Install Retail Windows 7 Ultimate disk with Home Premium OEM CD Key

I have an OEM Windows 7 Home Premium cd key and a Windows 7 Ultimate Retail Install disk. What procedure would I have to do to install home premium with my cd key? Do I need to edit ei.cfg?


You will need to either edit the ei.cfg and replace Ultimate with HomePremium, or delete the file entirely.

http://windows7center.com/news/how-to-install-any-version-or-sku-of-windows-7/ gives a more detailed step-by-step process of doing so:

  1. Open the disk image in 7-Zip
  2. Delete or edit sources/ei.cfg:
    • Delete to have the option select the SKU you want during install, or
    • Change the EditionID value to be the SKU that you want:
      • Ultimate
      • Premium
      • HomePremium
      • HomeBasic
      • Starter
  3. Save the image and burn it to disk