TeraByte Unlimited

Brian,

I tried the procedure you described and it worked and I was able install Windows 10 in a partition that I had made for it.

FYI, in case you (or anyone) is interested, as I mentioned, I was doing some testing re. product keys when I was installing Windows 10.

The problem that I war running into was that when I ran the installer, it never asked for a product key and then ended up as Window 10 Home, and when I tried entering a supposedly good Win10 Pro product key, the activation was being rejected.

When I did a test install on VBox, the installation DID ask for the product key and ended up as Win 10 Pro.

When I installed Win 10 just now, same thing as the other day happened - never asked for product key, ended up as Win 10 Home, and would not take a Win 10 Pro product key.

So I did some googling, and I think I understand what is going on now.

Apparently some manufacturers (including Lenovo, apparently) that provide laptops with Windows, put a default Windows Home product key in the BIOS, and then when you use the MS Windows 10 ISO/installer, it will use the embedded BIOS product key. That is why it wasn't asking for a product key.

There are some ways of getting around the problem, including adding an "ei.cfg" file to the Windows ISO on USB. Also, apparently there are some product keys that override the built in product key.

When I install another Windows I'm asked which version I want. Pro, Home or about 4 others. I always tick "I don't have a product key". Windows is auto activated maybe because I activated the first install with a key..
It sounds like you don't have these 6 or so Windows version choices. What ISO are you using? I'm using the one I downloaded from Microsoft.

Hi,

No it doesn't put up the list of versions. I got the ISO from the MS Media Creator web site.

I am pretty sure that what I described above (Win 10 Home product key embedded in the BIOS) is the problem... another knock against Lenovo in my book...

The whole thing is so disappointing.

I am "that close" to the point that I am ready to gift it to one of my grandkids, who I heard would be super happy with it, so double-bonus points !

Jim

I just tried a Windows install. I saw...

Select language settings
Select keyboard
Select setup
Product key (I use "I don't have a product key"
Select Image (I'll post a screenshot)
etc

Hi Brian,

I want to be clear: When I did the initial/fresh install, the page where it asks for product key (including the "I don't have a product key") did NOT appear at all!

After the installation, I did try to do "Activation setting" but then it would not accept the product keys I had.

Also, as mentioned, when I did a test install on VirtualBox, it showed the page where I could enter a product key and the product key worked when I entered it (which makes sense because the VBox BIOS probably did not have a default Windows Home product key.

Thanks,
Jim

Jim,

I wonder if this could suit your computer. You can make a Win10 Pro ISO that doesn't contain Win10 Home.

https://uupdump.net/known.php?q=category:w10-22h2

Edit... I've made a Win11 Pro ISO and I'll install Win11 shortly. It took 45 minutes to build the ISO.

I saw the screen about Product key and I selected my usual.
The following screen about "Select Image" was not present.
Installed. No issues.