How to Create a Portable Windows 10 Pro Boot USB

Windows To Go is a feature in Windows 8 and 8.1 Enterprise, as well as Windows 10 Pro, Education, and Enterprise that allows you to create and deploy business line applications on both managed and unmanaged PCs. This feature works across home and office computers and requires activation through a Microsoft License.

With Windows To Go, you can boot from any physical or virtual PC, creating a portable version of your Windows installation. The USB drive will look and work like most other types of Windows, but it won't have Hibernate, the Trusted Platform Module, or the Windows Recovery Environment.

Certified USB Drives

Only a dozen USB drives are certified to work with Windows To Go, including the Kingston DataTraveler Workspace and the Spyrus WorkSafe. These USB drives ensure optimal performance and compatibility.

Requirements for Creating a Portable Windows Installation

To create a portable Windows installation on a USB drive, you'll need:

* A USB 3.0 flash drive (for best results)

* An ISO file of the Windows install

* A program for creating the portable installation

You can use any recent version of Windows on a USB drive, including Windows 7, 8, and 10. For optimal performance, it's recommended to use a new or lightly used USB 3.0 flash drive.

Performance Considerations

The performance of a flash drive tends to decrease over time due to the limited number of write and read operations. Additionally, file speeds will be limited to USB 2.0 speeds if your computer doesn't have a compatible USB 3.0 port.

Troubleshooting Windows Crashes

If Windows crashes and stops booting, you can use the portable installation to access your files and potentially troubleshoot the problem.

Creating a Portable Windows Installation

Creating a portable Windows installation is relatively easy. Simply follow these steps:

1. Download the Windows ISO file.

2. Use a program like Rufus or Microsoft's Media Creation Tool to create a bootable USB drive from the ISO file.

3. Insert the USB drive into your computer and restart it.

4. Follow the prompts to install Windows on the USB drive.

With a portable Windows installation, you can run any recent version of Windows on any computer, regardless of its existing operating system. This feature is also useful for creating a rescue disk in case your main computer crashes or becomes unusable.

Overall, creating a portable Windows 10 Pro boot USB is a simple and effective way to take your Windows installation with you wherever you go.

Windows 10 pro boot usb