Microsoft has finally rolled out Windows 10 to the Public. Genuine users of Windows 7 and 8 would be receiving the windows 10 update if they had opted for the free upgrade before the 29th of July.
Microsoft has made drastic changes to their content delivery system and instead of providing direct links to ISO files of Windows operating systems, the software giant has now implemented various features to ensure that genuine windows users are easily able to get the clean and untouched version of operating systems from their servers.
Just a year back, Microsoft was offering Windows 7 ISO files freely to the public via direct download links. Anyone was able to download Windows 7 ISO files regardless of them using a genuine copy of windows or a pirated one. In order to minimize the wastage of bandwidth and to stop pirates to an extent, Microsoft is now providing a small program called as the “ Media creation tool “ which allows you to download windows operating systems. At the same time the media creation tool also lets you choose whether you want to download a ISO file of the OS or directly create a bootable USB flash drive for installing the OS.
The same feature has been carried over for Windows 10 too. If you want to download Windows 10 ISO directly from Microsoft, you will compulsorily have to install Microsoft’s media creation tool for windows 10.
The good thing is, this method is far better than downloading Windows 10 ISO from file sharing or torrent sites. Nobody knows what those versions of Windows 10 have in them. You might not be able to the OS without any hiccups, but deep within the operating system might have been embedded with an rootkit, adware, spyware or many other potentially undetectable malware.
For those who want to perform a clean install, instead of upgrading to windows 10, here’s how you can grab hold on a clean and untouched version of Windows 10 ISO file directly from Microsoft’s servers.
Before you go ahead and download the Windows 10 ISO file, make sure sure that your PC adheres to the minimum system requirements for Windows 10 as stated by Microsoft.
Minimum System Requirements for Windows 10
Latest OS: Make sure that you are running the latest version of either Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update. Don’t know which version you are running? Check here to find out. Need to download the latest version? Click here for Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update.
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2GB for 64-bit
Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20GB for 64-bit OS
Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver
Display Resolution: 800×600
How to Download Windows 10 ( 32bit / 64bit ) ISO files from Microsoft
Note: Make sure that you have more than 4GB of free storage space on the drive in which you are downloading the Windows 10 ISO file.
- Step 1: Download and install the Microsoft Media Creation tool from the link provided below.
Microsoft Media Creation tool for Windows 10 ( 32 bit )
Microsoft Media Creation tool for Windows 10 ( 64 bit )
- Step 2: Run the Media creation tool for windows 10 and select Create Installation Media for another PC.
- Step 3: Select the Language, Edition and Architecture.
Note: You can select the both option for architecture if you want to create a two in one Windows 10 ISO which has both the 32 bit and 64 bit version of Windows 10.
- Step 4: Click on the Next button when you have selected the above options.
- Step 5: Select USB Flash Drive option if you want to create a bootable Windows 10 USB Flash drive or select ISO file if you want to download a ISO image of Windows 10. ( I am downloading the ISO file )
- Step 6: Click on Next and you will be prompted to select a storage location for the Windows 10 ISO image your are going to download.
There you go!, you will now have to wait for the Windows 10 ISO image to complete downloading. Depending on your internet connection’s speed the download might be complete in a couple of hours or more.
According to Microsoft, Windows 10 will be a free upgrade to genuine users of Windows 7 and windows 8. Users of other operating systems such as Windows XP and Windows Vista will have to purchase a genuine copy of Windows 10.
is this a trial (for example for three years) or a complete version (life time)?