A step-by-step guide to install Windows on external hard drive
14 March 2024 Specialist of Customer Service Dept.
Summary
Discover the steps to seamlessly install Windows on an external hard drive, offering you the convenience and portability essential for those always on the go—perfect for travelers and telecommuters. Before you begin, don't forget to safeguard your data by backing up all critical files.
Table of contents
If you need to install the Windows 10 system on a mobile hard disk, you need to prepare the following items.
① Windows To Go program
Windows To Go (WTG), previously a feature that allowed for booting Windows from a USB drive, was included in the Windows 10 Enterprise and Education editions. However, it has been discontinued starting with version 2004. Users who need to create a portable Windows environment will now have to seek alternative solutions, such as third-party tools like WTG auxiliary tools, WinToUSB, or Rufus.
② A USB storage device (U disk/mobile hard disk) that meets the official certification of Microsoft
Microsoft’s certified USB storage for Windows To Go requires USB 2.0 or higher, at least 32GB capacity, high random read/write speeds, and the ability to handle numerous random accesses per second for typical Windows operations. For prolonged use and system installation, opt for larger capacities like 256GB+. WTG-certified USB devices, such as U disks, typically cost more. If on a tight budget, or if you own a mobile SSD or high-performance HDD, you can install Windows To Go on these drives. Despite lacking official certification, they should still provide a satisfactory user experience.
③ Windows 10 Mirroring
For Windows To Go, it is recommended to first prepare a Windows 10 Enterprise Edition image. Utilizing a third-party creation tool can provide greater flexibility, permitting you to select from multiple versions of Windows. Ensure to acquire Windows 10 system images exclusively from the official website or certified third-party sources.
Windows 10 official download address: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10
Creating a Windows To Go workspace involves embedding a Windows 10 image onto a portable hard drive and enabling it to boot. For illustration, here are the specific steps using the built-in Windows To Go feature:
Step 1: Connect the mobile hard disk to the computer, search for (
Windows To Go) in the search box in the lower left corner of the computer and open it.
Step 2: In the “Create Windows To Go Workspace” window, select the mobile hard disk on which the Windows 10 system needs to be installed.
Step 3: Select the Windows 10 Enterprise version image file. Should the required image be unavailable, click “Add search location” to navigate and locate it.
Step 4: Choose the option “Use BitLocker in my Windows To Go workspace” to secure your data with encryption and set a strong password. Alternatively, if you’re not acquainted with BitLocker, you may select “Skip“. It’s advisable to opt for skipping if you’re unsure about using BitLocker. Subsequently, you’ll be prompted to back up your data and format the portable hard drive. Make sure to save any important files before proceeding with the format.
Step 5: When selecting a startup option, you’ll be asked if you want to automatically boot from the Windows To Go workspace (the portable hard drive) upon restarting. Choose Yes to auto-start or No if you plan to use the workspace on different computers.
For Windows computers
Step 1: Connect the Windows 10 mobile hard disk (Windows To Go workspace) to the target computer. During startup, repeatedly press the F2, F8, F10, F12, ESC, or Del key to enter the BIOS interface, depending on your computer or motherboard brand.
Step 2: Navigate to the Boot Priority setting within your BIOS. It’s important to recognize that BIOS interfaces can differ significantly. Confirm that the mobile hard drive containing the operating system is prioritized at the top of the boot order. Save your changes and then reboot your system.
For Mac computers
Because some drivers or other supporting software necessary for the Windows 10 system to run are not included in the Mac computer, the following steps are required.
Step 1: Prepare an 8GB or larger U disk and connect it to your Mac. Boot the Mac, launch Boot Camp Assistant, click Action on the menu bar, and choose ‘Download Windows Support Software’.
Step 2: Store the downloaded WindowsSupport folder in the prepared USB flash drive. Then shut down the Mac computer and remove the USB drive.
