Tutorial Video
OEM SLP Key
Windows 8 OEM and newer have System Locked Preinstallation Keys embedded in the systems UEFI BIOS. Windows 10 installation media will automatically detect this product key during installation and install the edition corresponding to this key.
This is done when one selects Install Now.
Windows 10 Installation Media will first of all look in the sources folder for a PID.txt file and if it finds one will input the generic product key from this file and then secondly looks for a Microsoft Digital Marker (MSDM) which contains a unique OEM System Locked Preinstallation Key.
If either are found, you will be taken straight to the license agreement screen.
This means that by default users that have bought an OEM system with Windows 10 Home and upgraded to Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Education will therefore automatically reinstall Window 10 Home during a clean installation.
Change Product Key
Post-installation one can change the product key to a higher Edition (e.g. Home to Pro but not Pro to Home) by right clicking the start button and going to settings. Selecting Update & Security.
Then to the left hand side selecting Activation.
Then Change Product Key.
They can use their own product key or a generic product key such as the ones listed in the PID.txt files below.
Select Next, then Next again:
Your computer will prepare for the upgrade and then restart:
You will now have Windows 10 Pro or the Edition corresponding to the product key you entered.
If using a generic Product Key, Product Activation will only occur on systems that have previously been activated.
PID.txt File
Windows 10 installation media looks for a PID.txt in the sources folder of the installation media before it looks for the MSDM. If a generic key is present in a PID.txt, it will take precedence over the SLP key in the MSDM.
If using a generic Product Key, Product Activation will only occur on systems that have previously been activated.
Open your Windows 10 Bootable USB up in Windows Explorer. Open the sources folder.
In this folder right click and select new text file.
Name it PID.
Open this text file and copy and paste the following lines of code, corresponding to the Edition you wish to install. Then save.
Windows 10 Home
[PID]
Value=YTMG3-N6DKC-DKB77-7M9GH-8HVX7Windows 10 Home N
[PID]
Value=4CPRK-NM3K3-X6XXQ-RXX86-WXCHWWindows 10 Home SL
[PID]
Value=GH37Y-TNG7X-PP2TK-CMRMT-D3WV4Windows 10 Pro
[PID]
Value=VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66TWindows 10 Pro N
[PID]
Value=2B87N-8KFHP-DKV6R-Y2C8J-PKCKTWindows 10 Education
[PID]
Value=YNMGQ-8RYV3-4PGQ3-C8XTP-7CFBYWindows 10 Education N
[PID]
Value=84NGF-MHBT6-FXBX8-QWJK7-DRR8HWindows 10 Pro Education
[PID]
Value=8PTT6-RNW4C-6V7J2-C2D3X-MHBPBWindows 10 Pro Education N
[PID]
Value=GJTYN-HDMQY-FRR76-HVGC7-QPF8P
