Windows 10 OEM Installations

dangalore1988 · 16 Aug 2015

Hello,

I have searched the internet but can't find any advice on this topic - Windows 8 used to have two separate "images" in that the x32 Image contained the Windows 8 Home x32 and Professional x32 files and the x64 Image contained the Windows 8 Home x64 and Professional x64 files and either the product key determined which version to use, or if a product key was not entered you could select the version from the list (obviously this would need a key later etc).

In Windows 10, it appears that there are separate images ie:
- Windows 10 Home x32
- Windows 10 Pro x32
- Windows 10 Home x64
- Windows 10 Pro x64

Just to confuse things further, the OEM installation media I have for the x64 version of Home says it also contains the x32 version files!

Does anyone know for sure how Microsoft have separated out these images - do I need to retain 4 separate images as per above for each different architecture and version or does the x64 version of Home contain x32 too and same for the Pro version?

You're probably wondering why I am asking?... I have a NAS system where I can do an unattended install using PXE and Win PE to install any version I need - obviously this is working great for Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 etc but I'm not sure how to structure this with 10.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks :)

dangalore1988 · 16 Aug 2015

I think I've found the answer to my question - it appears there are a lot of different ISOs going around. The media creation tool allows you to create the following:
- Windows 10 Home x32
- Windows 10 Pro x32
- Windows 10 Home x64
- Windows 10 Pro x64
- Windows 10 Home x32 and x64
- Windows 10 Pro x32 and x64
Depending on which options you select in the tool.

I had ordered OEM Licences from supplier for Windows 10 Home and Pro - it appears the installation disc Microsoft send with the OEM licence is version specific ie. if you have a Windows 10 Home key the disc contains only Windows 10 Home.

It also appears that the OEM disc when you buy a x64 licence also contains the x32 version too for that version.

So in effect, the Media Creation Tool allows you to create all the different combinations - the simplest way is to select Home and x32 and x64 together which creates an ISO that allows you install Home x32 and x64 then select Pro and x32 and x64 together which gives you a second ISO which can install Pro x32 and x64.

alphanumeric · 16 Aug 2015

My MSDN ISO's are multi edition, Home and Pro. There is an 32 bit ISO and a 64 bit ISO. Key entered determines what version is installed. My MSDN Windows 8.1 were the same way. You had to enter a key though, there was no skip option. There was no Home/Pro selection menu, you had to enter a key. I haven't booted from my Windows 10 ISO's to see what menu you get. The ones you get from the Media Creation Tool will let you skip entering a key but they aren't multi edition. Those are the only ones I've seen that are both 32 bit and 64 bit on the same ISO. I've done an install with my MSDN ISO, but I added a PID.txt file to install Pro by default. That bypasses some of the menus you see on install, namely the one where you enter your key. I like to speed things up as much as possible.