Windows To Go is an enterprise feature in Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8, allowing users to create a bootable USB external hard drive with a live Windows system. With a portable Windows To Go USB drive, you can mitigate concerns about system startup issues, such as failed boots, malware, or virus infections that could crash your system. You can use the Windows To Go USB drive on any computer, anywhere, provided it meets the requirements for installing the Windows operating system on a certified USB flash drive.

Here's the list of Windows To Go certified USB sticks!

    • 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

So first, make sure you have a supported flash drive. Now, you should know that all these Windows To Go certified drives start at 32 gigabytes of storage, so they tend to be more expensive.

Yes, it is possible to create a Windows To Go installation on a non-certified USB flash drive. However, please note that using a non-certified drive might result in decreased performance, reliability issues, or may not be supported by all Windows versions. Windows To Go is designed to work optimally with certified USB drives that meet specific requirements for speed, durability, and compatibility. These certified drives ensure a better user experience and are recommended for official use. To create a Windows To Go drive using a non-certified USB flash drive, you can follow these general steps: 1. Download the Windows 10 ISO file from the Microsoft website. 2. Use a tool like Rufus, DiskPart, or the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive. Rufus, for instance, has an option for creating a Windows To Go drive. 3. Connect the USB drive to your computer and select it as the target device in the software you're using. 4. Follow the software's instructions to create the Windows To Go installation. 5. Once completed, restart your computer and change the BIOS settings to boot from the USB drive. 6. Proceed with the Windows setup as you would on a regular installation. Keep in mind that using a non-certified drive might lead to unexpected problems, so it's always advisable to use a certified Windows To Go drive if possible.

Attempts to create a Windows To Go workspace on a non-certified USB flash drive would certainly fail, often accompanied by an error message stating that it is a removable drive and not compatible with Windows To Go.

In reality, a majority of global users are using popular USB 3.0 flash drives from SanDisk, Kingston, Toshiba, or Samsung, and most of these are not officially supported for Windows To Go. To cater to the needs of those who wish to install a personalized Windows operating system on a portable drive but have non-certified USB devices, third-party Windows To Go creators have been developed. These tools enable the utilization of Windows To Go on unsupported USB drives!

Finally, let's create your own Windows To Go on any USB drive!

And to make it happen, finding the best USB bootable software would be ideal. Tools like Todo Backup, for instance, with its System Clone feature that supports creating an image of the entire system configuration and files to external storage, makes the creation of a portable Windows operating system incredibly easy and stress-free – very similar to Windows To Go. Let's download and install the Windows backup software on a computer and get started.

Tip
No matter what brand of USB flash drive you have, even if it's not on the list of Microsoft Windows To Go certified USB sticks, you can still use it with tools like Todo Backup. However, you must follow two rules. For a new USB flash drive with nothing on it, ensure that its storage capacity is no less than that of the system partition. For an old USB drive, there must be sufficient unallocated space ahead of the existing partitions.

Guide to Create Windows To Go with a Non-Certified USB Flash Drive

USB requirements:

1. Check how much disk space is being utilized by the system C drive. Let's assume it's 40GB. Next, prepare a qualified USB drive, whose capacity must be greater than 40GB.

2. Will you be using a brand new, empty USB drive or an old one? If you're reusing an old drive, make sure to safely transfer all important data elsewhere since the system cloning process will completely overwrite its contents.

3. Properly connect the USB drive to your computer and ensure that Windows has detected it and assigned a drive letter to it.

Follow the general process to create a bootable Windows USB drive and boot from it:

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup. Expand the Tools menu and click "System Clone".

select system clone

Step 2. On the "System Clone" window, the software will default select the system partition and boot partition. Simply choose the USB drive as the target disk. Click "Advanced options," then "Create a portable Windows USB drive." Click "OK," then "Next."

select system clone

Step 3. You can preview or adjust the disk layout on the target drive. If everything looks good, click "Proceed," and the software will start cloning the default system partitions on your desktop/laptop to the USB drive. Once the cloning process is complete, you can safely remove the USB drive.

select system clone

Step 4. Boot from the USB drive.

    1. Connect your portable USB drive to the computer. 2. Restart the computer and press "Del" to enter the BIOS. 3. In the BIOS, under the "Boot" tab, modify the boot order to set your PC to boot from the portable USB drive. 4. Save the changes, and your system will start booting from the USB drive.
 

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