How to Upgrade W11 from Home to Pro with NPO License
One of our service units had paid a License to upgrade one Laptop from Windows 11 Home to Professional.
Since this type of license was a NPO license from TechDonation, https://www.techdonation.org.hk/content/windows-pro-full-operating-system-%E2%80%93-no-software-assurance, it required a clean installation.
At the start, followed the steps to download & create an installation media, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11.
However, that didn't work.
Every attempt to install the operating system defaulted to the Home version
Finally, to solve it:
1. Download the ISO
2. Run Rufus to create a bootable USB
3. Create and edit the file - ei.cfg - in the source folder, i.e. E:\sources
[Channel]
_Default
[VL]
0
4. ei.cfg is to enable selection of Windows 11 versions
Should select "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)"
When select "Upgrade: Install Windows and keep files, settings, and applications"
Format and select the OS partition
Additional
Required you to have Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver, https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/19512/intel-rapid-storage-technology-driver-installation-software-with-intel-optane-memory-10th-and-11th-gen-platforms.html.
Such as my case, Intel 11th CPU. When did not have driver, couldn't find any drives.
How-to
1. Download the SetupRST.exe
2. CLI: SetupRST.exe -extractdrivers SetupRST_extracted
3. Copy the folder - SetupRST_extracted to the W11 Installer USB Stick
4. SetupRST_extracted > production > Windows10-x64 > Drivers > VMD
5. When driver is selected, "Windows Setup" will show the drives
References
Step-by-step guide to install Windows 11 Professional from USB
Update