W8 Windows to Go on USB stick -- Can W7 do it to

Hi all
I've created a running USEABLE W8 X-64 system that actually RUNS from a USB stick using the Windows to Go post links over at the W8 Forum

Has anyone got the Windows To Go feature working? - Windows 8 Forums

I've also installed Office 2010 professional (x-86) Acronis True Image Home 2011 , Partition Manager, VLC media player and Winamp on it too.

There IS a problem with Windows update -- seems some weird user account permissions but it's great being able to run EXCEL 2010 at work on a site where the majority of the computers are still running XP and office XP (aka office 2002).

I was wondering if there was any way of doing the same thing with W7 -- in theory there ought to be since the W8 method uses the IMAGEX.EXE froim the WAIK of W7 to build the Windows system from the WIM image.

I'd be very interested to see if someone has got this working on W7 as it would be an incredibly useful feature.

Cheers
jimbo

Hey jimbo!
I can say I am a proud owner of a 32 bit Windows 8 To Go drive! That is excellent that Office 2010 can install on it, for the Zune software won't install because the C drive is detected as a removable drive, which is unfortunate, but friggin' cool to unplug the flash drive when Windows is running, and then plug it back in as if nothing happened. Hooray!

Windows 7 TECHNICALLY can be installed on a flash drive, but you have to go on a couple of different routes. I've done this before and have researched it. There is first route, of using the WAIK tool and using Windows Embedded Standard 7. It's exactly like Windows 7, but designed for less disk usage both space and read/write wise. OR, you can use a virtual hard drive to install Windows 7 on, and put that onto the flash drive and make it bootable. That option is a pickle for it's a crapshoot from time to time, but it is possible. That's how I made my Windows 7 flash drive through that. Everything worked and everything installed and had NO issues with Windows Updates or any of that such.

But since Windows 8 is still in development, I guess I'll make do. It's Windows 8, it is of the future....

I come bearing news!! I have the solution to fix the Windows Update issues! You have to make the USB drive to appear to be a local hard drive in Windows

How to Make Flash Drive a Local Disk | eHow.com

Follow this tutorial and it works! I can install my Zune software and have Windows Updates! Aw yeah!

Hi there
Great stuff --I thought it had to be something like that as I got it all to work on an external USB Disk which the system detected as a Local Hard drive.


One Minor problem though -- Office -- even my Terminal Services MAK version detects "New Hardware" when you boot the disk / usb stick into a different computer and prompts for re-activation.

Not a normal problem but could be for "Non MAK keys".

The same *might* be true when the product is released --the Windows System could require re-activation as it installs / sets up new devices when you plug the stick into a different computer.

Ms will need to do something about this.

Cheers
jimbo

My question is how this is activated. If you carry around a flash stick with Windows then that is only the HD matching the required hardware signature, which should trigger reactivation everywhere you plug it.

Hi there
Since MS opened this "Can of Worms" or let the cat out of the bag then MS really SHOULD do something to sort this out -- otherwise the thing is just a total WASTE OF TIME.

Enterprise Customers actually aren't the one's who would benefit from this --- External Consultants for example working on Multiple customer sites would find this useful.

In fact "Bog standard" enterprise customers any.probably would be the LEAST likely ones to need this since they will already have lap / desktops supplied by their company.

Cheers
Jimbo