Yes, you're right, Andre.  It's a grubby situation, isn't it?  I'm hoping MS will again make it available (as ISO or ESD) from a public url as a download.

To complete the thought in my previous post, following the links from that KB leads to this MS article, which states:

"If a product key isnt provided prior to Out-Of-Box Experience (OOBE), then OOBE will prompt the end user for a product key. If the end user skips this during OOBE, the user will be reminded later to enter a valid product key."  

And that's exactly what happens.  By omitting any key in EI.cfg, setup then offers us the choice to skip the Product Key entry.  It installs un-activated, after which we can provide our Win 8 upgrade key to activate it.

A product key for Windows 8 Pro Upgrade (Build 9200) will only work with a Windows 8 Pro (Build 9200) DVD.  It will not work with a Windows 8.1 Pro DVD since it is a different build (Build 9600).

Please review: Everything you need to know about your Windows 8.1 upgrade options

A product key for Windows 8 Pro Upgrade (Build 9200) will only work with a Windows 8 Pro (Build 9200) DVD.  It will not work with a Windows 8.1 Pro DVD since it is a different build (Build 9600).

Please review: Everything you need to know about your Windows 8.1 upgrade optio

Carey.

I'm sure the info you're repeating is accurate for people who don't have the skill to edit EI.cfg.

But this is an IT-Pro forum, where people do.

• Edited by Mx Shillby 1 hour 12 minutes ago

Carey.

I'm sure the info you're repeating is accurate for people who don't have the skill to edit EI.cfg.

But this is an IT-Pro forum, where people do.

• Edited by Mx Shillby Tuesday, October 08, 2013 9:34 AM

I have a MSDN Subscription and have access to both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 ISO's.  The product keys are different.  A clean install of Windows 8.1 will not accept a Windows 8 product key as I tried them all.  Only the Windows 8.1 product keys associated with the Windows 8.1 ISO images

The key you have paid for is a Windows 8 Upgrade key to upgrade from Windows 7. This is an upgrade key and it cannot be used for clean installation of Windows 8.1. The appropriate upgrade path will be as follows

1. Install Windows 7 (the version you got the with the system. No installation required if it is already there)

2. Use the upgrade key you got from MS to upgrade to Windows 8. The upgrade process will be mention in the email you got from MS.

3. Once Windows 8 is installed, simply wait for the Windows 8.1 Upgrade (which will be free for all the Windows 8 Licensed Users) to appear in Windows Store. Note that you must be signed with MS Account to get this update and also you need to ensure that you have installed all the Windows Updates delivered through MS or else the Windows 8.1 will not appear in the Windows Store.

The Windows 8.1 Installation WILL NOT ASK FOR THE PRODUCT KEY if done on the Windows 8 system.

• Edited by Raj_Al Tuesday, October 08, 2013 8:54 PM

Carey.

I'm sure the info you're repeating is accurate for people who don't have the skill to edit EI.cfg.

But this is an IT-Pro forum, where people do.

No worries Carey, use of editing MS products keys to activate the product using a different key deigned for the software is illegal. I have reported Max for his post to the reporting service we will have a answer soon enough to his illegal activity

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/piracy/mpa.aspx

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/9fa74e18-2bd4-4f39-a776-573a3a27e124/is-it-legal-to-delete-eicfg-from-windows-7-installation-media?forum=w7itproinstall

Vern's post a very respected person here

Hi David

My opinion.

I think you are stretching your interpretation of the published documentation to fit what you want to do.

Modify means to alter or change. Delete means to remove. There is nothing in any of the published information that supports removing that file, so this action would be in the realm of unsupported hacks to get the result you want, regardless of how you try to justify it.

If you have purchased a license for several different editions of Windows 7, then you already have an installation source for each edition, whether it is a downloaded ISO or a physical installation disk. Each license allows you to create one backup copy of the installation source.

Another question is, are there any consequences to removing that file, besides just giving you the choice of which edition to install?

That file also determines the 'Channel type' (OEM or Retail) and whether it is for a Volume License or a Single User license.

Regardless, changing the edition, channel type, or license type that is installed, the coded product key that you purchased must match which edition, channel type, and license type (including full or upgrade) that can be used to activate the installation.

One piece of information that you haven't posted is 'why' this is so important to you?
What is your intention to create one disk that can install any edition of Windows 7?

Regards,Ronnie Vernon MVP


We at the IT Pro do not use bata to find loop holes in its activation process, we test the integrity of the program to better the software for release

• Edited by colakid Tuesday, October 08, 2013 9:29 PM

Please let us know when a licensing validation check produces a "non-genuine" notification. Microsoft software licensing validation servers for Windows 8.1 will be online soon after Oct

Anybody who is willing (and able) has the right to modify and maintain a Standard Image of their Windows installation.  For example:

Building a Standard Image of Windows 7: Step-by-Step Guide

Deploy a Custom Image  (Windows 8)

These articles which I cited earlier, KB 2796988 and this MS article, are not clandestine hacker tools.  They are official MS online publications.  The latter is from the ADK instructions.

• Edited by Mx Shillby Wednesday, October 09, 2013 3:44 AM

Colakid.  Look at the first page of the online document where you got that EI.cfg+PID.txt page.

Windows Setup Technical Reference

Practical Applications

You can use Windows Setup as an installer for your own customized Windows images.

I know the TechNet Library breadcrumbs are confusing.  But, the very first page.

• Edited by Mx Shillby 23 hours 32 minutes ago

Carey, the original Win7 build was 7600.16385.  The present build is 7601.17514.  The original product key continues to work with the present build.  It is not violating licensing.  You know that.

The "official MS docs" you reference make no mention of using a product key meant for one build of Windows to different build n

The "official MS docs" you reference make no mention of using a product key meant for one build of Windows to different build n

Here's an easier method I just tested, which successfully activates Win 8.1 Pro RTM with a Win 8 Pro Upgrade key.

First, install Win 8.1 Pro RTM with the published Client Setup key: technet.com/en-us/library/jj612867.aspx.  Then activate it with the Win 8 Pro Upgrade key.