When y'all try to clean install Windows 11, the Windows Setup utility volition non offer any selection to select the operating system edition. Instead, information technology will automatically install one of the Dwelling, Pro, or Education editions of the operating system.

So, how practice y'all strength Windows 11 Setup to show the select edition screen during installation? You can achieve this by modifying the bootable media or the ISO image to include the EI.cfg file. Here we show you how to select the Pro edition while installing Windows 11.

Why Doesn't Windows 11'S Setup Display the Select Edition Screen?

Nowadays, Microsoft doesn't publish different editions of the Windows OS on its server. Instead, the default multi-edition ISO file includes all the editions ( Home, Pro, Education, Enterprise).

During a clean install, Windows Setup looks for the traces of the previous installation including the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) license tied to your figurer's motherboard to determine the right edition of the operating organization to install.

This is a convenient feature for many as y'all don't demand to activate your computer after installing Windows 11 manually. But this also ways you don't get to select the Windows 11 editions during a make clean install.

To fix this trouble, you can include a Windows Setup configuration file to force Windows Setup to display the select edition screen during installation. It is an optional setup configuration file that you lot can add to automate the edition selection and product key verification steps during Windows installation.

How to Forcefulness Windows Setup to Testify the Windows 11 Editions During Clean Install

windows 11 setup select operating system you want to install

Every bit discussed above, yous can identify a tiny ei.cfg file inside the bootable media folder to force Windows Setup to bear witness the select edition screen during installation. Hither's how to do it.

  1. First, y'all need to create a bootable Windows xi USB drive. If you don't have an ISO, y'all can download the Windows 11 ISO image from the Microsoft server.
  2. Adjacent, open a new Notepad file. To do this, press Win + R, blazon notepad, and click OK.
    ei cfg file notepad
  3. In the Notepad window, copy and paste the post-obit lines:
                                  [Channel]                
    _Default
                    [VL]                
    0
  4. Press Ctrl + S to open the Relieve equally dialog.
    save ei cfg file
  5. Here, blazon the file name as ei.cfg. Next, click the drop-down for Save as type and select All Files.
  6. Click the Save button to save the file to your PC.
  7. Adjacent, connect the bootable USB flash drive to your PC.
  8. Printing Win + E to open up File Explorer.
  9. In the left pane, click on This PC.
  10. Next, double-click on the bootable USB flash drive to view its content.
    sources folder Windows 11 bootable drive usb
  11. Double-click on the Sources folder to open up information technology.
    move ei cfg file sources folder installation media
  12. Now, re-create and paste the ei.cfg file into the Sources folder.

One time done, safely eject the USB flash drive. Y'all can now kicking using the installation media and select the Windows 11 Pro, Instruction, or the core Dwelling house edition from Windows Setup.

Alternatively, yous can also automate the edition selection process by configuring the EI.cfg file to install your preferred edition of the OS. For instance, if you want Windows Setup to automatically select the Windows 11 Pro edition during installation, use the following format for the EI.cfg file.

                      [EditionID]            
Professional person
            [Aqueduct]            
_Default
            [VL]            
0

Save the file as ei.cfg and move it to the Sources binder of your USB installation media. During installation, Windows Setup will automatically select the Windows xi Pro edition and skip the select edition stride.

Select the Pro Edition While Installing Windows 11

While the above method will allow you to install Windows 11 Pro or other editions of the OS, you are yet required to take an active license for the selected edition.

So, if y'all are trying to install the Pro edition on your PC that is activated for the Domicile edition, and then Windows 11 will testify the non activated message or the fault code 0xc004c003 in the Settings panel. Microsoft likewise limits some customization features on inactivated computers.

How to Set the Windows eleven Activation Error Code 0xc004c003

Read Adjacent

About The Author

Tashreef Shareef (144 Articles Published)

Tashreef is a developer and works as a technical author at MakeUseOf. With a bachelor's caste in Computer Applications, he has over five years of experience and covers Microsoft Windows and everything effectually information technology. When non looking for a missing semicolon or churning out text, yous tin can discover him trying FPS titles or looking for new animated shows and movies.

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