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Need a new Windows product key? If you've lost or can't read your product key, you may be able to get a new one from Microsoft for only $10. Perhaps one of the little unknown secrets about a Windows 10 installation is that you do not need to use a product key during the process. Oh, Windows 10 prompts you for it, twice in fact.

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When we download Windows 7 ISOs, we can install Windows without a product key. The installation will go through, and we will get a 30-day trial of the operating system. With the official Windows 8.1 ISOs, though, we can't skip entering the product key during the installation. Let's see how to bypass this restriction and install Windows 8.1 without a product key.

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Table of Contents

The Magic 'ei.cfg' file

We can somewhat understand Microsoft's point of view when they made the product key mandatory for a Windows 8.1 installation. It sort-of makes sense as an anti-piracy measure.

With the Windows 7 30-day trial, one could install Windows and have them for free. Then, once every new moon, they could format and reinstall Windows, and no one would be the wiser.

Also, one would need to have Windows installed if they wanted to run an activator, should they swing that way. So, Microsoft decided to cut the problem off at the root. Mandatory product key equals no trial, equals no activator. Makes sense, doesn't it?

And then, they made it easy to bypass this system. And, when we say 'easy,' we mean 'child's play' easy. That's Microsoft for you.

The only thing we need is to create a notepad file, on any version of Windows.

Inside, we copy and paste the following:

The only 'hard' part is that when we save the file, we don't leave the default 'Text documents' on 'Save as type.'

We select 'All Files' and type the name 'ei.cfg.'

The result is a file ei.cfg that has a type 'CFG File.'

Key

We 're halfway there. With this ei.cfg file, we can Install Windows 8.1 without a product key.

We just need to get it in the Windows 8.1 installation medium. There is the easy way and the hard way to do so.

How to Install Windows 8.1 without a product key from USB

The fastest and easiest way to install Windows 8.1 without a product key is by creating a Windows installation USB drive.

We need to download a Windows 8.1 ISO from Microsoft if we haven't already. Then, we can use a 4GB or larger USB flash drive and an app, such as Rufus, to create a Windows 8.1 installation USB.

After that, it's just a matter of dragging our ei.cfg file and dropping it in the 'sources' folder in the USB.

That's it. Once ei.cfg is within the 'sources' folder..

..we can install Windows 8.1 without a product key. The Windows installer won't even ask for one; it will straight-up begin the installation.

The installation will ask for a product key after the first automatic reboot, but there will be a handy 'Skip' button.

Of course, Windows are not activated. We will need a valid product key for that.

How to Install Windows 8.1 without a product key from DVD

Sometimes, using a Windows installation USB isn't an option. Maybe we don't have a USB flash drive, or an old motherboard might not support boot from USB.

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In this case, we need to edit the ISO file so we can add ei.cfg before we burn it on a disc.

For this, we will use the 30-day trial version of gBurner. It's one of the few free apps that can edit a 2GB+ ISO, no questions asked.

We will find the latest version at http://www.gburner.com/download.htm

Earlier versions of Gburner came with multiple unwanted third-party apps, such as Ad-Aware Web Companion

However, the current version as of this writing, gBurner 4.3, seems to be free of such shenanigans.

In any case, we should never blindingly click Next->Next->Next on any installer. Also, apps such as Unchecky can help to ensure a safe installation.

Finally, on the last screen after the installation, it's a good idea to uncheck the option to associate .iso files with gBurner, especially if we will only use it for the 30-day trial.

After gBurner starts, we select 'Continue Unregistered.'

We click the 'open' icon and select the Windows 8.1 ISO.

Once loaded, we select the 'sources' folder, click on 'Add' and choose the ei.cfg file.

After we make sure ei.cfg was added correctly in sources, we select File -> Save As..

It's a good idea to choose a different name for the ISO, so we will have the clean ISO as a backup, in case something went wrong.

And that's it. We can right-click on the new ISO, select 'Burn disk image' to burn it to a DVD, and we 're good to go.

You might have noticed that the new ISO is a bit smaller than the original, even though we added a file. Apparently, gBurner does some slight data compression during the ISO creation process.

This won't matter for the Windows Installation, though. Either if we burn this ISO to a disk or use it to install a Windows virtual machine, it will work just as well.

