The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Help: Running Windows 8 from a Flash Drive

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by polkmn, Sep 21, 2012.

  1. polkmn

    polkmn Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hey guys, question: Is there a way to put Windows 8 on a flash drive and actually run the OS from the flash drive.

    I used WinToBootic to put Windows 8 on my 16GB flash drive and was told i can just throw the flash drive in, boot to the flash drive, and set it up and go. Well my issue here is it all worked great until i get to the partions.

    When i get to the partition page the only options i have are 100MB of system reserved and about 680GB of free space which is obviously not my flash drive.

    What i want to do is not touch anything on my PC and be able to load everything and run everything exclusively from the flash drive itself.

    Is there anyway to run Windows 8 exclusively on my flash drive without touching my PCs HDD? This way i could just take the flash drive wherever i want and run Windows 8 wherever i want.

    Ty in advance for any help.
     
    polkmn, Sep 21, 2012
    #1
  2. GamTop

    GamTop Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    50
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I dont think its possible since windows only detecs the HDD. I have a very old hardware book (2005) wich too says that windows cannot be installed on external devices. Try google
     
    GamTop, Sep 21, 2012
    #2
  3. Shemmy

    Shemmy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    318
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Windows to Go is a feature only available in the Enterprise SKU.
     
    Shemmy, Sep 23, 2012
    #3
  4. SL2

    SL2 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    829
    Messages:
    1,340
    Likes Received:
    266
    Trophy Points:
    101
    You need a fast drive, I hope you have a USB 3.0. I used a 16GB usb 2.0 drive for W7 and the installation wasn't finished even after 5 hours...
    Here's what I used, although I haven't tried it for W8.

    Windows To Go needs at least 32 GB.

    An alternative is to use a VHD, you get dual boot and it won't mess up the partitions you already have, and you don't have to add any partitions.
    Windows will be installed in a single file which can be placed anywhere, which also makes it easy to move or delete.
     
    SL2, Sep 24, 2012
    #4
  5. GamTop

    GamTop Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    50
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Cool, didn't know that! Is it possible to get it without using an Enterprise license?

    Also in reply to the post above^^^^^ VHD is a very good solution as you can manage it like any other file. The downside however is that software like virtual PC or VirtualBox/VMware is required to use it.
     
    GamTop, Sep 24, 2012
    #5
  6. hockeymass

    hockeymass that one guy

    Reputations:
    1,450
    Messages:
    3,669
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    116
    Que?

    10char
     
    hockeymass, Sep 24, 2012
    #6
  7. SL2

    SL2 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    829
    Messages:
    1,340
    Likes Received:
    266
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Don't confuse the OP. If you don't know how to boot to VHD, please read the guide I posted.

    I guess no one read my Windows To Go link either, do it!
     
    SL2, Sep 24, 2012
    #7
  8. jim13

    jim13 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    jim13, Sep 24, 2012
    #8
  9. Shemmy

    Shemmy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    11
    Messages:
    318
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Que lo sabes?
     
    Shemmy, Sep 27, 2012
    #9