still possible to get windows 8.1 install media legally?
Old laptop with a Windows 8.1 key on the sticker, the drive died and I've replaced it. I'd like to reinstall what it came with. Does Microsoft still offer the 8.1 ISO anywhere, 64 or 32 bit?
Microsoft has wound down 8.1 since support ended, so don't count on finding the official download page still up. Have a look but I wouldn't build a plan around it, and avoid the random ISO sites, you've no way of knowing what's been added.
Two better routes. First, the laptop maker: a lot of them sell or send recovery media for a specific model if you give them the serial number. Second, a lot of laptops from that era have the key stored in the firmware as well as the sticker, so a clean install of a newer Windows sometimes activates by itself. Is the hardware even worth staying on 8.1 for? It gets no security updates now.
