Ms has gone Bonkers -- but thanks -- runs from externsal SSD now


  1. jimbo45
    Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       New #1

    Ms has gone Bonkers -- but thanks -- runs from externsal SSD now


    Hi folks
    after updating to latest version of Windows I decided to CLONE the installation to an external SSD connected via asmedia SATA-->USB3 connector.

    Guess my surprise when this external SSD also booted Windows without any indication of a "Windows to Go" installation -- I know it's the external SSD is running since both computer name and size of disk are different from the internal "C" drive. The SATA-->USB3 adapter blue led light also indicates every time I run any Windows command.

    Not sure if it's my SATA-->USB3 connector that "poodlefakes" Windows into thinking its running from an INTERNAL SSD but I've installed or used no "Windows to Go" software of any kind.

    I created the clone from a Live Linux fedora stick using DD and then increased the partition sizes manually via GPARTED.

    I repeated the experiment with another SSD using MACRIUM CLONE functionality from a Windows laptop. Same result - Windows DOES run from the SSD -- so not sure what Ms has changed but it seems that it's possible now for people to get easy ways to run "Windows to Go" without any extra software.

    Version of Windows used was the current 363/815 1909 version which ran the updates to 18363.836 without any problems. -- Windows 10 Pro for workstations. I'm sure W10 Pro would also work --can't say about HOME as I don't have it and never used it.

    Would be interested if other people can get similar results. Anyway I'm quite happy as I've an extra copy of Windows -- activated too !!!

    I don't think a clean install would work this way but update doesn't have a problem.

    Cheers
    jimbo
    Last edited by jimbo45; 14 May 2020 at 02:50. Reason: Also boots on other computers
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,432
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #2

    I've always just used the dism apply-image command to do new installs to external drives. Never had a problem from day 1 of Windows 10.

    In diskpart create a 100 mb partition for the system partition on an MBR partitioned USB external drive. Format it as FAT32. Mark it as Active. Create a primary NTFS partition on the rest of the external drive. Use dism apply-image to write Windows 10 to the NTFS partition. Use the bcdboot command to write boot files to the 100 mb system partition. That's it for a clean install to an external USB drive. Boots on both legacy BIOS and UEFI systems.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
Ms has gone Bonkers here (update times)
in Windows Updates and Activation

Hi folks I'm not sure how ms collects this data but it's hopelessly wrong 300246 I rarely use computers after 22.00 (local time) so how on earth do they gather info on Windows that computer is in use between 22.00 and 10.00 Windows...
Win10x64 v1909 latest updates. Would be great to hear from someone who has had a similar problem. Thanks to Microsoft's updates their help and much of the online help has been porked by the changes they've made which makes a lot of the advice...
Hi there anybody know how to fix this Have changed no hardware whatsoever on this machine -- was running perfectly until about an hour ago and then said please activate windows !!!!! here's the screenshot 183533
Hi there I was over sorting out a friends Cable box system and I got some real weird wifi results. He needs the 2.4 GHZ so 5 GHZ wasn't an option Set his router to "N" only -- Wideband -- wifi connector showed 300 Mbs connection - but talk...
Hi there anybody else experiencing this when trying to get the 9879 full install ISO (Windows Enterprise 9879). Host machine W8.1 with latest updates. Nothing to add -- can't see the Form to be filled in. Cheers jimbo
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 13:17.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums