How to install Windows from USB
How to install Windows on an External Drive – External storage drives can now achieve the same read speeds and transfer speeds as internal drives thanks to new connections like Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1. This advancement was so significant that peripheral media can now run an entire operating system with no crashes and fluidity.
Some systems, like Windows and Linux, can be installed on older external hard drives. This solution is ideal for those who have an existing computer or notebook and aren’t willing to modify the settings. It also works well for users who want to run multiple programs on one machine, and don’t have enough space for more than one platform.
Windows has a catch. If it finds that the downloaded file is on an external drive, Windows will not complete the installation. There are ways around this block, such as emulation tools. We will show you how to install Windows 10 with WinToUSB.
Step 1 – Download WinToUSB
WinToUSB is the same functionality as Windows To Go. This Microsoft option was designed for businesses only and is not compatible with Windows consumer editions. It was originally released for Windows 8 and supports running the system from a flash drive. There are versions for Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 Enterprise as well as 10 Education.
To download WinToUSB, click here
Step 2 – Prepare Windows for File installation
You will need a DVD or disk image file for the software installation. You can also download Windows 10 ISO image files from Microsoft’s website. Make sure to select the right edition and language for your system. An official platform license is also required.
Copy your Windows installation to another computer.
Step 3 – WinToUSB
WinToUSB will need to know where Windows is. To do this, open WinToUSB and select one of the options from the window to the left. Note that icons are available for external media, an image file and a DVD. After you have selected the type, there are several options under the “Operating system” tab. To proceed, tick the desired version of the system – remembering that it must be the one you have an official Windows licence for – and then click “Next”.
Step 4 – Select an installation disk, partition, and mode
Under the “Please choose the destination” item, select the external HD that is already connected to the first device. This will allow you to select the location where you wish to install the system. The next window will display options. If you don’t have any software on your external drive, select the system partition or boot options and then click “Install mode”. It is possible to configure the space that Windows will use during installation. However, you should not select the maximum size.
To begin the installation, click “Next”. A progress bar will appear indicating when the transfer is complete. This will depend on how fast your external hard drive is.
Step 5: Restart your computer and load Windows
Once WinToGo has completed the process, you can simply restore your computer and launch Windows from an external drive. Important note: The method for selecting which disk to start the system is different for every computer. While most computers use the F12 command to initiate the process, others need to access the BIOS. To determine which key you should use, consult the manual section that discusses the motherboard.
After this, you’ll be presented with a list of drives that you can choose from. Wait for the installation to finish by choosing the external hard drive (WinToGo usually names it “EFI Boot”).
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