Creating Windows 10 Installation Media

This article details how to create a Windows 10 installation media that will force to install Windows 10 Pro edition on devices with and ACPI embedded Windows 10 Home product key.

Unlike in previous versions of Windows, you’ll need to use the Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to create Windows 10 installation media such as bootable USB stick or ISO file.

Bypassing ACPI stored Product Keys

Some computers will have OEM Windows product keys embedded in their Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) tables from the manufacturer. This can cause Windows installation media to bypass the edition selection screen and install the OEM key automatically. This causes a problem as some computers will automatically install a home version of Windows therefore removing it's ability to join it to Azure AD. As a workaround, a file containing the proper product key be placed on the installation media (see next sections for details).
With product key file stored on your installation media, Windows Pro edition will always be automatically selected during the installation; you will not have to option to choose another edition.

Creating Windows 10 Installation Media

To create Windows 10 installation media on a bootable USB stick that will automatically install Windows 10 Pro edition, follow these steps:

1. Secure USB stick that is at least 8 GB in size; all files on it will be deleted during this process.
2. Insert your stick in the USB port on your computer.
3. Download and launch Windows Media Creation Tool by going to Microsoft's Download Windows 10 site at https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10 and clicking Download tool now button.
4. When prompted, accept the license agreement.
5. On the screen "What do you want to do?", select Create installation media (...) for another PC and click Next.
6. On the next screen, select:
   • Language: English (United States)
   • Edition: Windows 10
   • Architecture: 64-bit (x64)
     ... then click Next.
7. On the next screen, select USB flash drive and click Next.
8. On the next screen, make sure that your stick is listed and click Next. The process can take up to 1/2 hour, depending on the performance of your computer.
9. Once completed, view the files on your USB stick using Windows Explorer. Make a note of the sources folder.
10. Download a copy of the PID.txt file that is attached to this article (see Files section on the right), and store it in sources folder on your USB stick.
11. Safely eject your stick; it's ready to be used.