Step 3: Connect the Windows To Go drive to the Mac’s USB port. Restart the Mac, holding the Option key to open the boot menu. Choose EFI Boot to start Windows 10. If the Mac’s touchpad and keyboard are unresponsive, attach an external mouse to complete setup tasks like region selection and username creation.
Step 4: After booting into the Windows environment, connect the USB drive that contains the WindowsSupport folder. Should your Mac have limited USB ports, employ a USB hub. To install the required drivers for full functionality of the keyboard, touchpad, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and other features, run
BootCamp.exe from the folder. The steps outlined below detail how to install Windows 10 on a portable hard drive and boot your computer from it. This guide should prove useful to those in need. For regular Windows 10 system backups, consider the methods below. Note that unlike the Windows To Go workspace, a backup system is not bootable but serves to restore your system to its backed-up state in the event of system failure. The system backup process will be demonstrated using Renee Becca as an illustrative tool.
Renee Becca is a comprehensive backup and restoration tool designed for safeguarding system/hard disk data. This robust application empowers users to backup and restore essential computer data, including programs, system settings, emails, photos, videos, documents, and bookmarks. By leveraging advanced incremental/differential backup technology, Renee Becca enhances efficiency by reducing backup time and minimizing disk space usage. Furthermore, the tool offers versatile features such as partition backup, hard disk backup, file backup, disk cloning, and system migration to accommodate a variety of backup needs.
Renee Becca - Reliable Data Backup & Restore Software
Quick Backup files at up to 3,000MB/min.
Fullfill different backup needs Supports system backup, disk / partition backup, file backup and disk clone.
Intelligent Automatically analyze the differences between source and backup data.
Convenient Support VSS, allowing to freely view webpages when backing up system.
Highly compatible Supports various files and storage devices.
Quick Backup files at up to 3,000MB/min.
Fullfill different backup needs Backup for disk, partition and system. Save disk space by backing up incremental /differential data.
Highly compatible Supports various files and storage devices.
Backup system with Renee Becca is very simple, the specific operation steps are as follows:
Step 1: Connect a high-capacity external hard drive to your PC. Proceed to download, install, and launch Renee Becca. Navigate to the
Backup tab in the main menu, and select System Backup.
Step 2: Choose the source file, usually the system partition, and select a destination for the backup. An external hard drive is advised for the destination.
Ensure your mobile hard disk has sufficient capacity, then set up an automatic backup plan. Select a backup mode best suited for your needs. Enable the task plan to perform backups on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis at predetermined times. You can choose from a range of backup modes including version chain, single version, overall, incremental, or differential. These configurations aid in maintaining regular system backups and the auto-deletion of older backups, optimizing both your time and storage space.
Step 3: After all the settings are completed, click (Backup Now) and wait for the system backup to complete. You can check the backup progress on the (task) interface.
If you want to restore the system backed up to the mobile hard disk to the computer, you can check the following.
Note: To restore the system on a different computer, verify that the CPU and motherboard brands match the original hardware. The system installs drivers specific to the hardware, and differing hardware may result in incompatibility or require a license activation. Follow these steps for the operation:
Step 1: Run Renee Becca, switch to (task) in the function bar at the top of the interface, and then select the (Rescue CD) option.
Step 2: Select the correct rescue disk type that matches your disk and system requirements. After making your choice, insert a blank CD or USB drive into your computer. Click
'Select' (Next) to initiate the bootable disk creation process. Verify that the USB drive for the bootable disk is different from any drives used for system backup purposes.
Step 3: Attach the boot disk (CD or USB drive) to the target computer. Restart the computer and press the BIOS shortcut key(F2, or DEL) to access the BIOS menu. Locate the Boot Priority option—note that BIOS interfaces may vary. Set the boot disk as the primary boot device, save the changes, and reboot the computer.
Step 4: After the startup, select the appropriate system backup version and the target location for restoration. Connect the external hard drive with the backup file to your computer and choose it as the source. Make sure the “Let target disk be booted” option is enabled. Click ‘Restore’ to begin the system restoration process.
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