My latest experiment...

Ghot · 08 Jul 2021

Ok, my Win 10 SSD is a Samsung 860 EVO.
I just bought another 860 EVO.

I used Macrium Reflect to "backup" the whole 860 EVO disk. Then I shut the computer off, and hooked up the "new" 860 EVO.

Then, I used Macrium Reflect bootable media, to restore the backup (of the current SSD), that I just made, to the "new" SSD.
All went well, and I then booted from the "new" SSD. Mainly to make sure the SSD physically worked.

It booted right up. I ran CrystalDiskInfo, just to double check, then shut down the computer.
I took the "new" SSD out, and put the old one back in, and booted to that SSD.
I ran CrystalDiskInfo again.

My latest experiment...-crystaldiskinfo-ssds.png

The reason, I'm doing all this... is that after double checking with Microsoft (licensing rules), I want to simply "upgrade" the "new" SSD to Windows 11.
Then I will have two SSDs, one with Windows 10, and the other with Windows 11.

Hopefully, that will allow me to experiment with Windows 11, but still be able to just swap out the SSD, to go back to Windows 10, whenever I want.
Hopefully, I'll be able to do all this on my current digital license.

I will update, after talking to Microsoft about this, and if approved, seeing how the "upgrade" to Windows 11 goes.

@Brink

hsehestedt · 08 Jul 2021

Just out of curiosity, have you considered adding Windows 11 as a VHD(X) and then natively booting from it?

There may be reasons you don't want to do this, such as lack of space, but I really like this method because you can effectively dual boot with nothing more added to your system than a VHD(X) file and a simple BCD edit. You don't even need any virtualization. This also makes it incredibly simple to remove because it doesn't place a whole bunch of extra stuff on your drive. Just a VHD(X) file.

Here is a tutorial from Kari on this topic:

Windows Videos

Ghot · 08 Jul 2021

hsehestedt said:

Just out of curiosity, have you considered adding Windows 11 as a VHD(X) and then natively booting from it?

Nope. Not even for a second.
If MS has no issues with it... my way is about 1000x simpler.

And... it keeps the OSes completely isolated from each other. Always a plus.

hsehestedt · 08 Jul 2021

Sure, I understand. Everyone has their own preference. However, I will simply say that this method also keeps the 2 OSes completely separated because one is entirely within a VHD.

But that's one of the great things about Windows - you often have more than one way to do things, so use whatever suits your preferences.

I hope you don't mind that I was merely trying to present another possibility.

cereberus · 10 Jul 2021

Ghot said:

Ok, my Win 10 SSD is a Samsung 860 EVO.
I just bought another 860 EVO.

I used Macrium Reflect to "backup" the whole 860 EVO disk. Then I shut the computer off, and hooked up the "new" 860 EVO.

Then, I used Macrium Reflect bootable media, to restore the backup (of the current SSD), that I just made, to the "new" SSD.
All went well, and I then booted from the "new" SSD. Mainly to make sure the SSD physically worked.

It booted right up. I ran CrystalDiskInfo, just to double check, then shut down the computer.
I took the "new" SSD out, and put the old one back in, and booted to that SSD.
I ran CrystalDiskInfo again.

The reason, I'm doing all this... is that after double checking with Microsoft (licensing rules), I want to simply "upgrade" the "new" SSD to Windows 11.
Then I will have two SSDs, one with Windows 10, and the other with Windows 11.

Hopefully, that will allow me to experiment with Windows 11, but still be able to just swap out the SSD, to go back to Windows 10, whenever I want.
Hopefully, I'll be able to do all this on my current digital license.

I will update, after talking to Microsoft about this, and if approved, seeing how the "upgrade" to Windows 11 goes.

@Brink

This will work fine from an activation viewpoint.

I agree with @Brink about using vdhx files. I have a batch file that does all the hard work including installation using dism.

You just mount iso of w11, answer some questions and execute it. I have made it customisable e.g. setting paths, where to store vhdx etc. It even has ability to inject drivers if needed.

I can share this if people are interested.

Ghot · 10 Jul 2021

hsehestedt said:

Sure, I understand. Everyone has their own preference. However, I will simply say that this method also keeps the 2 OSes completely separated because one is entirely within a VHD.

But that's one of the great things about Windows - you often have more than one way to do things, so use whatever suits your preferences.

I hope you don't mind that I was merely trying to present another possibility.

cereberus said:

This will work fine from an activation viewpoint.

I agree with @Brink about using vdhx files. I have a batch file that does all the hard work including installation using dism.

You just mount iso of w11, answer some questions and execute it. I have made it customisable e.g. setting paths, where to store vhdx etc. It even has ability to inject drivers if needed.

I can share this if people are interested.

It's done...

Possible experiment... | Page 2 | Windows 11 Forum

Paul Black · 10 Jul 2021

Hello @cereberus,

cereberus said:

I agree with @Brink about using vdhx files. I have a batch file that does all the hard work including installation using dism.

You just mount iso of w11, answer some questions and execute it. I have made it customisable e.g. setting paths, where to store vhdx etc. It even has ability to inject drivers if needed.

I can share this if people are interested.

I would be interested please.