it was in when you bought it. This is often not what you are looking for. Here is how to get a legitimate free copy of an ISO file for a Windows 7 full installation disk from the download service that Microsoft uses for online Windows 7 purchases. Note that while the disk file is free you still need a valid product key to activate any installation.

Microsoft itself does not provide Windows 7 downloads for the general public but the company uses DigitalRiver for online downloads. Download links for all popular English language versions of Windows 7 can be found on this page. These are large ISO files containing a number of GB so be prepared for a long download. Once downloaded, the ISO can be burnt to a DVD or placed on a USB. These versions are updated to SP1.  Read More