How to bypass product key while installing Windows 8

Microsoft has released Windows 8 to MSDN/TechNet subscribers and few other channels starting from August 15th. Few weeks ago; I got lucky to lay hands on it and I noticed that Windows 8 doesn’t allow keyless installation, like Windows 7, by default.

windows 8 setup product key

But after doing some R&D I have found a way to bypass the product key wizard while performing the installation. And in this article, you’ll learn how to suppress product key prompt while installing Windows 8.

Note: The following method is effective, legal, and does not requires a lot of technical expertise.

Prerequisites:

Windows 8 ISO
WinRAR / WinZip or other ISO extracting tool
Windows ADK (Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit)

How To:

First of all, Download and extract the ISO file of Windows 8 RTM version you own.
Open Notepad to create a file with following code structure and save as ei.cfg in Sources folder.

[EditionID]
{Edition ID}
[Channel]
{Channel Type}
[VL]
{Volume License}

The edition configuration file (EI.cfg) determines which edition of Windows to install and which license to use during Windows Setup. Where {Edition ID} must be a valid Windows Edition ID such as Core, Professional and Enterprise. {Channel Type} can be OEM or Retail. {Volume License} can be 1 (True) or 0 (False).

For example:
[EditionID]
Professional
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
1
Now create the bootable ISO or USB stick and burn your product key prompt suppressed Windows 8 installation disc.

33 responses to “How to bypass product key while installing Windows 8”

Mate Palfi

2015-06-01

How to create this file for Windows 8.1 with Bing? Please help me :)

Reply
Martin Roberts

2014-02-01

IT WORKED!

Reply
Martin Roberts

2014-01-24

What is the assessment and development kit for?

Reply
Reriro

2013-11-19

you gotta be kidding… I essentially have to write my own code to install an updaste on two legal systems with an update that is supposed to be keyless and free? Here’s an amusing detail: Microsoft tech was very generous with tech support (wasting their time) running hours of tests on my machines to see why the 8.1 update was demanding a new key in order to make the upgrade. There was nothing wrong with either of my machines. Please tell Bill to come home for a minute to fix this, uh, minor detail. I still. am on 8. No more time for this stupidity.
Thanks for your help anyway.

Reply
Goku SSJ5

2013-06-14

It……worked!

Reply
Ravid Febrian Ramadhan

2013-04-07

what do you mean by 1(true) n 0(false)?

Reply
Geo Gonzalez

2013-03-08

i did this and its not letting me move on it still says invalid product key what should i do?
please get back at me and thanks

Reply
1. Marko Kraljevic
  
  2014-04-10
  
  Since this is to “bypass the product key wizard while performing the installation” then probably something wasn’t done right, btw.
dvddv

2013-02-26

what is the edition id for windows 8 pro with media center?? thanks

Reply
1. Ramesh Kumar
  
  2013-02-27
  
  For Windows 8 Pro with MediaCenter, use ProfessionalWMC
2. dvddv
  
  2013-02-27
  
  Thank you. YOU ARE THE BEST
Shikhar Gupta

2013-02-22

So must the Volume license be “0” or “1”? Which one allows me to bypass?

Reply
1. Marko Kraljevic
  
  2014-04-10
  
  Volume license (Windows edition, ISO) is something else and had nothing to do with this procedure.