Windows 10: ISO of Single Language

Hi folks

The ei.cfg solution is a winner - but this will throw a lot of people out there wanting to clean install W10 again.

Cheers

and thanks folks.

jimbo

 

I've upgraded from Pro to Pro for Workstation by just entering a key? No previous DL for Pro Workstation. I got a "checking activation" or "verifying activation" message. Don't remember the exact message. It was a message I had never seen before. Once it activated it switched Editions with no reboot required. I didn't have to go to the store?

 

When I was using the PID.txt the only Editions on the ISO were Home and Pro. And I wanted Pro so I never bothered with the ei.cfg. The PID.txt speeded things up as I didn't get prompted for a key, and didn't have to manually select Pro. ei.cfg is the way to go now though with all the Editions on the one ISO

 

Hi there

actually makes it nearly impossible to GET the write edition installed -- you get in most cases the HOME edition installed and it's not actually as easy as you think to get the right upgrade to W10 Pro etc.
Cheers
jimbo

 

I am talking about Home to PRO. No idea how Pro to Pro WS works.

 

Sometimes I need to boot Linux or boot from unsecured USB devices,

Cheers
jimbo

 

The change I'm referring to is having all the Editions on the one ISO. Now I only need 2 ISO's instead of half a dozen or so. The auto detecting OEM embedded keys has been there from day one. This new ISO hasn't changed that. You must not have been installing on a PC with an OEM key until now? Or you would have already run into the auto selection of what edition is installed.

 

Ah, OK, makes sense then.

 

I disagree - it is easy once you understand how it works.

1) If pc has embedded bios key, ei.cfg solves issue IN ALL CASES. If PC does not have bios embedded key, no issue.

2) If pc previously had Pro but installed Home due to bios embedded keys, because you forgot ei.cfg

then
a) enter generic pro key, or
b) go to store, click on I have Pro key and enter Pro Key (7/8 keys work as well)

3) If you want to install Pro unactivated, and you installed Home due to bios embedded key, you have to use ei.cfg file (or create a Pro only iso).

Of course, above is not intuitive for users who do not know this.

 

There have been countless "Microsoft ripped me off" "Why did I get Home instead of Pro", etc posts on the forum. Basically since day one. They do their first clean install and then notice they got Home instead of Pro ,and had no option to install Pro. Some even did a second clean install trying to figure out what happened. It only happens if said PC came with Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 from the factory. If your clean installing on a PC you upgraded from Windows 7 you'll get the key prompt and selection menu. Windows 7 and earlier don't use OEM embedded keys.

 

What I personally would like to see happen is, only look for and use Windows 10 OEM Embedded keys. Ignore Windows 8/8.1 OEM keys. Or, prompt that one was found, and ask "do you want to use this key". The second option would probably please most people. Say no and then you get the selection menu to manually pick your Edition.

 

I was replying to your point saying it makes it virtually impossible - that is not the case, it is easy ONCE you know how.

In reality, majority of people who have a PC with embedded Home bios key DO NOT upgrade to Pro. So, if the installer always gave all options, you can bet your bottom dollar we would get loads of "How do I downgrade to Home" posts. It is not entirely unreasonable to expect Pro Users to be a bit more clued up.

What should really happen is an option should come up, saying "We are going to install Home - confirm yes, or hit no to choose another option".

 

*Thumbs

 

I guess I should clarify. What I meant was, with "all" Editions now on the ISO, its virtually impossible to download the wrong Edition. Installing the correct one is another matter. In the past some downloaded Home SL thinking it was Home. The other option in the drop down just said Windows 10. It wasn't intuitive. Then they installed Home SL, which wouldn't activate, then did a WTF? Then had to re download the correct ISO and do yet another clean install.

 

I'm going to try updating to 1709 again tomorrow. I am on 1703 now. I have two options: the first option is to download the Win 10 Home x64 ISO from the MS site and format and clean install Win 10 1709. Using this method, I'll have to reinstall all the drivers.

The second option is to revert back to a system image of 1607 I made a few months back and then begin the update from there. I prefer this one as I won't have to install all the drivers again. When I had made the system image of 1607, I had made it after installing 1607 and the drivers, and not installing anything else. So basically, the computer is in a clean state, without any clutter of new programs having been installed, and any errors or problems that might have occurred after using Windows for a while.

Again, I have two options there: one is to download the 1709 ISO, revert to 1607, and then extract the contents of the 1709 ISO and run setup from there. The second is to revert back to 1607, and then go to System - Updates, and let Windows itself download all the updates, and install them.

If I revert to 1607 and start the setup of 1709 from the extracted ISO, will it directly upgrade to 1709, or will it say that the middle update of 1703 is missing and ask me to download some more stuff?

And if I revert to 1607 and update from within Windows, will it first download 1703, and then 1709? Will it download the data for both these versions?

Once I have updated to 1709, I'll make another system image and replace the 1607 one.