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Is there a way to download a Windows.iso anonymously?

Hello, whenever I try to download the Windows.iso from Microsoft, it blocks me because I'm using a VPN. I don't really want to buy proxies or anything for this. I tried to download it off public WiFi but it was way too slow. I only need Windows for updating the EC firmware on one of my older laptops.

The Windows.iso is going to be used offline, I don't want to link my IP to it. I mean, I guess since I'm using it offline anyways, I can just download the .iso with my actual IP, install it offline, and then use a USB drive that has the EC firmware/BIOS update on it and use that to flash the firmware offline? (This laptop can only perform firmware updates through a Windows environment)

I feel like in a way, wouldn't I still somehow be linking myself? What if I flash the firmware and later when I connect the laptop to the internet, it somehow has like metadata/signature of where I updated my EC from? I'm planning on using Libreboot with Linux after I update it.

TexMexBazooka ,

What value does jumping through hoops to download an iso add, exactly?

AtariDump , (edited )

Some devices (Dell - possibly HP) will let you flash the firmware if you load said BIOS update on a USB stick.

https://xyproblem.info/

lemmylem OP ,

That's what I ended up doing and it worked. I think I used like FreeDOS or something like that.

wuphysics87 ,

Someone else's computer. Like a library

potentiallynotfelix ,

You'll still need internet for Microsoft telemetry

VelociCatTurd ,

I just get mine from the massgrave guy

https://massgrave.dev/genuine-installation-media

far_university1990 ,

Download iso from internet archive, but sometimes slow.

Zikeji ,
@Zikeji@programming.dev avatar

Just download it from a third party and compare the checksum with the official information. Granted, the official checksums on their website are behind a few steps, but you already tried on public Wi-Fi - once you generate the link a "Verify your Download" section should appear.

kevincox , (edited )
@kevincox@lemmy.ml avatar

This seems like the way to do it. I went to https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows11 and found the current SHA256 hash for the English version. 36DE5ECB7A0DAA58DCE68C03B9465A543ED0F5498AA8AE60AB45FB7C8C4AE402. IDK if this URL is blocked for some VPNs.

Then I tried a few torrents based on the file name Win11_23H2_English_x64v2.iso.

Example search: https://btdig.com/search?q=Win11_23H2_English_x64v2.iso

I ended up using this torrent which game me the correct file: magnet:?xt=urn:btih:4f5f5cd398d947260876c231f93e2d40b61bac48&dn=Win11_23H2_English_x64v2.iso&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.openbittorrent.com%3A80&tr=udp%3A%2F%2Ftracker.opentrackr.org%3A1337%2Fannounce

Rade0nfighter ,

To be honest it wouldn’t even let me download it off a vpn, on a different OS that hadn’t connected to a vpn, or in a different browser.

Had to find somewhere other than the Microsoft site to get one.

kylian0087 ,

Not sure if it is still possible. But I believe you can on Tor if you spoof your user agent to be a black berry or some other device. Then you can grab the direct download link to the iso and download it over Tor. Been some time since I have done this though. Keep in mind this is from memory so it might be slightly different.

kevincox ,
@kevincox@lemmy.ml avatar

Why would spoofing the user-agent help if it is an IP-based block?

kylian0087 ,

No idea. but I remember the direct download link for the iso to became available due to it.

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