Acer 1 A114-31 moving win10 OS to usb

[Michelangelo Chin]

I’m having a headache trying to move my windows 10 on to usb drive on my Acer 1 A114-31. I’m using this guide https://www.google.com/amp/s/windowsreport.com/windows-10-external-drive/amp/ but the damned usb doesn’t show up in the bootable options. I’ve tried many different ways formatting to expat instead and allowing secure boot on efi renaming the usb drive to bootx64.efi

This is really pissing me off I’ve wasted a good 3 hours on my weekend already. Fucking piece of shit laptop.

 

[USAFRet]

I’m having a headache trying to move my windows 10 on to usb drive on my Acer 1 A114-31. I’m using this guide https://www.google.com/amp/s/windowsreport.com/windows-10-external-drive/amp/ but the damned usb doesn’t show up in the bootable options. I’ve tried many different ways formatting to expat instead and allowing secure boot on efi renaming the usb drive to bootx64.efi

This is really pissing me off I’ve wasted a good 3 hours on my weekend already. Fucking piece of shit laptop.

What are you actually trying to do and why?

I know you said "moving win10 OS to usb"....but why?

 

[Michelangelo Chin]

The stock ssd cannot be replaced and the storage is only 32 gb. The updates took too much space and I eventually ran out of space. Which is why I want to move the operating system to the usb so I have more wiggle room.

 

[USAFRet]

The stock ssd cannot be replaced and the storage is only 32 gb. The updates took too much space and I eventually ran out of space. Which is why I want to move the operating system to the usb so I have more wiggle room.

Ah.

That won't work.
Even if it did, the performance would be abysmal.

A 32GB eMMC drive in that Acer?
I have a similar Asus Transformer with a tiny drive like that.
Yes, the semi-annual Windows updates fail, due to lack of free drive space.

Solution?
From a different system, create a new Win 10 USB bootable install.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Boot from that and run the update.
It will give you the option to just update, and not kill off all your current data.

 

[photonboy]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2017/jan/05/what-is-the-best-way-to-deal-with-windows-10-updates-on-a-32gb-netbook

I'm no expert but from what I can tell you should:

1) do a CLEAN INSTALL
a) use link from USAFRet
b) insert 8GB+ USB stick
c) download and run the MS Media Creation Tool
d) direct it to your USB stick and wait for it to finish downloading and creating it

2) Plan carefully as you're going to wipe your 32GB memory with Windows etc.
a) write down login password etc.
b) write down names of programs you may need to reinstall
c) copy any data to another USB drive or device

3) Boot to that USB stick (may need to go into the BIOS to select the USB stick. sometimes POWER+F2 or similar... might be able to start from within Windows and do a CLEAN install). not sure.

DELETE the partitions so should show 0% used space or whatever.

*SKIP if it asks for a key but do login with your email/password login info.

4) Might be some tips online such as disabling Pagefile etc. Possible Windows will do those things automatically with the newer releases.

5) *Use an SDCARD if possible for added storage and to install programs too if they are large.

OPTIONALLY:
There's also the "Start Fresh...with CLEAN installation..." option linked in the article I linked at top. That should be easier to do but plan accordingly. Not sure if it uses the same space as a clean install (with deletion of partitions) or not.

Other:
It's a good idea to use a tool like Acronis True Image (Machrium Reflect Free has a tool to) to make a compressed backup of C-drive plus the other drive (SDCARD?) to a USB drive so you can RESTORE everything.

 

[Michelangelo Chin]

I’m very grateful for both of your detailed answers. So, I decided to just let it run and if I run out of space, I’ll let the updates go onto the usb drive.

That’s what the Acer site says. Also.. I’m very confused as to what happened because on my previous update I didn’t have enough space and somehow it overided. Update completed and when I logged into my computer the desktop broke, black screen nothing accessible. I went ahead and did a factory reset. Downloaded all the updates and I have 9 gb free space left.. what’s going on?!

 

[Michelangelo Chin]

Also USAFret do you mean have a win10 is installed on a usb and let it update there? Or boot the installation file on the usb and the updates will automatically go to the usb.

Also I’m a bit concerned of the solution because I don’t understand how the os on my drive and the updates on the usb will synergize together..

like how would the security update on the usb drive cover my os on the ssd. Main reason I want to be up to date is because of security.

 

[USAFRet]

Also USAFret do you mean have a win10 is installed on a usb and let it update there? Or boot the installation file on the usb and the updates will automatically go to the usb.

Also I’m a bit concerned of the solution because I don’t understand how the os on my drive and the updates on the usb will synergize together..

like how would the security update on the usb drive cover my os on the ssd. Main reason I want to be up to date is because of security.

Boot from the USB, and let it Update the OS on the internal drive.

 

[Michelangelo Chin]

I’ve been trying to boot from the usb, but I can’t get it to show up on bios. When I was trying to move the os from ssd to usb I couldn’t get the usb to show up in bios. I understand that you want me to install the os onto the usb on a different computer but I can’t even get my laptop to boot from usb.

 

[USAFRet]

I’ve been trying to boot from the usb, but I can’t get it to show up on bios. When I was trying to move the os from ssd to usb I couldn’t get the usb to show up in bios. I understand that you want me to install the os onto the usb on a different computer but I can’t even get my laptop to boot from usb.

You don't move the OS from the drive to the USB.

You create a Win 10 USB and boot from that. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
Just like if you were trying to do a full OS reinstall. But you're not.

Your laptop not booting from that USB is a different issue.

 

[Michelangelo Chin]

Yeah for some reason the usb just doesn’t show up in the bios. I can’t prioritize the usb to boot first.