This guide is to help you find an untouched copy of Windows, then install and activate it on any PC. Be very cautious of any copy you find unless you KNOW it hasn't been tampered with, and NEVER try to activate using tools from google.


CTRL+F to search:   Activation   Setup   Education   LTSC   Telemetry


Windows 10 Education edition is a good choice for most users (see Enterprise).
Windows 7 users should consider switching to 8.1 (with Open-Shell), as updates are ending soon.





	Downloading Windows 8/10

For Windows 8.1 and 10, microsoft makes it easy to download them with their 'media creation tool'.  The tool downloads and burns the installer directly to DVD or flashdrive:

microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8
microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10



To get ISOs instead:

	Rg-adugard is a link generating site that allows you to download Windows 8.1/10 ISOs from microsoft.com.
To access them go to   tb.rg-adguard.net   select your edition, click download, and it will start downloading from a temporary link at microsoft.com. To verify the download is coming from microsoft's domain, you can right click the started download and copy the link in Firefox, or click "Show All" in Chrome. You'll find most ISOs under "Windows(Final)".





	Enterprise

	In Windows 10, some options are only available in Enterprise editions, like disabling apps/Windows Store, and the option to send the smallest amount of telemetry. Education edition is a great way to get all of these, as it is a fully functional version of Enterprise and includes all the same features (except the buggy and very limited ReFS filesystem). You can find it on the standard Windows ISO by selecting "Windows 10 Education" during install:

https://tb.rg-adguard.net/dump.php?seach=bee211937f3ed11606590b541b2f5b97237ac09d&str=25&lang=en-US



You can manage Enterprise settings in Group Policy. "0" is the minimum telemetry setting, and only works in Enterprise (including Edu & LTSC). Other versions of Windows will treat "0" as a "1". Be sure to ENABLE the "Allow Telemetry" policy before selecting a value.

https://www.ghacks.net/2018/03/12/configure-telemetry-windows-10/
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/group-policies-for-enterprise-and-education-editions

(Setting telemetry lower than "1" may disable updates. You can use WSUS Offline to get updates manually instead.)
https://www.askwoody.com/2018/windows-10-enterprise-does-setting-telemetry-to-zero-disable-cumulative-updates/





LTSC:
	LTSC (previously LTSB) is a minimal version of Enterprise intended for limited use devices like ATMs and kiosks that need consistency at all costs. The Windows Update client only provides basic security updates for it, leaving out the bug fixes and new components all other users get, which may impact OS behavior and software/driver compatibility. Windows Store/Cortana/Apps etc are also permanently removed from LTSC, unless mods are used to insert them. Regular Enterprise/Education give you the option to turn these features on/off at will, and have the same level of telemetry control. New updates and features are integrated into the next release of LTSC, but these only come out every 2-3 years and must be installed manually from a new ISO.  All versions of Windows (except Home and LTSC) let you set a 1 year delay on major releases without impacting everyday updates.



LTSB (2016)
Torrent:			magnet:?xt=urn:btih:3d46432a6b4be6e3c0d8dcbedfe9d2a550dc65f1&dn=en_windows_10_enterprise_2016_ltsb_x64_dvd_9059483.iso
Checksum:			031ED6ACDC47B8F582C781B039F501D83997A1CF
Source:				https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/discussion-windows-10-enterprise-2016-ltsb.73435/page-2#post-1362825



LTSC (March 2019 Refresh)
Download:			https://cloud.mail.ru/public/ErcU/GjSmd64qM/LTSC%202019%20ISO%20Update%20Feb'19%2C%20compiled%20and%20released%2015%20March%202019/en_windows_10_enterprise_ltsc_2019_x64_dvd_5795bb03.iso
Torrent:			magnet:?xt=urn:btih:527ED958E7B901B78BC260DD0BB7364C71D7D403
Checksum:			615A77ECD40E82D5D69DC9DA5C6A6E1265F88E28
Source:				https://forums.mydigitallife.net/posts/1508318





