Ei.cfg Windows 8.1 🆕 Free Forever

This assumes you have already used the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool or Rufus to create a bootable Windows 8.1 USB drive.

: You take your USB installation drive and plug it into a working PC.

When the Windows 8.1 installer launches, it checks for this file. Depending on what the file contains, the setup program will behave in one of three ways: ei.cfg windows 8.1

If you have ever downloaded a Windows 8.1 ISO file directly from Microsoft or a third-party source, you have likely encountered a frustrating roadblock: the "Enter your product key" screen appears immediately upon booting the installer. For many users, this screen is a dead end. Without a specific key for an edition (Core vs. Pro), you cannot proceed.

: You save the file as ei.cfg . You have to be careful—if Notepad saves it as ei.cfg.txt , the installer will ignore it completely. The Climax: The Installation This assumes you have already used the Windows

: You navigate to the \sources folder on the USB drive.

Its primary purpose is to tell the Windows installer which edition of the operating system should be installed and what type of licensing mechanism should be used. It acts as a gatekeeper that determines the flow of the installation wizard. Depending on what the file contains, the setup

Whether you are performing a clean install and want to enter your key after setup or need to install a different version than the one pre-baked into your PC's hardware, this file is the standard solution. What is the ei.cfg File?

It forces the installer to show a menu where you can choose between Windows 8.1 Home (Core), Professional, or Enterprise. How to Create an ei.cfg File for Windows 8.1