Windows 11 Pro install defaults to Home — HP TE01-5364, SK hynix SSD, ei.cfg ignored

mays24 · Aug 22, 2025

Body:
After 7 weeks and 33 install attempts, I’m seeking expert insight into a persistent issue with a clean install of Windows 11 Pro on a new HP Envy TE01-5364 desktop.
Context:
I’m attempting to install Windows 11 Pro to a newly created partition on a fresh SSD. The original Windows 11 Home installation is being preserved on a separate partition for archival and fallback purposes. The SSD (“Mickey”) is now visible during install thanks to the correct NVMe driver injection. However, despite using an file to force the Pro edition, Windows Setup defaults to installing Home. I suspect the embedded OEM key or firmware logic is overriding the installer’s instructions.

Steps Already Taken:
• Created bootable USB with specifying Professional
• Injected NVMe driver via F6 folder (Intel RST VMD 9A0B)
• Tried Rufus ISO, Media Creation Tool, OEM DVD, and direct USB copy
• Mounted ISO on C: and transferred to USB manually
• Disabled/enabled Secure Boot for testing
• Tried multiple USB sticks and install methods
• 23 of 33 attempts failed due to driver issues (now resolved)
• Last 10 attempts failed due to installer ignoring Pro edition and defaulting to Home

What I Need:
A targeted solution for this exact scenario — not general install advice. I’m looking for someone who understands how HP firmware, embedded keys, or SSD controller logic might override edition selection, even with a valid Pro license and correctly configured install media.

garlin · Aug 23, 2025

When WinPE Setup runs, it tries to match whatever Windows edition may be been previously installed. This is done to simplify the upgrade or recovery process for non-technical users. Setup will follow a set of rules, in order, to determine what to do.

1. Are there any mounted disks with an existing Windows folder? If yes, Setup tries to determine what edition it was installed, and auto-selects the same edition.

2. If there are no Windows folders to be found, Setup searches for an OEM product key in the BIOS. Setup will try to auto-select based on the key's edition.

3. Setup checks for an unattended file to seach for the following details (in order of importance):

- index number within the install image

- product name within the install image

- permanent activation key or generic install key

If you don't have an unattended file or are missing those details, then a copying a \sources\EI.cfg file on the install media will allow you to select other editions.

Code:

[Channel]
Retail

[VL]
0

4. If your unattended file selects which image to install by index number or product name, then it will ignore the previously detected Windows editions and proceed with installation.

When using Rufus' Windows options, it will create a hidden unattended file which may conflict with an user-provided autounattend.xml file.

5. If you don't have an unattended file, you can use Schneegan's autounattend.xml generator to create one.

Here's a bare bones preset to automatically select Pro for installation:
Generate autounattend.xml files for Windows 10/11

Code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State">
    <!--https://schneegans.de/windows/unattend-generator/?LanguageMode=Interactive&ProcessorArchitecture=amd64&ComputerNameMode=Random&CompactOsMode=Default&TimeZoneMode=Implicit&PartitionMode=Interactive&DiskAssertionMode=Skip&WindowsEditionMode=Generic&WindowsEdition=pro&InstallFromMode=Automatic&PEMode=Default&UserAccountMode=Interactive&PasswordExpirationMode=Default&LockoutMode=Default&HideFiles=Hidden&TaskbarSearch=Box&TaskbarIconsMode=Default&StartTilesMode=Default&StartPinsMode=Default&EffectsMode=Default&DesktopIconsMode=Default&StartFoldersMode=Default&WifiMode=Interactive&ExpressSettings=Interactive&LockKeysMode=Skip&StickyKeysMode=Default&ColorMode=Default&WallpaperMode=Default&LockScreenMode=Default&WdacMode=Skip-->
    <settings pass="offlineServicing"></settings>
    <settings pass="windowsPE">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <UserData>
                <ProductKey>
                    <Key>VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T</Key>
                    <WillShowUI>OnError</WillShowUI>
                </ProductKey>
                <AcceptEula>true</AcceptEula>
            </UserData>
            <UseConfigurationSet>false</UseConfigurationSet>
        </component>
    </settings>
    <settings pass="generalize"></settings>
    <settings pass="specialize"></settings>
    <settings pass="auditSystem"></settings>
    <settings pass="auditUser"></settings>
    <settings pass="oobeSystem">
        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-Shell-Setup" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS">
            <OOBE>
                <HideEULAPage>true</HideEULAPage>
                <HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>false</HideWirelessSetupInOOBE>
                <HideOnlineAccountScreens>false</HideOnlineAccountScreens>
            </OOBE>
        </component>
    </settings>
</unattend>

