Is there a way to get a legal MS OS ISO?

[EliteRetard]

Got a legit copy of Vista 32bit that's been running fine a few years, doing a computer upgrade and I want to reformat to 64bit (for the 4GB limit). From what I understand I can legally use my 32bit CD key to do a 64bit install, but I don't know where/how to get a legit 64bit copy.

Does it matter if I get an ISO with the latest service pack already included as well (mine didn't)?

 

[88keys]

IIRC, you may be able to obtain an Windows Vista x64 iso from Microsoft, however I'm not sure whether that will work with your product license (CD-KEY).

Depending on who your OEM is (Dell, HP, etc.), you'll have a string on your BIOS to allow pre-activation with your recovery CD which is basically a Windows installation disc with a pre-loaded key and a bunch of OEM bloat.

You might be able to get an OEM x64 copy of Vista to work by just entering the CD key on your PC, but I'm not 100% positive.

One easy alternative is to check eBay for Windows Vista x64 recovery DVDs for your PC manufacturer. All that matters is that you have the correct OEM and OS Disc. For example, any Dell recovery DVD for Vista x86/64 will work with any Dell that came pre-loaded with Vista, just as HP, Sony, and so on. However, you can't get a Dell Windows 7 Recovery DVD to work with a Dell PC that didn't come with Windows 7 pre-loaded. Nor can you get a Dell recovery DVD to work with other OEMs like Hp, Sony, etc.

 

[EliteRetard]

IIRC, you may be able to obtain an Windows Vista x64 iso from Microsoft, however I'm not sure whether that will work with your product license (CD-KEY).

Depending on who your OEM is (Dell, HP, etc.), you'll have a string on your BIOS to allow pre-activation with your recovery CD which is basically a Windows installation disc with a pre-loaded key and a bunch of OEM bloat.

You might be able to get an OEM x64 copy of Vista to work by just entering the CD key on your PC, but I'm not 100% positive.

One easy alternative is to check eBay for Windows Vista x64 recovery DVDs for your PC manufacturer. All that matters is that you have the correct OEM and OS Disc. For example, any Dell recovery DVD for Vista x86/64 will work with any Dell that came pre-loaded with Vista, just as HP, Sony, and so on. However, you can't get a Dell Windows 7 Recovery DVD to work with a Dell PC that didn't come with Windows 7 pre-loaded. Nor can you get a Dell recovery DVD to work with other OEMs like Hp, Sony, etc.

Uh, thanks I guess...

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, this is an OEM DVD copy I purchased when I built this computer. I'm upgrading that PC now and would like to re-install the OS as 64bit. I only have a 32bit DVD. As I mentioned, my disk also says nothing about service packs, I think they're on SP2 now (maybe 3? don't recall) and if I could get an updated ISO with the newest SP that would save me time. If I need to prove authenticity I could take photos of the holo DVD & case.

Oh I guess I should also mention this is Vista Home Premium.

 

[nickbits]

Msdn subscriber downloads

 

[88keys]

Uh, thanks I guess...

Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, this is an OEM DVD copy I purchased when I built this computer. I'm upgrading that PC now and would like to re-install the OS as 64bit. I only have a 32bit DVD. As I mentioned, my disk also says nothing about service packs, I think they're on SP2 now (maybe 3? don't recall) and if I could get an updated ISO with the newest SP that would save me time. If I need to prove authenticity I could take photos of the holo DVD & case.

Oh I guess I should also mention this is Vista Home Premium.

I understand what you're saying. But chances are if you purchase an updated installation DVD, will will only get exactly what your PC came installed with and that's it. You might have the latest service pack, but you'll still be getting a 32 bit version of your OS.

Your alternatives are to become a MSDN tech net subscriber and download the OEM version of Windows Vista Home Premium and see if that works. Or you can check ebay to see if someone is selling a Vista x64 recovery DVD for your OEM.

 

[EliteRetard]

Msdn subscriber downloads

Did a google search, found a microsoft website (or it looked like it anyway).
Searched and found what looks like the download page for an X64 SP2 vista disk.
It asked me to log in with what looked like a hotmail sign in...so I did. Maybe that wasn't so smart (gonna change my password now). After I "logged in" it said I didn't have a "subscription" and I get a page asking for my confirmation email and my subscription ID. No idea what that is.

