Updated by Linda on Jul 20, 2023
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    1. 1. Can You Run Windows 10 from USB Without Installing it on PC
    2. 2. How to Download Windows 10 Portable USB Creation Tool
    3. 3. How to Copy Windows 10 to a USB Drive and Make It Bootable

Can You Run Windows 10 from USB Without Installing it on a PC?

Yes, you can, but you might wonder, why would one want or need to create a portable Windows? The straightforward answer is that if you travel frequently, and we all know that traveling can be cumbersome, especially when carrying numerous bags. Adding your laptop to the mix只会加重你的烦恼,尤其是在有行李限制和限带随身物品的航班上。即使你不是每天频繁出行,如果你经常使用不同的电脑工作,你可能会发现自己时常缺少维持正常工作流程所需的工具和软件。解决这一切的一个简单方法就是将Windows安装在USB闪存驱动器上。

run windows 10 from USB

As PC hardware becomes obsolete, continuing to use Windows can become challenging. Some devices don't receive the latest updates either. However, with Windows OS on a USB device, you are freed from hardware limitations, ensuring that you can run it anywhere while always running the most recent version of Windows.

Windows To Go offers numerous advantages. It lets you create a portable version of Windows on a USB drive, which can be booted from any hardware. This way, you can access your personalized computer, complete with applications, settings, and passwords, all conveniently contained within a device smaller than a wristwatch.

The "Windows To Go" feature recently introduced by Microsoft makes all of this possible. However, the main drawback of this feature is that it is only available for Windows Enterprise and requires a certified USB flash drive, which can be quite expensive. In this situation, what you need is a portable Windows USB creation software called Tools OS2Go. It serves as an excellent alternative, and in this article, we will briefly discuss the Tools OS2Go software and guide you on how to use it.

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How to Create Windows To Go USB Without Enterprise Edition

Generally, Windows To Go enables you to copy an installed operating system to a portable USB drive, but with certain prerequisites, such as having a Windows Enterprise edition, a certified USB drive, and actually, another USB 3.0 hardware on your computer.

OStoGo step1

How to Download the Windows 10 Portable USB Creation Tool

OS2Go is a Windows To Go creator and one of the essential utilities provided by Tools. It's an ideal choice for anyone seeking to create a portable Windows 10 USB drive, as it offers several advantages over Microsoft's basic Windows To Go functionality.

Creating a portable Windows USB drive using the default method with Windows To Go is an intricate and complicated process. It is not user-friendly for regular users or even professionals. Therefore, it is advisable to utilize tools like OS2Go to create a portable Windows To Go USB drive, as the entire process can be completed with just a few clicks, making it more convenient.

The features offered by OS2Go set it apart from other tools. Key features of OS2Go include accessibility, cross-platform support, and cost-efficiency. In essence, accessibility implies that you can access all the functionalities of Windows 10, along with user data and applications, from the same USB drive on multiple computers when it is inserted.

tools OStoGO

Additionally, the cross-platform support is quite impressive. You can run Windows on a Mac device when the need arises. Lastly, as you might recall, we mentioned that official USB drives supporting Windows To Go are expensive. But don't worry; you can still create a Windows To Go even with a non-certified drive.

This means you no longer need to depend on the official device; instead, you can utilize your own USB drive. The seamless integration, combined with their exceptional 24/7 customer support, makes them the top choice for anyone seeking to create a portable Windows USB drive. You can download the OS2Go software tool from their official website.

How to Copy Windows 10 to a USB Drive and Make It Bootable

Now that you understand the nature of OS2Go software and its key features, it's time to start the user guide on how to copy Windows 10 to a USB drive and make it bootable. Ensure you have a formatted USB drive ready, and carefully follow the instructions step by step below.

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 larger than the used space on the system drive. Select the target USB drive and click Next to proceed.

how to use os2go step 1

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

how to use os2go step 2

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 provided if you're using a Solid State Drive as the Windows boot drive. Then, click Proceed.

how to use os2go step 3

Step 4. Then, OS2Go will 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.

how to use os2go step 4

Step 5. Insert the portable Windows USB and start your computer. Press the necessary key (F2, DEL, F10...) 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 the target computer are identical; otherwise, booting may not be possible.

Conclusion

Here's the situation: you can't bring your computer along everywhere you go, but the necessity to access it may arise anytime. Consequently, having your data and resources readily available is crucial. Microsoft introduced the Windows To Go feature to tackle this problem, but it has become less feasible due to its complexity and technical demands.

OS2Go is an excellent alternative that resolves any issue related to this matter. When you run a portable version of the Windows operating system created with OS2Go on another device, you have full access to all Windows features, including your data and applications. This ensures that you're always ready to be productive whenever you need to. That's all for this article. We hope you found it informative.