Windows 10 Enterprise licenses are included in the subscription Microsoft 365 for businesses, and companies can buy the ones they need directly from Microsoft.
Microsoft does not allow us to download the Enterprise edition of Windows 10 as easily as Home or Pro. However, with a little trick for Media Creation Tool we can do it.
Windows 10HomeProEnterpriseEducation License TypeOEM
RetailOEM
Retail
VolumeVolumeVolume Edition N?YesSiSiSi Max RAM128 GB 64-bit2 TB 64-bit2 TB 64-bit2 TB 64-bit TelemetryBasicBasic SecureSecure CortanaSiSiSi, except LTSSBiHardware encryptionYesSiSiSi EdgeSiSiSi, except LTSBSi Multiple languagesYesSiSi Mobile supportYesSiSiSi Virtual desktopsYesSiSiSi Windows HelloYes YesYesYes Windows SpotlightYesYesYesYesRemote DesktopOnly clientYesSiSi Remote AppsClient onlyYesSiSi Windows Subsystem for LinuxYesSiSiSi Hyper-VNoSiSiSi BitLockerNoSiSiSi Deferred UpdatesNoSiSiSi Ability to join a domainNoSiSiSi Enterprise Data ProtectionNoSiSiSi Windows Update for BusinessNoSiSiSi AppLockerNoNoSiSi Credential GuardNoNoSiSi Windows to GoNoNoSiSi LTSB EditionNoNoSiNo Ability to upgrade to ProYesNoNoYes Ability to upgrade to EnterpriseNoYesNoNo Ability to upgrade to EducationYesNoNoNo
Which edition best suits my needs?
As the name suggests, the “Enterprise” edition is intended for use in companies. This edition brings the same as the Pro edition, adding some additional security functions (which we are not going to use in a home environment) and some tools equally designed for business use. In addition, it is not an edition that we can buy, just like that, but we must buy it through batches of keys, sold exclusively to companies. Any use of an Enterprise edition at home is illegal. Same with Education editions, and even LTSC.
If we are going to use Windows at home, and we are not going to need strange functions, the Home edition works perfectly for us. If we want something more complete, the Pro edition will give us everything we need. At no time do we need to install an Enterprise edition, Education or, as much as some users without knowledge defend it, the LTSC. They are editions for the exclusive use of companies. They do not paint anything on our personal PC.
How to download the official ISO of Windows 10 Enterprise
In order to carry out this trick, the first thing we will have to do is download the latest version of the Media Creation Tool. And we will store this program in a directory that is easy to access, such as a folder within the root of the main hard drive. For example, in C:/MCT.
Next, we open a PowerShell window, and using the “cd” command we will move to the directory where we have saved this file.
Once there, what we must do is execute the following command in the PowerShell console.
./MediaCreationTool21H1 /Eula Accept /Retail /MediaArch x64 /MediaLangCode en-ES /MediaEdition Enterprise
As we can see, we will execute the MediaCreationTool binary (if we download a version other than 1909 we must change the name), along with the parameters to accept the EULA, choose the architecture, the language and what interests us: /MediaEdition Enterprise.
It will automatically load Media Creation Tool, and it will begin to prepare the system to download this edition of Windows 10. At a given moment, it will ask us for the key to continue. We can use the generic Windows 10 keys at this time to proceed with the download.
We continue with the wizard. It will ask us if we want to update our computer or create an installation medium. We indicate this second option, and then we want to download an ISO image to record later.
Ready. Now we just have to wait for the download to finish. When the process is finished we will have an ISO image of Windows 10 Enterprise on our computer, ready to use it as we want.
Install Windows 10 Enterprise
At this point we will have an ISO image of Windows 10 Enterprise. Said ISO image can be used to install this edition of Windows in a virtual machine, but if what we want is to enjoy the Windows of the Enterprise edition, it will not be of much use to us.
The ideal is to install this edition on our main computer to be able to use all the functions and advanced features that it offers us. Therefore, once we have the ISO on our computer, the next step will be to burn it to a USB memory.
The media creation wizard itself will allow us to do this. Although it is much more recommended that, once we have the ISO, we record it to a USB through the Rufus program.
We will choose the device (the USB memory) where we are going to record Windows 10 Enterprise, the ISO that we have downloaded and that’s it. We will create the installation USB and, when it is finished, we will have it ready to be able to install this operating system on any PC.
