> The iso downloader you can find on windows site is actually a assembler that assemble the iso on your disk from files on mincrosft server.

You can actually still get an iso, but you have to be using or spoofing a non-windows operating system (I've only tested Linux, but I would assume Mac/*BSD as well)

They only precompile iso for a few selected version, I think? You won't get something like xpSP1 or so. They also don't precompile iso for things like fast ring or other non stable version windows.

BTW, There is some third party assembler allow you to generate iso for whatever version you want(even some microsoft unsurpportrd versions).

Interesting. At work we've got physical media for everything below 10, so I haven't needed any downloaded iso's there.

At home, I usually use something from the-eye.eu