Confirmed! BMW ISTA-D/P works in windows 7, 8 (8.1), 10 without problem.

Look here: BMW ICOM ista software download with Windows 7, Window 8, Windows 10 installation tutorials (updated in 01-2019)

Part 1: BMW ista-p ista d download
Part 2: ista p ista d install (Windows 7/8.1/10)
Part 3: BMW icom cable for ista

In detail…

Part 1: BMW ista-d ista-p download

Free version:
Rheingold 4.14.14 Standalone / SDP 4.14.12 / ISTA-P 3.65.2.000 (SQLiteDBs EN,DE,RU,OTHER)
https://mega.nz/#!BaBkBawb!_buiiV3KAJ70_ds8mTEL_PBdsRKv3HiKoImaGo4hnQ0

Newest BMW Rheingold ISTA-D 4.12.12 ISTA-P 3.65.0.500 Download

Tested version:
ISTA-D 4.14.20 ISTA-P 3.65.2.000:

Have tested on Windows 7 successfully
Work no issues with BMW ICOM cables such as ICOM A2, ICOM Next, etc.
Confirmed to work perfectly on BMW E/F series
100% no problem in vehicle diagnostics, coding and programming

Part 2: ista d ista p Win 7 Win 8 Win 10 install
BMW ista-d ista-p Windows 7 install:

Step 1: ISTA-D Diagnosis software
Open software
Double click RHEINGOLD icon to change Full Screen
Go to Operations, then Read Out Vehicle Data, press Complete identification
Follow ISTA prompt to connect the ICOM emulator with vehicle
When it shows ICOM, you can click lower right corner Connect to start diagnosis. (If the Status shows firmware, you see update ICOM firmware first, see instruction in Part 5)

Step 2: ISTA-P Programming software
Open ISTA-P software
Click “Reset Settings” tab then close
Open it again
Select ISTA-P language and Resolution
Check the resolution on desktop, it is the same as ISTA-P resolution you just chose.
Select vehicle type, BMW, MINI, BMW Motorcycle or Rolls Royce
Select ISTA-P server automatically

Step 3: ETK
Open ETK software
Click “Extras” tab>> “Settings” to change language and other settings
KSD
Click “Settings” to change language and others

Step 4: Engineer Tools
Engineering & programming software INPA, NCS-Expert, WInKFP etc
Before using the engineer tools, must set/configure ICOM settings
1) Open Engineer Tools, Itool Radar, select first line option, click “Reserve” button on the right

ICOM Device status will be changed to Reserved.
2) Open EasyConnect, do following settings. The IP address must be set to correct 169.254.92.38, click “CHECK” button
Configuration is done. Start using engineering software (INPA, WinKFP, etc.)

BMW ista Windows 8.1 install:
Easy to do:
install Vredist 2013 and 2015, net framework 4.6.1 or 4.6.2
Install admin client and launcher
put license files in right location
Install all ISTA/P Files
Put all correct files in sharedstorage and install all.
Install standard tools , install patches
Use hardlink for PZData

BMW ista Windows 10 install:
Setup on Windows 10 64-bit:
After the Windows 10 update (which failed the first two attempts because it turned out the BIOS needed an update first) most applications were fine.
By simply revisiting the COM port settings for my K + DCAN USB to set back to COM9 , minimum buffer sizes and minimum latency Rheingold ran perfectly.
Loader V3.2 and ISTA-P was a bit more tricky. I re-ran the Network Config Tool. I tried Loader V4.3. No joy. However I did it nicely and ISTA-P runs nicely too, and with the excellent Loader V4.3 .
The Windows Networking and Networking Toolkit for Networking and Networking.
—> The setting was to go into Network Settings , select the USB Loopback which has been renamed ” Ethernet 2 ” and rename it to “USB” then go into its settings just like you would ENET lead and set the IPV4 IP to 169.254.0.8 with a mask of 255.255.0.0

Tip: ista p install help
Question: Where (what path) do you place the SDP contents to support flashing from ISTA?  Also, where do you place the BLP contents as well?
Answer: Put the two folders data and data_swi in C:\Rheingold\PSdZ

And registry:
x86
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\BMWGroup\ISPI\Rheingold]
“BMW.Rheingold.Programming.ExpertMode”=”true”
“BMW.Rheingold.Programming.Enabled”=”true”
“BMW.Rheingold.Programming.PsdzDataPath”=”C:\Rheingold\PSdZ\data_swi”
x64
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\BMWGroup\ISPI\Rheingold]
“BMW.Rheingold.Programming.ExpertMode”=”true”
“BMW.Rheingold.Programming.Enabled”=”true”
“BMW.Rheingold.Programming.PsdzDataPath”=”C:\Rheingold\PSdZ\data_swi”

Good to know:
There are many programs for BMW ICOM full packages:
ISTA-P 3.65.2.000
ISTA-D 4.14.20
SDP programming database 4.14.20
VIN 11.06.2018
ETK 11.2018
KSD 11.2018
INPA 5.00
WINKFP 5.2.3
NCS Expert 4.0
BMWAi 4.6 for hidden functions flash
E-SYS 3.30，ESYS3.33 ,ESYSPlus2.8
ESYSPRO2.8
DR.GINI B020
FSC Navigator Calculation Software

This is for your information.
You should be equipped with laptop knowledge and rich in software installation if you want to install BMW icom software yourself.

