install Win 10 on external hard drive

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  1. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #21

    What Win 10 version did you install?
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  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #22

    Ztruker said:
    What Win 10 version did you install?
    1803 Pro. There was an error message in RUFUS when I tried 1809.
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  3. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #23

    Hi there
    Probably a quicker way (use external SATA-->USB3 connector) to external SSD

    Copy partitions to new SSD

    also do the following (works as well on latest 19H1 and 20H1 -- 1903 builds too).

    a) rename the uaspstor.sys file to uaspstor.sys.old or whatever you like

    b) copy usbstor.sys uaspstor.sys i.e 2 files usbstor.sys but one of them now named to uaspstor.sys

    So you now have 2 usbstor.sys files, but one is named uaspstor.sys.

    You might need to logon to a Linux system to do the re-names though -- use any live Linux CD .

    Now boot the external SSD. If it fails then do :

    Use Macrium Free (or other backup software) to fix windows boot problems and select the external SSD for the Windows installation

    Job done, quickly and easily - clone of your current system, no activation needed - already activated including things like Office too if you have them.

    However if you run the system on another PC you might need re-activation or a new license -- depends though -- you could be lucky if the new hardware is similar to the old computer,

    Running windows from an external SSD is fine -- provided it's running via USB3 connector or if you have a new PC one of those fast USB-C 3.1 connectors.

    Cheers
    jimbo
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  4. Posts : 17
    Windows 10 Pro 64bit Version 20H2
       #24

    Clone Software


    If you are on 1809 there seem to be only a few solutions, non of them free:
    Hasleo's WinToUSB (I cloned several PCs with this), EaseUS Todo Backup Home 11.5 (works too) an AOMEI Partition Assistant Pro (which did not produce a bootable drive for me). All cost the same: $30 or so.
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  5. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #25

    What about Macrium Reflect Free?
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #26

    I just tried to upgrade my 1803 installed on a USB hard drive to 1903, and it failed. Next I'll try putting 1903 on the USB hard drive using RUFUS as a clean install.

    Version 1903 installs to external USB HDD just fine (using Rufus).
    Last edited by NavyLCDR; 28 Apr 2019 at 15:06.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #27

    NavyLCDR said:
    I just tried to upgrade my 1803 installed on a USB hard drive to 1903, and it failed. Next I'll try putting 1903 on the USB hard drive using RUFUS as a clean install.

    Version 1903 installs to external USB HDD just fine (using Rufus).
    Hi there
    @NavyLCDR
    latest version of rufus makes this easy now --thanks for the tip

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #28

    NavyLCDR said:
    I just tried to upgrade my 1803 installed on a USB hard drive to 1903, and it failed. Next I'll try putting 1903 on the USB hard drive using RUFUS as a clean install.

    Version 1903 installs to external USB HDD just fine (using Rufus).
    As far as I know, it is not possible to upgrade Windows directly on an external drive.

    There is a convoluted way though.

    1) install windows in a vhd on usb drive and create boot entry

    2) when you need to update it, attach vhd to Hyper-V (with existing VM so you can make dual boot entry) and then boot from it and upgrade.

    Then copy upgraded VM back to usb.

    Nightmare but works!
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  9. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #29

    Hi there @cereberus

    You are right - you can't upgrade (or at least I don't know how to do it) but then at least after "classic upgrade" you can clone to external USB which works

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


 

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