WinToGo Free Version for W10 Pro

wptski said:

That probably correct as I ordered that SSD USB drive on 7th of March so that was after all the failures and finally a success with Rufus. Rufus works great unless your talking about Linux on a stick where it lacks the creation of the persistent option.

Rufus only works for creating bootable usb drives with full windows in legacy bios mode for standard "removeable" flash drives. It can ONLY create a UEFI install on a flash drive WITH the "fixed disk bit" set e.g. a Windows To Go" certified drive. I tested this yesterday on latest version of Rufus - it still says you cannot do UEFI on a removeable drive as you can only have one partition which is out of date now.

Wintousb 3.5 (stated as new feature) can NOW create a UEFI install on a standard flash drive due to changes in version 1703 (and some earlier Insider builds after AU version).

Certified drives show as fixed disks, where as normal thumb drives show as removable media. The official Windows To Go utility will only use drives with the bit set to fixed disk. Also, there is no official Windows to Go Pro install. You have to use an Enterprise ISO when creating a Windows To Go drive. Windows 10 Enterprise and Education have the official Windows To Go Utility included. Even when run it from the Education version it wants the Enterprise ISO.

wptski said:

If it did, why would clearly show that it can be done and have it coded to show a window telling one to reinsert within a given time limit??

Well, you pulled the drive without shutting down, and it got corrupted. What does that tell you? Something isn't working as intended. If it happened once it will likely happen again, so as I suggested, I wouldn't do it.

wptski said:

So what's different on a certified drive? I actually ordered one, returned it without even opening the package.

Windows to Go certified drives appear as a fixed disk to Windows, then you can use the "Windows To Go" tools in Windows (not Home) to create a true Windows To Go installation which has extra software added that gives the protection against premature removal.

It is interesting to note the Windows To Go tool in Windows will not allow it to be installed on a standard usb flash drive now although I cannot see any reason for that now other than MS claiming Windows To Go certified drives are more reliable as built to a higher specification. This is probably bs now.

Windows To Go certified drives pass a battery of certification tests, including self-hosting and boot compatibility across a variety of PCs. The certification process ensures that drives are built for the high random read / write speeds required for running Windows smoothly. Additionally, certified drives are backed with manufacturer warranties, with a focus on continuing to operate under normal working conditions.
The following are the USB drives currently certified for use as Windows To Go drives:

• Imation IronKey™ Workspace W300 / W500 / W700
• Kingston DataTraveler Workspace
• Spyrus Portable Workplace
• Spyrus Secure Portable Workplace
• Spyrus WorkSafe
• Super Talent RC4 / RC8
• WD My Passport Enterprise

wptski said:

I don't remember what file, kernel, etc. is listed but I only tried it once, makes no sense to try it again or even do so!

As I said, it happened because you were not using a True Windows To Go installation on a Windows To Go certified drive.

In simple terms - properly shutdown Windows on usb drive before removing it - end of story.

I just ran Windows To Go on this PC, which is running Education. Kingston DT HyperX 3.0 USB device and got the following message "This is a removable drive and not compatible......". A nice fast USB 3 thumb drive is rejected, but if I plug in my dirt slow 5400 RPM IDE laptop drive in a USB 2 enclosure it will use it.

wptski said:

It a useless, meaningless option. Who cares?

It is far from useless and meaningless - if you are a businessman, that extra reliability could be important. For my use, I would not spend the money, as my function is to use it for recovery purposes predominantly but also to run one piece of licenced software tat only permits a single install at any one time.