If you have a decent laptop,
real professional will help you to install all BMW software in the disk before delivery.

If you don’t have a good laptop to work on,
a second-hand but functional Lenovo T410 can be your way to go.

If you’re new to BMW diagnostics and programming but have nothing,
you can get a full BMW diagnostic and programming kit, incl. icom next, ista and engineering software, laptop with all sw installed. (it will help you save a lot)

Part 3: BMW icom cable for ista

This part is for those who are looking for a decent bmw icom cable: K+DCAN or ENET or ICOM A2/ ICOM Next

In summary,
It depends on your purpose (diagnostic or coding or programming) and model (Exx or Fxx or others).
For Coding, you need different Tools, NCS Expert / SP-Daten for E-Series and E-Sys / PSdZData for F-Series.
All Diagnosis and Coding can be done with cheap DCAN Cable for E-Series and cheap ENET Cable for F-Series.

For Programming (Flashing ECU’s with new Firmware), then you need ISTA/P for for both E-Series and F-Series cars, or you can use WinKFP for E-Series and E-Sys for F-Series. For E-Series Programming, you will need an ICOM, but for F-Series Programming, you can use ENET Cable.

For Exx- Series:
Interface = K+DCAN Cable (OBDII to USB) or ICOM
ECU Data Files = SP-Daten
NCS Expert = Coding Software
WinKFP = Programming (Flashing) Software
EDIABAS = Low-Level ECU Communication Software used by NCS Expert & WinKFP
For Fxx- / Ixx- / Gxx-Series, Mini, & Rolls-Royce:
Interface = ENET Cable (OBDII to RJ45 Ethernet) or ICOM
ECU Data Files = PSdZData
E-Sys = Coding Software
E-Sys = Programming (Flashing) Software

About: BMW ICOM
ICOM A (also ICOM A2, ICOM A3, ICOM Next A): main interface
ICOM B: adapter for programming multimedia in E series
ICOM C: adapter for old BMW with round 20 pin diagnostic plug
ICOM D: adapter for motorcycles
ISTA+ (AKA Rheingold or ISTA-D)
DIAGNOSTICS for All Vehicles
PROGRAMMING for F/I/G/RR & MINI, but requires an ICOM
ISTA-P
PROGRAMMING traditionally for all chassis, but is being phased out by August 2017, except for legacy E-series.
Replacement ECU’s must be NEW
YOU HAVE TO KNOW before you buy ICOM A2 or ICOM A3 or ICOM Next:

ICOM A vs ICOM A2 vs ICOM A3
Modified ICOM A2 for vehicles with OBD access receives a significantly more powerful processor and more storage capacity. And robust aluminium case will help to avoid damage when using in harsh environments. It works better in cooling, runs faster and works more stable, not easier broken than older ICOM A.

ICOM A3 can program all units for all BMW series expect media system, and work more stable and has stronger compatibility than ICOM A2, A1.

ICOM NEXT vs the old ICOM
-> much faster in BMW F and G series ..
-> supports gigabit Ethernet too to be future proof, there currently is not gigabit Ethernet protocol defined yet for autos. Also it has USB3.0 instead of USB2.0 and a better wifi card.

ICOM A3 vs ICOM Next
Reply 1: Both of these have the same hardware. None of them are clones of anything also. A3 is fully china version of ICOM, there is no original version looking like this crap. NEXT is just looking as genuine NEXT, but with old A1/A2 hardware inside, like A3.
Reply 2: I recommend buying an original Icom next. It is priced roughly at 500 euro. Take in consideration that you will probably work on cars that are worth 30-40k euro or maybe more and if your chinese icom fails you even once, you will be spending a lot of money on a bricked ecu.
Reply 3: You can have a Icom Next HQ clone if you don’t have much budget of it. This tool handles multiprogramming and coding quite nicely, much faster in BMW F and G series and if flashing the complete vehicle. It supports gigabit Ethernet too to be future proof, there currently is not gigabit Ethernet protocol defined yet for autos. will be compatibility for future cars. Also, it has a better wifi card and USB3.0 instead of USB2.0 (USB 3.0 is theoretically more than ten times faster than USB 2.0. We need usb 2.0 or usb 3.0 flash drive formatted with FAT32.)
ICOM NEXT A vs ICOM A2
ICOM Next wins in price!!!
2019 ICOM Next A+B+C price: 359.00 usd
ICOM A2+B+C price: 519.00 usd
ICOM Next A wins in performance!!
->handles multiprogramming and coding quite nicely

BMW ICOM Next wins in speed!!
->faster startup and standard wifi
->much faster in BMW F and G series ..
->much faster if flashing the complete vehicle
(Flashing of NBT is not faster with icom next its same like icom A and A2)

Next wins in future cars!
->will be compatibility for future cars
-> supports gigabit Ethernet too to be future proof, there currently is not gigabit Ethernet protocol defined yet for autos.

ICOM Next wins in connection!
-> has a better wifi card
->has USB3.0 instead of USB2.0

note: USB 3.0 vs. USB 2.0
The USB 2.0 standard offers a theoretical maximum signaling rate of 480 megabits per second, while USB 3.0 defines a maximum rate of 5 gigabits per second. In other words, USB 3.0 is theoretically more than ten times faster than USB 2.0

We need usb 2.0 or usb 3.0 flash drive formatted with FAT32.
ICOM Next wins in PCB design!