Did you have any trouble installing Windows 8.1 without a product key?

Did you have any problem with the above and couldn't install Windows 8.1 without a product key? Leave us a comment.

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Microsoft has done an interesting thing with Windows 10. Besides giving it as a free upgrade to anyone with an activated Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC the OS is also one big shareware demo.

Specifically, by the demo I mean near fully functional OS that you can install anywhere to try out. This ability means you can download the Windows 10 ISO right from Microsoft and install it on a home-built PC, or any PC for that matter. Even Mac users can do this and install the OS using Bootcamp (more on this later).

How it works

Anyone can go and download the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft. Simply navigate to http://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10.

If you are on a PC, you can download the Windows 10 Media Creation tool that lets you make an ISO for use on a DVD or USB key. You can then use this to install Windows 10 on any computer. The process allows you to pick the language, edition, and architecture.

Once you put the ISO onto that USB key or burn to a DVD, you are all set.

You do not have to Activate Windows 10

Perhaps one of the little unknown secrets about a Windows 10 installation is that you do not need to use a product key during the process.

Oh, Windows 10 prompts you for it, twice in fact. However, in both cases you can hit the little 'Skip for now' button and let Windows 10 install. It is tiny, but it is there.

So what happens? Nothing. Windows 10 Home or Pro is installed, and you can use it. There are just two limitations that I have come across:

  1. Watermark on the lower right-hand corner saying Activate Windows
  2. You cannot use anything under Personalization e.g. change wallpaper, accent colors, lock screen, themes, etc. All options are there, they are just grayed out and inaccessible

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Other than this you have a fully-functional Windows 10 OS. There are no nag prompts either and yes, you get all system updates (at least for the year).

You can enroll in the Windows Insider program. However, this just removes the watermark, but it will not allow you to personalize the computer.

Shhh, you still can personalize

What is amusing is although you cannot personalize the computer, you still can. This trick assumes you have other Windows 10 PCs that are activated, and you use the same Microsoft account on both. If you do, whatever you personalize on the activated PC or Mac syncs over to your non-activated version. This method is how I have a non-default wallpaper on the non-activated device used for this article.

Another trick, pointed out in comments, is that you can add new wallpaper. Simply open up the Photos app and hit the ellipsis in the upper right-hand corner. Choose 'Set as lock screen' or 'Set as background' and voila, you have personalized your PC.

It is an odd workaround, but you likely won't notice the limitations.

All of this works on PC or Mac, too. This ability means those with Apple computers can just download and try out Windows 10 without consequence. Tomorrow Windows Central will show you how that works.

Now you want to Activate

However, maybe you do want to change that wallpaper or color. Alternatively, maybe you just feel bad and want to pay for a full-fledged license. Microsoft made this very simple. To buy a license to activate either Windows 10 Home or Pro, do the following:

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1. Go to Settings

2. Go to Update & Security

3. Choose Activation

4. Select Go to Store

The Windows Store now opens to a product page for either version of Windows 10. You can now buy Home or Pro, and it unlocks and activates your version of Windows 10.

Windows 10 Home costs $119.99 , and Windows 10 Pro costs $199.99.

The purchase runs through the Store like any app purchase, and you can just use your Credit Card, PayPal, or whatever payment methods you set up.

The Takeaway

Microsoft has actually opened up Windows 10. The fact that you can download the ISO and install it without a product key on any PC or Mac is neat.

The idea here, of course, is to get the OS into as many hands as possible. This tactic is not much different than Google and Android and giving it away for free (granted, there are patent fees).

Microsoft wants Windows 10 on every computer because it is the Store and their services that are important. This strategy means that Windows 10 can be put everywhere with a tiny drawback. Sure, you have a watermark, and you cannot change the wallpaper, but if you are a Mac user and you want to tinker with Windows 10, there is literally nothing stopping you. It just works.

Even better, Microsoft makes buying Windows 10 through an un-activated copy very easy with a mere Store purchase. You do not even have to leave the house.

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It is a strange new world if you enjoy Windows, but a much more user-friendly one too.

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in our Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks page. Or try our massive Windows 10 Forums at Windows Central for more help!

What do you think of Microsoft's new 'just take it!' approach to Windows 10?Let us know your thoughts in comments!

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