Windows ISO Downloader 8.46

Windows ISO Downloader 8.46 is a free Windows tool by Jan Krohn of HeiDoc.net. According to the author, it offers an easy way to download genuine Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 disk images (ISO) directly from Microsoft's servers, as well as Office 2013, Office 2016, Office 2019 and Office for Mac. You can download Windows ISO Downloader from the HeiDoc.net website.

Quick facts

• Version: 8.46, released on 8 January 2021
• Author: Jan Krohn (HeiDoc.net)
• Requirements: Windows 7 or newer, .NET Framework 4.x
• Licence: free
• Size: about 6.97 MB according to catalogue data

What it is for

Microsoft offers installation media for current Windows versions through its own tools, but older editions and Office installers are harder to find. People end up on random download sites with images of unknown origin, and a modified Windows image is about the worst thing you can install. Windows ISO Downloader takes a different route: it does not host files itself but shows you the images that Microsoft's servers provide and fetches them from there. That makes it handy for technicians who need a specific edition or language for an older PC, for rebuilding a machine whose original disc is lost, or for setting up a virtual machine with an older system for testing. You still need a valid product key or licence to activate what you install; the tool only fetches the files.

Guide: from ISO to a bootable USB stick

1. Download the tool from the official HeiDoc.net page and run it.
2. Choose the product, then the edition and the language.
3. Start the download and save the ISO to a disk with enough free space.
4. Write the ISO to a USB stick with a tool such as Rufus, or mount it in a virtual machine.
5. Boot the target PC from the stick and install, entering your own product key.

Things to keep in mind

• The tool depends on Microsoft's servers; when Microsoft changes or removes a download, some options stop working.
• Older systems such as Windows 7 no longer get security updates; use them offline or in a virtual machine.
• For current Windows versions, Microsoft's Media Creation Tool is the official route.

Version history is on the HeiDoc.net what's new page.

Pros and cons

• Pro: genuine images straight from Microsoft's servers.
• Pro: older Windows and Office versions in one place.
• Pro: free and small.
• Con: depends on downloads Microsoft still offers.
• Con: does not include a licence or product key.

Alternatives

For current Windows releases, Media Creation Tool from Microsoft is in our listings, and Rufus writes ISO images to USB sticks. For system maintenance after installation, see CCleaner or Advanced SystemCare Free.