6. With a generic install key, you can activate it using a permanent product key after Windows install is done.

Since you didn't explain what steps you've done specifically with an unattended file or EI.cfg, I've tried to cover all the bases.

mays24 · Aug 24, 2025

Garlin,
Thank you so very much for such a perfect response! I had been using the ei.cfg and hoping it led me to the Pro install but with many attempts it never made the difference. The unattended file did work. I am so elated. Everything you said was on point and I am so grateful for that code!!!

This new install is because I have poor eyesight and a new Hp Envy with Windows 11 home gave me a blue font I could not escape from. Weeks of trying everything was exhausting. I just wanted a bold black font on a white background and that was too much to ask for. The new windows 11 pro on the new partition has me so happy. No blue font. I do not have a bold font yet but am so happy to have black font that I can see well.

Bless You,
Dave

glasskuter · Aug 25, 2025

mays24 said:
I’m attempting to install Windows 11 Pro to a newly created partition on a fresh SSD to a newly created partition on a fresh SSD

Several things caught my eye in your post and the answers you have been given..It has been made much more difficult than it is.

1. AFIK a clean install has to be done on UNALLOCATED space. (NOTE: remove the drive that HOME is installed on and put the new drive in its place. If you do not, your boot configuration will be on the wrong drive) Install windows. During the install make sure that ALL partitions on the drive are removed. leaving nothing but unallocated space. Choose the unallocated space when asked where to install windows.
In fact if you've installed windows 33 times without removing the original drive, the BCD has already been installed on the wrong drive)

2. No one has mentioned that you can select any Windows version you want to install if you will use the multi edition iso from Microsoft and use Rufus to create your installation media from that iso. A multi-edition can also be created by the media creation tool if you select the box that says its for another computer. In either case, there is no need for unattended file or adding an ei.cfg file. You choose what edition to install from a menu when using a multi-edition iso.

For a multi-edition iso go here. Scroll down to Download Windows 11 Disk Image (iso)

Download Windows 11

3.Even if it installs Home,. All you have to do is go to settings>system>activation>change product key
Enter a valid Pro product key. Click Next. The upgrade to PRO will start. This will not affect the Home key that is stored in UEFI bios.

4. FYI there's no reason to inject IRST drivers into the iso for your disks to be seen either. You can either insert your storage controller driver at the point in the installation that says "install driver", OR What's even easier is to change disk mode in bios from RAID to AHCI. The installation will use the Microsoft storage controller driver and your disk will be seen. You will have no need for Intel Rapid Storage controller drivers.

garlin · Aug 25, 2025

glasskuter said:
2. No one has mentioned that you can select any Windows version you want to install if you will use the multi edition iso from Microsoft and use Rufus to create your installation media from that iso. A multi-edition can also be created by the media creation tool if you select the box that says its for another computer. In either case, there is no need for unattended file or adding an ei.cfg file. You choose what edition to install from a menu when using a multi-edition iso.

Neither MCT or Rufus will create an EI.cfg for you.

What confuses users is 24H2's new "Modern" Setup now ignores EI.cfg, because it's treating a clean install like an upgrade attempt. In order for EI.cfg to work, you must click through the menus and revert to the Legacy Setup. Unlike the new Setup, old Setup respects the EI.cfg file.

