Microsoft has finally released its Windows 7 download tool for those who’ve decided that they’d like to get their copies of Microsoft’s latest operating system via digital distribution, rather than physically.
According to TechNet Microsoft has finally solved the issue that caused the application to be pulled in the first place. The complaint that had been raised was that the original Windows 7 download tool was seen as a bit bloated and cumbersome; on closer inspection, it turned out that there was a significant amount of code appropriated from an open source project…
Of course, that presents some licensing issues, since the original project was licensed under the GPL and couldn’t be used for profit, Microsoft was obliged to remove the tool and make other arrangements for those who would opt to download Windows 7 rather than install from a disk.
The news that the download tool has been made available will be welcomed by anyone with a netbook who’s been looking to install Windows 7, not to mention the lunatics in our Build Your Own PC competition, many of whom have decided that optical drives are a thing of the past, and you’d be better off using the leftover budget to buy more fans and neon lights.
Microsoft has attributed the delay in getting the download tool back up to extra time spent in localisation for other languages, though that’s likely not too much help to people who have already bought the OS and need to install it but don’t have a DVD drive…
Update: Totally my fault, for anyone who has a copy of Windows 7 and no optical drive, I have to give Nutterguy a massive thanks for posting the link in our comments section.
If you haven’t been able to get an install going, then now is the time… go on, even if you’re in work. Tell the boss it’s something close to your heart 
From our own experience, the networked install of Windows 7 works out very smoothly. No complaints at all now that the tool is available again.
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