	Downloading Windows 7

Microsoft has made it more difficult to download Windows 7. Since their last website change the easiest way is usually to torrent a copy:

https://www.pcsteps.com/45-download-windows-7-iso-legally-free-digital-river/#Download_Windows_7_Torrent



If you don't need a specific edition, go with "en_windows_7_ultimate_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_677332.iso":

Torrent Link:		magnet:?xt=urn:btih:2534ecaab70e970ffb8a678ba5ae39e8fb945a72&dn=X17-59465.iso&tr=udp://tracker.coppersurfer.tk:6969&tr=udp://tracker.leechers-paradise.org:6969&tr=udp://tracker.zer0day.to:1337&tr=udp://explodie.org:6969&tr=udp://tracker.opentrackr.org:1337

SHA-1 checksum:	 36ae90defbad9d9539e649b193ae573b77a71c83



	If you plan to activate with Daz Loader (recommended), you should set your computer's BIOS to legacy mode BEFORE you install Windows. KMS_VL_ALL can also activate Win 7 on GPT/UEFI, but only if you install the Pro or Enterprise editions. Any time you download ISOs from an unofficial source, you should follow the instructions under "Safety Concerns" to make sure your copy is malware free. If torrenting is not an option, there are a few other sources you can try:

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/links-for-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-microsofts-official-distributer/





	Installation & Setup

If you downloaded an ISO, use it to make an install disk:
USB:   		 https://rufus.akeo.ie/
DVD:   		 http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/imgburn.html
From Linux:	 http://www.webupd8.org/2017/06/tool-to-create-bootable-windows-usb.html


If you need help actually installing Windows, here's a detailed newbie's guide:   https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-clean-install-windows-7-2624917
If you don't have a key, just skip when it asks.



Windows 7:
Needs extra drivers if you're using a processor made since 2015:  	http://pastebin.com/gHCCFBkt
Make updates work and manage telemetry (for Windows 8.1 also):		http://pastebin.com/quC0gz4j
Enable legacy boot in BIOS before installing if you're planning to activate with Daz's Windows Loader. KMS_VL_ALL can activate Win 7 Pro but not Ultimate.



Windows 10:
Old School Start Menu:		https://github.com/Open-Shell/Open-Shell-Menu
Limit Services/Telemetry:	https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10  (Some changes cannot be reversed)

	Windows 10 receives major "Feature Upgrades" twice a year, which are important (in the long run) for staying current with new software and bug fixes, but tend to cause problems when they're first released. The smoothest way to stay up to date is to set them on a one year delay, as any bugs should be resolved by then. In Windows Pro and above you can do this by going into Settings > Update & Security > Advanced options, and deferring Feature Upgrades for 365 days.  You'll still get your everyday security/stability updates as usual, and you can skip half the upgrades this way.

	For more advanced control of what goes into your copy of Windows, there's a 3rd party tool developed on the MDL forums that lets you to trim unwanted features before installing. MSMG Toolkit lets you add/remove almost any Windows component, including many of the services responsible for telemetry. It does not provide the special reduced telemetry option from Enterprise/Education, but can be used in addition to it. Regular updates do not undo these changes, but when you decide to apply Feature Upgrades you should use the tool on a new installer and upgrade from that. Some things can be removed more safely than others; check the Readme file for latest instructions and consider registering on MDL if you have more questions:

https://mega.nz/#F!shRnyaLB!cfKxuAkOZ7adG9dvVFis4A
https://youtu.be/pIsG2wgHwfc
https://www.ghacks.net/2017/05/02/create-custom-windows-10-installations-with-msmg-toolkit/





	Activation

Registering is pretty easy if you'd like to verify these links for yourself, or read the documentation. DO NOT SEARCH GOOGLE FOR ACTIVATORS, even if you know the name of what you're looking for.





>>>Activate Windows 8.1 or 10 (with KMS_VL_ALL):
https://forums.mydigitallife.net/posts/838808

Download Sources:	 https://pastebin.com/cpdmr6HZ
Extract with archiver ( 7-zip.org ) and provided password, disable antivirus, then run:

1-SppExtComObjPatcher.cmd
and
2-Activate-Local.cmd

as administrator. Before re-enabling your antivirus, add an exclusion in it for "C:\Windows\system32\SppExtComObjHook.dll".  Works on all versions of Windows 8 and 10, including Enterprise/Education/LTSC.