Using an unattended file to pick which image to install works for either version of Setup.

antspants · Aug 25, 2025

You won't get Windows Pro on a laptop that has Home embedded in your laptop without at least at a minimum using the ei.cfg file. If you could do this using Rufus alone, I'd be the first one tooting its horn. When I created this thread and first learned about the ei.cfg file, I was using Rufus as I mentioned in the first post.

Yes you need to deselect "Use the recommended options for this PC" if using Media Creation Tool to obtain the ISO.

Megahertz · Aug 25, 2025

- As already mentioned, you should create a unallocated space on your SSD by shrinking the C: partition.
- Boot the Win 11 USB installation drive as UEFI and select the unallocated space to install to. It will install Win 11 Home
- Go to settings>system>activation>change product key and, if the key you bought is a Retail, insert the key to change from Home to Pro. Restart
- If the key you bought is a OEM, you must insert a generic key (VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T) to change from Home to Pro. Restart, go to settings>system>activation>change product key and insert the OEM key you bought. Restart

hsehestedt · Aug 25, 2025

garlin said:
What confuses users is 24H2's new "Modern" Setup now ignores EI.cfg, because it's treating a clean install like an upgrade attempt. In order for EI.cfg to work, you must click through the menus and revert to the Legacy Setup. Unlike the new Setup, old Setup respects the EI.cfg file.

@garlin,

I just tested this and I'm not seeing what you are indicating here. I took an ISO image of 24H2 (build 26100.5067) and booted it on a PC that came with Win 11 Pro preinstalled. If I don't have an ei.cfg in the \sources folder then it never gives me a choice of what edition I want to install, just as I would expect. However, if I add the ei.cfg it gives me the list of all the available editions and allows me to choose. This is using the new setup, not the previous version.

Bottom line is that the new setup is respecting the ei.cfg for me.

antspants · Aug 25, 2025

I understand that you may have already worked it out, but I also use ei.cfg and don’t have an issue. Not sure why you couldn’t get an option for Pro, maybe the ISO?

This is my process

Open notepad and enter the following

Code:

[Channel]
Retail

Save the file as ei.cfg
Place the file in the ISO sources folder.

AnyBurn free (<— Instructions) allows to edit the ISO, but there are other ways

Download Anyburn Free (I have the Pro versions so I am unaware of the Free versions restrictions)

Create the install media with Rufus. Rufus isn’t just for bypassing restrictions. In my opinion it is the only way to create the Windows install media.
During the Windows installation you will be asked what version of Windows you would like to install.

Alternative options:

Code:

[EditionID]
{Edition}

[Channel]
Retail

[VL]
0

Replace the line {Edition} with the Windows edition you want to install.
EditionID can be: Home, Professional, Enterprise, Education, and so on, depending on the available editions in your specific Windows ISO

For example:

Code:

[EditionID]
Professional

[Channel]
Retail

[VL]
0

Channel can be changed to Retail or OEM

You can also create a pid file and pre enter your

Open notepad and enter the following:

Code:

[PID]
Value=XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Save the file as pid.txt
Place it into the sources folder

Replace XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX with your legitimate product key. If you don’t have a product key or you want to manually enter it later just skip creating the pid.txt file.

garlin · Aug 25, 2025

There's a point of contention on whether folks are using EI.cfg alone, or combining it with pid.txt.

Prior to 24H2, you were never required to provide a pid.txt.

The pid.txt does the same function as providing a generic install or permanent activation key in the unattended file. Enough people have complained about EI.cfg with 24H2 that a problem does/did exist in some cases.

UPDATE: I re-tested with the original 24H2 ISO, and new Setup does obey EI.cfg (by itself).

Windows 11 Pro install defaults to Home — HP TE01-5364, SK hynix SSD, ei.cfg ignored

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