4 ms·

Since Windows licences are tied to the hardware you can reinstall it from almost any Windows installation media and it should automatically activate.

• jimpudar 4y ago
  If you happened to buy a machine with an OEM Windows Home license baked into the motherboard and want to install retail Windows 11 Professional, this makes it extremely frustrating because you no longer get the choice of which version of Windows to use during the install process. You need to add the EI.cfg and PID.cfg [0] files to the installer medium before booting it. Once you have those files present with the correct syntax, it will install the version you want, but I can't imagine a non-tech person being able to figure this out on his own. [0] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/windows-setup-edition-configuration-and-product-id-files--eicfg-and-pidtxt?view=windows-11 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufactu...
  • lmz 4y ago
    Couldn't you upgrade after the install?
    • Scharkenberg 4y ago
      You can do that too, and it's very easy.
      • jimpudar 4y ago
        I was mostly concerned with making sure none of the preinstalled Windows Home bloatware would remain after an upgrade. I figured the safest way would be installing Professional right off the bat.