What is the proper ei.cfg entry for Windows 11?


Spartan

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Windows 11 Education
I see different stuff all over the web. What is the exact text to enter for the ei.cfg file to be able to install any edition (RETAIL not Volume License)?

Also, when installing if I select don't have a product key, I only see home, education, and pro but not Pro for Workstations.


What gives?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware m16 R1
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX
    Motherboard
    Alienware
    Memory
    G.SKILL Ripjaws F5-5600S4040A32GX2-RS 5200 MHz DDR5 64GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4090 16 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AUO B160QAN02.Z 16" QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 240Hz Screen + ASUS ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG 27" Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    QHD (2560x 1440)
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 990 PRO 4TB SSDs (RAID 0) + WD_BLACK SN770M 2TB SSD
    PSU
    330W AC Power Adapter
    Cooling
    Noctua NT-H2 + Fujipoly Extreme Thermal Pads + IETS GT300 Cooling Pad
    Keyboard
    Alienware CherryMX mechanical keyboard (Laptop) + SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL - Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (external)
    Mouse
    SteelSeries Rival 5
    Internet Speed
    1 GBPS Down / 350 MBPS Up
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    McAfee AntiVirus
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 15 9500
    CPU
    Intel i7-10875H
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Impact 64 GB 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q w/ 4 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6 UHD+ Touch, InfinityEdge, 500-nits, Anti-Reflecitve
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 PRO 2TB + 4TB SSDs
    PSU
    Dell 130W Laptop Charger USB C Type C AC Adapter
    Cooling
    Noctua NT-H2 Thermal Paste on CPU + GPU
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Anywhere 3
    Internet Speed
    1 GBPS Down / 350 MBPS Up
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Free Antivirus
I use the following:
[Channel]
Retail

Works to give you the menu choice of which version (Home/ Pro/ Education etc.) to use on clean installs, regardless of BIOS embedded keys, using the MS USB/ DVD creation tool.
There might be others depending on what you want to achieve.
Pro for Workstations is a separate purchase.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 22H2, build: 22621.521
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Scan 3XS Custom 1700
    CPU
    Intel i7-12700K 3.6GHz Base (5.0GHz Turbo)
    Motherboard
    Asus ProArt Creator B660 D4
    Memory
    64GB DDR 3600Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Tuff RTX 3080 10GB OC
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gigabyte G32QC 32inch 16:9 curved @2560 x 1440p 165Hz Freesync Premium Pro/ Dell SE2422H 24inch 16:9 1920 x 1080p 75Hz Freesync
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440p & 1920 x 1080p
    Hard Drives
    WD SN570 1TB NVME (Boot), Samsung 870QVO 1TB (SSD), SanDisk 3D Ultra 500Gb (SSD) x2, Seagate 3Tb Expansion Desk (Ext HDD), 2x Toshiba 1Tb P300 (Ext HDD)
    PSU
    Corsair RM1000X Modular
    Case
    Corsair 4000D Airflow Desktop
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H150i RGB Pro XT 360mm Liquid Cooler, 3 x 120mm fans, 1x Exhaust
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Ergonomic
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Internet Speed
    800Mbs
    Browser
    Edge Chromium
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
when installing if I select don't have a product key, I only see home, education, and pro but not Pro for Workstations.
That would be the case if you used the MCT to make an ISO with an install.esd. If you use the option at Download Windows 11 to download the ISO direct you get an install.wim that has four more editions, including Pro Education and Pro Workstation.


W11-esd-editions.jpgW11-wim-editions.jpg

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, and 24H2 on 3rd October through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Lattitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package. In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media. Also running Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, Canary, and Release Preview builds as a native boot .vhdx.
This is all you need

Code:
[Channel]
Retail
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14
    CPU
    I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB soldered
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop OLED screen
    Screen Resolution
    2880x1800 touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
    PSU
    Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
    Keyboard
    Built in UK keybd
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
    Internet Speed
    900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

    Macrium Reflect Home V8
    Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
    Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
I use this

[Channel]
_Default
[VL]
0
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Vivobook K6502VU
    CPU
    Intel i9 13900H
    Memory
    24GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus Splendid OLED
    Screen Resolution
    2880x1620 HDR
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 990 Pro NVMe MZ-V9P1T0B/AM,
    Samsung 990 Pro NVMe MZ-V9P2T0B/AM
    Internet Speed
    5G ~ 1Gbps, Wifi 150Mbps
    Browser
    Chrome/Edge
    Antivirus
    McAfee LiveSafe
I use this

[Channel]
_Default
[VL]
0
That does not work anymore with Build 26080 multi edition ISO. It just does not prompt anymore for edition selection during clean install.

It still works fine with 23H2 Build 22631.2861. Why did they change it in Build 26080?
Here is the menu I get with 22631.2861 simply using that
ei.cfg

[Channel]
_Default
[VL]
0

Here it is with Build 22631.2861 created with MCT, just adding the above ei.cfg in the Sources folder. What and why did they change in 26080?
1715585117669.png

Looks to me that when they recently modified the oobe setup for Dev and Canary they lost the edition selection menu and reverted to an old logic that requires both files EI.cfg and PID.txt to select the edition to be installed instead of the one that came with the PC.

 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Yoga 920
    CPU
    Intel I7-8550U
    Motherboard
    n/a
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics UHD 620
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio (SST)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4k Touch screen
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
Uhh… what’s the difference between Ed and Pro Ed??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Yoga 920
    CPU
    Intel I7-8550U
    Motherboard
    n/a
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics UHD 620
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio (SST)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4k Touch screen
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
They may have an answer here:

Forget Reddit

Actually other than "Change license" within Ms - the best way IMO is to download from UUPDUMP the relevant windows build you want and then include extra editions in the prompt.to be included in the iso.

Then when running the install you will get prompted for the edition you want to install. If using dism /Apply-Image select the appropriate edition via index=<n>

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
Forget Reddit

Actually other than "Change license" within Ms - the best way IMO is to download from UUPDUMP the relevant windows build you want and then include extra editions in the prompt.to be included in the iso.

Then when running the install you will get prompted for the edition you want to install. If using dism /Apply-Image select the appropriate edition via index=<n>

Cheers
jimbo
The question asked by dacrone was simply:
What is the difference between Windows 11 Education and Windows 11 Education Pro.
Nothing to do with uupdump. 😂🤷‍♂️
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Yoga 920
    CPU
    Intel I7-8550U
    Motherboard
    n/a
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics UHD 620
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio (SST)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4k Touch screen
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
😂 so just a newer con by Microsoft to hustle more money out of people via bloating education edition with garbage and labeling it ed pro so they can charge you to “upgrade” to education and get no actual new features. Got it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
Here is an example with Build 26080 for installing Windows 11 Pro for Workstations on a machine that came with standard Pro.
I also repeated the same test with Canary Build 26212.5000 multi edition ISO created from uupdump.
As I suspected, I got exactly the same behavior. No way to get the edition selection menu during setup. 😝🤐🤷‍♂️
Had to use both files to install a specific edition.

1) EI.cfg

[EditionID]
Pro for Workstations
[Channel]
_Default
[VL]
0

2) PID.txt

[PID]
Value=DXG7C-N36C4-C4HTG-X4T3X-2YV77

(Note that the PID in this case is a generic key for Pro for Workstations).
Again, there is no edition selection menu. The edition is selected with the 2 files above saved in the Sources folder. 😎

1715631388294.png
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Yoga 920
    CPU
    Intel I7-8550U
    Motherboard
    n/a
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics UHD 620
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio (SST)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4k Touch screen
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
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