Some people---for whatever reason---are still using Windows 7. If you own a computer running Windows 7 and would like to start afresh with a clean operating system, you'll need a copy of the necessary installation files.
Keep reading to find out how you can legally download and install Windows 7 OEM.
What Is Windows 7 OEM?
If Windows 7 came pre-installed on your machine when you bought it, you probably didn't get a copy of the Windows 7 installation DVD. Instead, you received a 25-digit OEM product key. (OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer.)
Using the product key, you can reinstall a clean copy of Windows 7, free of all the bloatware and spyware some manufacturers have packed in.
How to Download Windows 7 OEM
Microsoft used to make Windows 7 ISOs available for download through Digital River. However, since February 2015, they have been unavailable. Instead, the company has made the disk images available on its own website.
Before following the instructions, make sure you have your product key handy. You'll also need a blank USB with 4GB of memory:
- Navigate to Microsoft's official download page.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and enter your product key.
- Choose your language.
- Select either the 32-bit or 64-bit version.
- Download the file.
To install your clean copy of Windows 7, you need to boot from the USB drive. To boot from the drive, open your computer's BIOS menu during the boot process. The button varies between manufacturers, but it's typically Escape or one of the Function keys.
Learn more about how to create a bootable USB drive. You should also seriously consider upgrading to Windows 10 because Microsoft has ended official support for Windows 7. Here's how to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.