Reliable/Safe Direct Download Source(s) for the Windows 10/11 ISO files

[britechguy]

There are occasions, and they seem to be coming more frequently, when I don't want to use the Microsoft Media Creation tool to actually build a fresh ISO for Windows 10 (and I'm sure that will carry over to 11).

I thought I had remembered discussion in the not too distant past of what were considered reliable and safe sources for the various Windows 10/11 ISO files that are ready for download. But if it was, I'm not finding it with a forums search. There are discussions of scripts which all appear to trigger the Media Creation Tool via a different method, but I'm looking for a ready-to-download ISO if such exist out there, somewhere, when I need one "quick."

 

[frase]

..edited

 

[britechguy]

As long as you have required product key I don't see the illegality.

Well, there wouldn't be any, either.

We're both clear that I'm not talking about hacked/cracked ISOs, but ready-made fully legitimate ones.

In the case of Windows 10/11, I'd also very seldom need a product key since my main use of these ISOs is for either Feature Updates that have otherwise stalled, repair installs, or completely clean reinstalls. None of these require a product key since it already exists and is fetched.

 

[frase]

Yeap most stored in BIOS - these are not cracked iso's or distributions.
Please disregard my comment the site now seems to have gone to crap, apologies have not used for some time.

The only real avenue would be directly from MS itself. There is this TOOL availble, though rarely used it.

 

[fincoder]

There are occasions, and they seem to be coming more frequently, when I don't want to use the Microsoft Media Creation tool to actually build a fresh ISO

I'm curious as to what those occasions might be, I've always just used the Media Creation Tool to make the ISO.

The official Windows 10/11 download page (where you get the MC Tool) changes to a direct ISO download if accessed from a non-Windows device (e.g. Mac or Linux). And there's a browser setting tweak to fool sites that look at the client OS, so the official page will allow direct ISO download.

Otherwise use the Heidoc Windows & Office ISO Download Tool, which generates legit direct download links.

 

[britechguy]

The official Windows 10/11 download page (where you get the MC Tool) changes to a direct ISO download if accessed from a non-Windows device (e.g. Mac or Linux).

Well, this I did not know, and if that's the case it could solve the problem.

It's just faster to download a pre-made ISO, and if time is of the essence that's what I'd prefer to do. In almost all cases when time is not of the essence I'll go straight to the Media Creation Tool. In fact, I tell people not to use an ISO they built more than 4 weeks ago, but to use the MCT to create the freshest possible ISO if they can. There's less post-install updating that way.

 

[mikeroq]

There are occasions, and they seem to be coming more frequently, when I don't want to use the Microsoft Media Creation tool to actually build a fresh ISO for Windows 10 (and I'm sure that will carry over to 11).

I thought I had remembered discussion in the not too distant past of what were considered reliable and safe sources for the various Windows 10/11 ISO files that are ready for download. But if it was, I'm not finding it with a forums search. There are discussions of scripts which all appear to trigger the Media Creation Tool via a different method, but I'm looking for a ready-to-download ISO if such exist out there, somewhere, when I need one "quick."

Download Windows 10

Change your user agent in your browser to something that is not Windows, like android or one with Mac OS. Or go to this page on a non windows PC. You can change your user agent in developer tools. Under the three dots, more tools, then Network Conditions.

The Media Creation tool uses an ISO that uses a ESD file to hold the install files instead of a WIM image. ESD is more compressed than a WIM so it's typically under the 4GB file size limit of FAT32. The direct ISO download has the WIM file.

Once you pick your language you will get links to 32 and 64bt download. Also a section with the hashes for the file you can verify.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Techbench by WZT may be of interest.

Techbench by WZT - is a project that will help you without tedious search and registration to download Windows operating systems, Office applications, language packs, and virtual machines directly from Microsoft servers. We do not store any files on the server that are available through TechBench by WZT...​

 

[NJW]

Otherwise use the Heidoc Windows & Office ISO Download Tool, which generates legit direct download links.

+1. Here: https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techn...icrosoft-windows-and-office-iso-download-tool

 

[Larry Sabo]

Otherwise use the Heidoc Windows & Office ISO Download Tool, which generates legit direct download links.

I sometimes find downloads from Heidoc blocked and need to try again later before I can start the download. It's probably because Heidoc is so popular and their bandwidth is limited. I don't know if a similar problem exists at TechBench by WZT but it's good to have it as an alternative in such cases.

 

[Diggs]

downloads from Heidoc blocked

I've never had that and use Heidoc quite a bit. I assumed (and I guess I was wrong) that Heidoc links to a MS download, not host it themselves.

 

[Markverhyden]

It's been sometime but I seem to remember heidoc hyperlinks resolving to M$ servers. Anyways I'll use the download tool that @NJW linked to. But that's rare since my daily drivers are macOS so I'm only presented with the download ISO option.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I just use the USB or ISO creation option from the Windows 10 Media Creation page linked above...one of the options gets you to it pretty quickly...no scripts or anything required.

 

[GTP]

I use the-eye.eu/MSDN/
It has a ton of MS Software


I think the site is down right now however.

 

[fincoder]

I assumed (and I guess I was wrong) that Heidoc links to a MS download

No you are right. Heidoc provides microsoft.com download links, so you know they're official.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Windows 11's media creation tool page includes a direct ISO link. Too bad Win10s doesn't...

 

[fincoder]

It's just faster to download a pre-made ISO

How much faster though? Maybe it depends on the internet speed to your premises. I don't download it very often so it doesn't really matter.

I tell people not to use an ISO they built more than 4 weeks ago, but to use the MCT to create the freshest possible ISO if they can. There's less post-install updating that way.

I don't think the downloaded installer is updated very often, certainly not after every cumulative update is released. And the whole idea of cumulative updates is they're all included in the one update. Granted the cumulative update gets bigger over time, but possibly more time would be wasted downloading a new ISO every few weeks.

I generally use the same one until a new OS build is released every 6 months, and never had an issue. If these releases are annual now I'll probably update my installer after 6 months in case there are any changes rolled into the ISO.

 

[Knightsman]

I would suggest using Microsoft action pack or using sysprep to build an ISO.

 

[MudRock]

Well, this I did not know, and if that's the case it could solve the problem.

It's just faster to download a pre-made ISO, and if time is of the essence that's what I'd prefer to do. In almost all cases when time is not of the essence I'll go straight to the Media Creation Tool. In fact, I tell people not to use an ISO they built more than 4 weeks ago, but to use the MCT to create the freshest possible ISO if they can. There's less post-install updating that way.

Why are you downloading and redownloading? Realistically, probably semi-annual (And now annual now that MS is changing back to an annual full update process) - Either get yourself an IODD (or a few) -- AMAZING little boxes (Its emulation of DVD drive built in means it'll boot in just about any system), or use something like Ventoy or similar to make multi-ISO USBs.

The statement about being in a rush; Media Creation Tool really isn't that much slower, and if you're constantly redownloading, time efficiency could be improved by using an IODD or Ventoy.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I just use the Media Creation Tool to download ISO files into a folder, that folder is what I get them from when I need to make new USB installation media.

And for the record, the media creation tool, as well as the upgrade assistant ARE upgraded with every feature release.