The product key does not match current Windows SKU

If when attempting to install Windows and inputting your product key you get the message that

"The product key does not match current Windows SKU"

then the installation image or media you are using does not match the product key. For example, you may have an installation DVD for Windows 7 Home, but you are inputting a product key for Ultimate, and vice versa.

 

This is idiotic, because those DVDs are identical, except for a single small file,

ei.cfg

located in /sources/

It is also idiotic because Windows first installs itself with the edition specified in that existing file, but if your product key does not match, you only have the choice between purchasing or obtaining a product key of the correct edition, or starting over the installation process from scratch.

All you need to do is create a clone of that installation DVD, but delete that ei.cfg file. Windows will then give you a choice of which edition to install. I recommend that you copy the contents of Windows installation DVD to a bootable 8GB USB memory stick for a much faster install.



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Page last modified 30-Apr-12 22:21:56 EDT
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