I'm not sure what I just did, or if I just got trolled or something.

 

[88keys]

Is it this?

http://technet.microsoft.com/subscriptions/downloads

That would be the correct one. You'll still have to subscribe to MSDN technet to get ISOs, Although it's been a long time since I signed up so I don't recall the exact details of the process.

 

[EliteRetard]

I understand what you're saying. But chances are if you purchase an updated installation DVD, will will only get exactly what your PC came installed with and that's it. You might have the latest service pack, but you'll still be getting a 32 bit version of your OS.

Your alternatives are to become a MSDN tech net subscriber and download the OEM version of Windows Vista Home Premium and see if that works. Or you can check ebay to see if someone is selling a Vista x64 recovery DVD for your OEM.

I don't know what your saying, or you don't know what I'm saying.

My PC didn't come with anything. I built it. From scratch, with individual parts. I got the case, MOBO, CPU, GPU, RAM, HDD etc all separate and purchased a Vista DVD (in a box and case with a manual COA and product key) to install vista on the HDD I bought and installed in the computer I built. Now I would like to get a few new parts and upgrade past 4GB RAM. This is still the same computer with the same MOBO and CPU (currently, may upgrade).

The version of vista I bought at the time came with only a 32bit DVD and no service packs (as far as I can tell). According to MS if you purchase a copy of vista yourself to install on a PC you built yourself then you can use the product key you got with either a 32bit DVD or a 64bit DVD. I don't have a 64bit DVD but would like to get one or download an ISO so I can make one. If I can get the ISO with the service packs included that would be nice.

There is no recovery disk, and I am the "OEM".

If you want to know, I built this computer with:

Antec 300 case and 620w Neo Eco PSU
Gigabyte MA790GPT-UD3H MOBO
AMD Phenom II X3 720 CPU
4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1066
ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB
Seagate 320GB 7200RPM SATA HDD
CD/DVD Burner
Vista Home Premium 32bit

Now the computer is being upgraded:

Same Antec case/PSU
Same MOBO
Same CPU (may upgrade to X6)
Potentially 8GB (2x4GB 1600 or 4x2GB 1066)
AMD/ATI HD 6950 2GB
Potentially 1TB Seagate 7200RPM SATA HDD (not sure if it works)
Same CD/DVD Burner
Same OS and key, but 64bit instead.

 

[EliteRetard]

Is it this?

http://technet.microsoft.com/subscriptions/downloads

That would be the correct one. You'll still have to subscribe to MSDN technet to get ISOs, Although it's been a long time since I signed up so I don't recall the exact details of the process.

Very similar, but not technet. Looks like that version is expired or something and the msdn version or whatever I ended up at is the new one. So It's legit, I just gotta figure out how to sign up or whatever.

Is this the only way to get a legit Vista 64bit ISO? I'll sign up if so, but if there's a way to do it without the hassle that would be nice.

 

[Dari]

Very similar, but not technet. Looks like that version is expired or something and the msdn version or whatever I ended up at is the new one. So It's legit, I just gotta figure out how to sign up or whatever.

Is this the only way to get a legit Vista 64bit ISO? I'll sign up if so, but if there's a way to do it without the hassle that would be nice.

Try using this as a starting point? Maybe you can figure out how to get Vista.

http://slickdeals.net/f/3939310-download-all-windows-7-dvd-isos-direct-from-microsoft-for-free

 

[EliteRetard]

Try using this as a starting point? Maybe you can figure out how to get Vista.

http://slickdeals.net/f/3939310-download-all-windows-7-dvd-isos-direct-from-microsoft-for-free

That's pretty much what I was looking for. A simple direct download link to get me the ISO.
But Vista instead of 7. Trying to find a legal not hacked version of windows on the internet is near impossible. I have some leads now though so I'll go do some research and see if I can get what I need.

 

[stinger608]

@Elite: I actually have a legit Vista 64 bit ISO that I got 3 or 4 years ago. It is straight from Microsoft. What I could do man, is upload it to one of my ftp servers and give you a link and log in information so you could download it from the ftp server.

Just to show that I am not trying to scam ya or anything, here is my heatware evals:
http://www.heatware.com/eval.php?id=63394

If that would work for ya, shoot me a PM and I can get it uploaded for ya.

