J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , Paul
writes:
[]
There is a tool here, which can generate a URL
for some of the software that is still downloadable.

The actual download, comes from a Microsoft server,
not from the heidoc site. You can run sha1sum or
fciv on the final downloaded item, do a Google search
on the sha1sum value, as a means of finding evidence
it is authentic. They don't have every SKU of
CD listed here, and for some of the Student offerings,
it might be harder to trace down the exact right
CD to use with your install.

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/techno.../67-microsoft-
windows-iso-download-tool

Paul

Looks a useful tool.

Who are heidoc, how on earth do they manage to keep something like that
up to date (or don't they), do Microsoft get on well with them, other
similar questions ...

Microsoft 'gets on well" with people that do not host
the files themselves.

If a site makes up URLs that point at www.microsoft.com/somefile.iso
then Microsoft doesn't mind as such.

However, if I downloaded a file and then offered www.paul.com/somefile.iso,
the lawyers would come after me. There would be a DMCA takedown
notice or whatever.

The same goes for WSUSOffline. It uses readily available information,
to generate a list of download URLs. All the installed materials
come from Microsoft.

I don't think Microsoft particularly likes these sites, but
on the other hand, the lawyers have fewer weapons to use on
them. And that's what counts.

Paul