Can I Use My Laptop's Windows Operating System on My Desktop?

Imagine you're using a laptop when suddenly the system crashes due to a virus or malware attack. How can you continue using your laptop effectively? Or, if you need to work from home, what is the most efficient approach? Regardless of whether you're using a computer for work or for personal tasks, how can you ensure seamless productivity?

All the concerns above can be solved with one solution: creating a portable Windows with a USB drive. Actually, Microsoft has developed a feature called Windows To Go to assist users in making a portable Windows. Sadly, Windows To Go comes with many restrictions, particularly in terms of hardware. Let's go over the minimum requirements for Windows To Go; you can check if your USB drive meets these standards.

Hardware Considerations for Windows To Go

A Windows To Go certified USB drive should have high random read/write speeds and support the thousands of random access Input/Output operations per second necessary for smooth performance of typical Windows workloads.

A Windows To Go certified USB drive should ensure that it boots and runs on Windows 7 and later certified hardware.

Here is 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

Windows To Go Alternative - OS2Go Tools

You might have seen that only特定的USB驱动器可以使用Windows To Go，而你的USB驱动器可能不在列表中。更糟糕的是，只有Windows企业版和教育版具有Windows To Go功能。在Windows 10 2004及更高版本中，Microsoft已经删除了此功能。因此，我们推荐一个Windows To Go替代方案——OS2Go工具。

This alternative serves the same purpose as Windows To Go, assisting users in creating a portable Windows USB drive. Its distinctive feature is that OS2Go does not have hardware restrictions. You're not required to purchase a specific brand of USB drive. The sole requirement is that the USB drive's size should be larger than the used space on the C drive. We recommend using a USB drive of 120 GB or more and with a USB 3.0 port for optimal performance.

How to Create a Portable Windows for Your Laptop

In this section, we will outline the step-by-step process of using OS2Go to create a portable Windows USB. To create a portable version of Windows 10/8/7, you will need to准备:

• A USB drive: USB flash drive, pen drive, or external hard drive (should be larger than the used space of the C drive). Also, you need to erase the USB drive.
• A functional computer.

First, download and install the tool OS2Go on your computer. Next, connect your USB drive to your laptop and follow the instructions below to create a portable Windows installation.

Step 1. Install OS2Go on your Windows computer, which will show you the used space on your system drive. Insert a USB drive with a capacity greater than the used space on your system drive. Select the target USB drive and click Next to proceed.

Step 2. OS2Go will warn you that the following action will erase all data on your drive. Make sure you've backed up all important data. Click Continue to proceed.

Step 3. Adjust disk layout. The default disk layout on the target drive will be identical to the source drive. You can also edit the layout to suit your needs. Check the option if you're using an SSD as the Windows boot drive. Then, click Proceed.

Step 4. OS2Go will then begin creating the portable USB drive. This process may take some time, depending on your operating system and network conditions. Once the progress reaches 100%, the USB drive should be bootable.

Step 5. Insert the portable Windows USB and turn on your computer. Press the necessary key (F2, DEL, F10, etc.) to access BIOS. Select to boot from the USB drive.

Note: Please ensure that the boot mode (either UEFI or Legacy) of the portable USB and your target computer are identical, or else you might not be able to boot from it.

Now you've successfully created a portable Windows on your USB drive, and you can use it to run your system on your desktop.

Sum Up

In this article, we've outlined the simplest method to create a portable Windows USB. It's highly recommended that you prepare a portable Windows USB drive in case your laptop fails to boot normally. Alternatively, with a portable Windows USB, you can use your own Windows installation on someone else's computer or a public computer and enjoy the same experience as on your own device.