-Microsoft Toolkit also works, but is no longer being developed. It requires you to set LocalHost Bypass > Bypass Method > Use TAP Adapter
https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/microsoft-toolkit-official-kms-solution-for-microsoft-products.28669/
magnet:?xt=urn:btih:1FB324E0158C8D23FF42922C92731CE1A8D08BF0
2b6d05f9cde75049414433994ab5482c2795086d





>>>Activate Windows 7 (with Daz's Windows Loader):
https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/windows-loader-download.58464/

Torrent Link:
magnet:?xt=urn:btih:37041ba60196e8eff7050a801ebe73cedb8c0748&dn=Windows%20Loader%20v2.2.2&tr=udp%3a%2f%2ftracker.opentrackr.org%3a1337&tr=udp%3a%2f%2fzer0day.ch%3a1337&tr=udp%3a%2f%2ftracker.coppersurfer.tk%3a6969&tr=udp%3a%2f%2ftracker.leechers-paradise.org%3a6969&tr=udp%3a%2f%2fexplodie.org%3a6969

SHA-1 checksum (for the exe only):	 0efc35935957c25193bbe9a83ab6caa25a487ada

	For best results, run the Loader before installing any updates. If it doesn't work right off the bat, check to see if your Windows drive was installed in GPT mode, as that can sometimes interfere (to switch to MBR, enable Legacy Boot in BIOS then reinstall). If you're still having trouble, try visiting the support page: https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/windows-loader-support-and-chat.24902/





>>>If you're just reinstalling your current copy of Windows, you can find your Windows 7/8.1 key with this guide:
http://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

And if you want a backup option, you can also make a copy of your activation files:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/advanced_tokens_manager.html

Windows 10 reactivates automatically, no intervention required.





	Safety Concerns

	The biggest mistake people make when installing Windows from the internet is trusting what random users, torrents, and websites claim is safe. Many people don't realize you're more likely to find an infected source than a good one. Luckily there are some easy ways to double check what you're getting.

	The malware in most copies of Windows is next to impossible to detect. The only sure way to know you have a clean copy is to confirm it's exactly the same as what microsoft has released. This is actually very easy to do, using a short row of numbers called a checksum. As long as the file you download matches the SHA-1 checksum provided by a reliable source, you know what you have is identical to the original. For many years microsoft freely provided checksums to all their ISOs via their MSDN page, but recently they've removed that source from public access. However the old numbers are still well known and you can find them via other sources:

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/links-for-windows-7-sp1-iso-from-microsofts-official-distributer/
https://wiki.installgentoo.com/index.php?title=Windows_7#SHA1_Checksums



When you've found a checksum number, you can compare it easily with tools like these:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Security-Related/MD5-and-SHA-1-Checksum-Utility.shtml#download
http://www.igorware.com/hasher/download
http://www.7-zip.org/   (via the Windows context menu)


	Similarly, most legit activators have been repackaged with malware, including most of the top google results. While activators are generally closed source, and it's not possible to be 100% sure of their contents, your safest bet by far is to stick with the most reputable and community trusted sources, which have been hosted on the MyDigitalLife forums for several years. Checksums are provided here for convenience, but you should get into the habit now of verifying your software directly against its official source any time you have to download it somewhere else.





	Reliability

	No updates have any impact on the real Daz loader in Windows 7, once it has been run successfully. It uses a VERY reliable method to inject Windows with a permanent activation and is very unlikely to ever break once used. At this point Windows 8.1 and 10 are a little more uncertain. None of the tools developed so far are ideal,  and basically involve leaving a copy of the activator to wake up a couple times a day and keep signing you up for 6 month trials. It is possible microsoft could do something in the future to disrupt this, but it's the best anyone has come up with so far. (PCs upgraded through a microsoft offer have a permanent license for the life of the computer http://pastebin.com/4LvsAFk7 )