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Phase 2: Windows 11 Edition Selection (Recommended: Home)

Overview

In this phase, you'll prepare your installation media. You have a choice of Windows editions:

  • Windows 11 Home (Recommended) – The safest path because it has no built-in Autopilot, Azure AD join, or MDM capabilities. If you choose Home, use the ei.cfg method below to force it during installation.

  • Windows 11 Pro (Also Works) – If you prefer or already have Pro, that's fine. The remaining phases (Phases 3–9) are specifically designed to completely disable all Autopilot, MDM, and Azure AD features on Pro edition. Many users successfully use Pro with this guide, but i highly suggest going for the Home edition.

Both paths work. Home is simpler because the unwanted features don't exist on that edition. Pro requires more steps to disable them, but all those steps are in this guide.

Edition Comparison

Aspect Home Pro
Autopilot Support None Yes (can be disabled)
Azure AD Join None Yes (can be disabled)
MDM Enrollment Limited Yes (can be disabled)
Complexity Lower – features don't exist Higher – features must be disabled

Alternative: Other Windows 11 Versions

  • Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC – Has Autopilot components that can be theoretically disabled post-install, though this approach is not tested or guaranteed to work. Obtaining LTSC legally is also more difficult for most users.

  • Windows 11 with Autopilot components removed – Some community-modified versions exist, though these are less official, require finding reliable sources, and are not tested or guaranteed to work as intended.

However, forcing Home edition remains the simplest, most straightforward, and most reliably tested approach and is recommended for most users.

This phase shows how to prepare installation media and optionally force Home edition. If you're choosing Home, you'll use the ei.cfg file method. If you're choosing Pro, skip the ei.cfg section and proceed directly to Phase 3.

Time required: 5 minutes
What you need: - Windows 11 installation media (USB drive with Windows 11 image) - A computer to prepare it on - Administrator rights on that computer

Why Home + ei.cfg?

If you're using Home edition, the ei.cfg file ensures the installer defaults to Home instead of Pro. This prevents Windows from auto-upgrading to the Pro license stored in your BIOS.

If you're using Pro edition, you don't need this step – skip to Phase 3 and proceed with the Pro installation.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Create or Obtain Windows 11 USB Media

If you don't already have a Windows 11 USB:

  1. Go to Microsoft's Windows 11 download page
  2. Use the "Create installation media" tool
  3. Follow the wizard to download Windows 11 onto a USB drive (minimum 8 GB)
  4. Plug the USB into the locked corporate device

If you already have a Windows 11 USB, proceed to Step 2.

USB Preparation

Make sure the USB is truly blank or you're okay erasing it – the next steps will modify files on it. If you're reusing an old installation USB, that's fine.

Step 2: Open the USB and Navigate to the sources Folder

  1. Safely eject any USB drives from your computer
  2. Plug in the Windows 11 USB you just created
  3. Open File Explorer and find the USB drive (usually D: or E:, labeled as something like "WININSTALL")
  4. Look for the folder called sources – go inside it

Cannot Find sources Folder?

If you don't see a sources fol (Home Edition Only)

Skip this section if you're using Pro edition. Proceed to Phase 3.

If you're installing Home edition, t## Step 3: Create the ei.cfg File

This special file tells the Windows installer: "Install Home edition, not Pro."

Option A: Manual Creation

  1. Right-click in an empty area of the sources folder
  2. Choose New > Text Document
  3. A file called New Text Document.txt will appear – open it
  4. Delete everything and copy-paste exactly these lines:
[EditionID]
Core
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

Exact Formatting Required

  • Do NOT add extra spaces or blank lines
  • The section names must be [EditionID], [Channel], and [VL] in square brackets
  • Each value must be on its own line
  • Save as UTF-8 or ANSI (not UTF-8 with BOM)

Option B: Download Pre-Made File

If you prefer not to create the file manually, you can download a ready-made ei.cfg file:

📥 Download ei.cfg

Simply: 1. Download the file ab

Pro Edition Users

If you're installing Pro edition, you don't need this file. You can delete any ei.cfg file that might already be on the USB, and proceed directly to Phase 3.ove

  1. Copy it to the sources folder on your USB
  2. Skip to Step 4 below

Step 4: Save or Move the File as ei.cfg

If you created it manually (Option A):

  1. Press Ctrl + S or go to File > Save As
  2. At the bottom, change the file type from "Text Documents (*.txt)" to "All Files (.)"
  3. Change the filename from New Text Document.txt to ei.cfg (no .txt extension)
  4. Click Save

If you downloaded it (Option B):

  1. Move the downloaded ei.cfg file into the sources folder on your USB
  2. That's it – it's already in the correct format

File in Place

You should now see a file called ei.cfg in the sources folder. If you see ei.cfg.txt, you saved it wrong – delete it and try again, making sure the file type is set to "All Files (.)".

Step 5: Verify the File

  1. Right-click on ei.cfg and select Properties
  2. Confirm:
  3. Filename is exactly: ei.cfg
  4. Type is: "Configuration Settings" or just "File"

  5. NOT a text file with a .txt extension

  6. Close Properties

  7. Safely eject the USB (right-click in File Explorer > Eject)

Keep This USB Safe

This USB is now customized for your device. Keep it somewhere safe – you'll use it in Phase 3 to install Windows.

If you created an ei.cfg file (Home edition path): - The Windows installer will detect the ei.cfg file - It will automatically select Home edition (instead of asking which version to install) - Windows 11 Home will install without auto-upgrading to Pro

If you didn't create ei.cfg (Pro edition path): - The Windows installer will proceed normally - You'll choose Pro edition when prompted - Continue to Phase 3

Why This Matters

Whether you use Home or Pro, the key is a clean installation done offline. The ei.cfg technique simply saves Home users from the risk of Windows auto-upgrading to Pro during installation. All subsequent phases (4–7) work regardless of which edition you choose.

This is the key that prevents Autopilot from re-enrolling your device automatically.

Why ei.cfg Works

The ei.cfg file is a legitimate part of Windows deployment. Microsoft's own enterprise deployment teams use it. By using it, we're telling Windows: "This is a retail (consumer) install, with Home edition only."