How to activate it with a license?
If downloading it is already somewhat complicated (since Microsoft does not want home users to be able to use this system), activating it is even more difficult. because? Because Windows 10 Enterprise licenses are not sold as such in the Microsoft Store or in computer and technology stores. And we cannot find PCs with this system installed as standard either.
Enterprise edition keys (same as Education editions, which are primarily intended for schools and educational institutions) are only provided by Microsoft to companies or institutions that actually abide by the terms of use. They are generally more expensive, but you save by having to buy them in batches. Its activation is not done through the key as such, but is usually centralized in a central server through what is known as KMS.
There are many ways to use Windows 10 Enterprise at home, but none of them are legal. It doesn’t matter if we buy a license on a Chinese website, or if we use programs to activate the system, all of this is illegal, does not comply with Microsoft’s license terms and, in the long run, will cause us more problems than benefits.
The same trick works for other editions
In addition to being able to use this trick to download enterprise edition of windows 10, we can also use it to download other editions that we want, such as Education, or Professional. Also to download the N and KN editions on our computer.
All we have to do is change the edition in the “/MediaEdition” parameter. For example: “/MediaEdition Education”.
We can also change the type of system that we want to download (for example, for 32 bits) with the /MediaArch x86 parameter, or the language of our Windows 10 by changing the /MediaLangCode.
Is Windows 10 Enterprise worth it?
If we have a company, and we want to get the most out of Microsoft’s operating system within it, then this is the version we should choose. Among other things, its main advantage is that its access is included in Office 365 subscriptions, which is an advantage since, with a single payment, we will have both Windows and Office and other company services.
But if we are thinking of installing Windows 10 Enterprise in our house, the truth is that it will not be worth it. The first thing we should know is that we are not going to be able to buy a license as such, since they are only sold by volume for companies. Except for a few features, such as AppLocker, Credential Guard or Windows to Go, the rest of the features are the same as we can find in the Pro edition of Windows 10. Of course, telemetry in the Enterprise is more secure, although it should not be This is a compelling reason to change.
Windows 10 Enterprise It is only worth it in companies, not at home. If we want a version with more functions than those available in the Home version, the next step in terms of functions and price is the Pro version, where we find functions that are not available in the Home version, the virtualization of operating systems with Hyper Vthe possibility of connecting remotely to our equipment using the function Remote Desktop and the function BitLockera function that allows us to encrypt the content of our hard drive so that no one but us can access its content if the encryption key that we have used is missing.
Driver issues in Windows 10 Enterprise
Once we have downloaded the corresponding ISO image and installed it on our computer, we usually want it to work perfectly. However, contrary to what happens with other simpler editions of Windows 10, here we can find some problems derived from the drivers the operating system. At first we will tell you that on most computers these drivers will be installed automatically and no additional action will be necessary.
But it can also be the case that we encounter some component detection failures when trying to configure Windows 10 Enterprise. This will mean that we will not be able to install the corresponding drivers necessary for the operation of those components. If these are not installed automatically, the best thing we can do is access the official website of the manufacturer of said product. Thus we will have the possibility of downloading the official drivers to install them in this edition of the system without any problem.
This type of error with a software element as important as the drivers, are not usually common in other editions such as Windows Home. However, in the Enterprise there may be certain incompatibilities that lead us to download the official drivers from the manufacturer.
And what about Windows 10 LTSC?
Windows 10 LTSC It is one of the versions that attract the most attention to users. Unlike the Home and Pro versions, which are updated every 6 months with new functions and features, the LTSC edition stands out for having extended support. The first had a 10 year support, during which it is not necessary to install any more version, only the security patches. New LTSCs are “only” supported for 5 years.
Also, these versions do not come with any kind of bloatware, so they are cleaner.
What’s wrong with using them? The first thing is that the license can only be acquired through the purchase of a Windows Enterprise key. These keys are much more expensive than Home and Pro keys, and can only be purchased in volume. Also, by removing services from Windows itself (such as the Microsoft Store) we lose part of the out-of-the-box experience that Microsoft has prepared for us. And, broadly speaking, the performance improvement is negligible.
Just as we don’t recommend using Windows 10 Enterprise on a home PC, we also don’t recommend using Windows 10 LTSC beyond businesses and organizations.
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