 

[Cerb]

http : // downloadsnfix . blogspot . com/2012/08/microsoft-windows-vista-official-iso.html
^ Remove spaces, because the forum filters it like a bad word (though I know well it doesn't filter bad words when I use them...).

Not a straight forward ISO that directly burns, but there are directions for making one from the downloads.

 

[blackangst1]

Looks like there is no official digital ISO for Vista.

 

[grss1982]

MS does not host any ISO for Windows Vista unless of course you're a Technet or MSDN Subscriber.

The best that could be found in the Interwebz when it comes to Windows Vista downloads are these:

Windows Vista download links:
x86 SP1
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msoffice/pub/X13-49120/X13-49120.exe
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/msshus/vista32/boot.wim
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/msshus/vista32/install.wim
x64 SP1
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msoffice/pub/X14-63453/X14-63453.exe
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/msshus/vista64/install.wim
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/msshus/vista64/boot.wim

Make a DVD with the files above: http://www.mydigitallife.info/how-to-make-vista-bootable-dvd-with-wim-downloaded-files/

FYI, msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net links are also the same links hosted for Windows 7 ISOs.

 

[Engineer]

I have a copy of 64bit Vista OEM from MSDNAA (ISO) but am not sure how to get it to you. Don't have an FTP and don't want to share in a way as to get in trouble. Hmm.......

 

[EliteRetard]

Well thanks for all the input, I think I may have my solution.
Unfortunately I'm running the disk on an old IDE to USB DVD drive and installing to a HDD that may be broken. It'll be a while before I know for sure if I got a good copy/install.

 

[Mushkins]

MS does not host any ISO for Windows Vista unless of course you're a Technet or MSDN Subscriber.

The best that could be found in the Interwebz when it comes to Windows Vista downloads are these:

Windows Vista download links:
x86 SP1
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msoffice/pub/X13-49120/X13-49120.exe
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/msshus/vista32/boot.wim
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/msshus/vista32/install.wim
x64 SP1
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msoffice/pub/X14-63453/X14-63453.exe
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/msshus/vista64/install.wim
http://msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net/msvista/pub/msshus/vista64/boot.wim

Make a DVD with the files above: http://www.mydigitallife.info/how-to-make-vista-bootable-dvd-with-wim-downloaded-files/

FYI, msft-dnl.digitalrivercontent.net links are also the same links hosted for Windows 7 ISOs.

Surprised no one mentioned this earlier. This is the 100% legit place to get windows ISOs from one of Microsoft's digital distributors.

 

[tcsenter]

I have a legit AIO copy of Vista with SP2 direct from Microsoft that includes Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate (you select the version during setup). I got it back when Microsoft was offering 64-bit replacement discs for retail copies of Windows Vista, specifically for this purpose (i.e. users who wanted to install 64-bit but only had the 32-bit version). I can put a copy in the mail if you want or I could upload it to my web host (it will take a couple hours to upload).

 

[Matt1970]

The COA key you get for Vista will work on either 32 or 64 bit as long as it's the same version like Home premium, Business, Pro or whatever.

 

[bruceb]

How about a link to Digital River site whereby we can actually see what they have for downloads ? ? Like a home page ? ? Also, do we need an account to be able to download the ISO files ? ?

 

[Cerb]

How about a link to Digital River site whereby we can actually see what they have for downloads ? ?

Because you haven't taken the time to read any posts or links. There isn't an ISO for download. There are the contents of an ISO for download.

Like a home page ? ?

What good is that? Digital River's website tries to sell you on their services. It won't help get you anything from their customers/partners that they host.

Also, do we need an account to be able to download the ISO files ? ?

For what ISOs can be downloaded, yes. To make your own from the downloads linked, no.

 

[OldMX]

Hey guys, why was my post reported / deleted? Was it agains the rules?

Yes. You can't post Windows ISOs hosted at non-MS sources. Please don't do that again.
-ViRGE

Lol ok

 

[piasabird]

You have any idea how many security patches you wil have to download for Vista? Over 100.

I had to reload my vista a while back when I tested Windows 8. It was very painful.

I plan on replacing this computer with a new computer when I can get the parts. My version is Vista 32bit. My E7200 is still working great.