[SOLVED] Move my current Windows 10 system to a USB disk ?

[Érica van Hellsing]

Hello,
I want to remove my current Win10 system from my computer, but I don't want to erase it.
Current system has a lot of applications installed, don't want to go through the hassle of reinstalling them all

I bought an NVMe disk the same size as current (512GB)
- I tried cloning with HBCD/MediaCat
- I tried win2usb
- I tried just copying
- I tried disk2VHD on a Ventoy
- I tried a new VHD (made with VirtualBox) on a Ventoy
- I'm out of idea

When I boot from the USB disk, I see the Win logo, with a dot ring underneath which spins ... until freezing

What am I doing wrong ? What do I miss ?
There is no FStab on Windows

 

[JeffreyP55]

hum ...
I assume you mean an NVMe M.2, not a SATA M.2 ?
Go on, I'm intrigued, the tease got me

No. External USB not SATA case that has an M.2 connector. It will runs at a max USB gen II speeds. Here is one of mine. USB C in.

https://imgur.com/QG1Dedo

View: https://imgur.com/QG1Dedo

 

[USAFRet]

Got me. I thought I added the same question. My magic delete fingers at work.

Still unsure...

This NVMe M.2 drive in the USB external enclosure....does it boot and run Windows semi-normally?
Or just file access?

 

[JeffreyP55]

Still unsure...

This NVMe M.2 drive in the USB external enclosure....does it boot and run Windows semi-normally?
Or just file access?

Personally, I think the OP is going to have a different route.

 

[Érica van Hellsing]

Still unsure...

This NVMe M.2 drive in the USB external enclosure....does it boot and run Windows semi-normally?
Or just file access?

the tries, so far, from the USB, got me to the boot Win logo, and a dot ring spinning until freez

 

[Érica van Hellsing]

No. External USB not SATA case that has an M.2 connector. It will runs at a max USB gen II speeds. Here is one of mine. USB C in.

https://imgur.com/QG1Dedo

View: https://imgur.com/QG1Dedo

The M.2 form factor can be a SATA (MSATA) or an NVMe

 

[JeffreyP55]

The M.2 form factor can be a SATA (MSATA) or an NVMe

What are you going to do?

 

[cruisetung]

Again. As I siad, Windowa To Go feature is a hack (it must be at least a lot of different registries difference between standard version and WTG version) , the only option to convert existing installation is paid version of WinToUSB utility.

 

[TerryLaze]

Looking at https://theitbros.com/sysprep-windows-machine/, it does indeed looks like what I'm looking for, as it addresse GUID and such, which I'm conviced is the problem.
It doesn't talk about transforming a current system though, only about a fresh install ...
I'm going to give it a try, TY ! (At this point, I'm ready to try anything anyway)

You have to make a clone of your current system in .wim format, the standard windows image, you do sysprep on that, and only the steps under

Generalizing Windows image using SysPrep​

basically just press the generalize option.

Then you copy that image to anywhere in your system or on any USB and you can add it to your boot menu in windows, or you can do whatever you tried already to boot from it.

There are also many other guides for generalization.
These deal with vhd that you already have.
Just don't mind the setup steps and only look at the generalization steps.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/a...dge-gpu-prepare-windows-vhd-generalized-image

Sysprep (Generalize) a Windows installation

Sysprep (Generalize) a Windows installation

learn.microsoft.com

 

[Érica van Hellsing]

Again. As I siad, Windowa To Go feature is a hack (it must be at least a lot of different registries difference between standard version and WTG version) , the only option to convert existing installation is paid version of WinToUSB utility.

So you're saying the paid version actually works ?
hum ... I'll have a look at that after trying the WIM option, TY !

 

[Érica van Hellsing]

You have to make a clone of your current system in .wim format, the standard windows image, you do sysprep on that, and only the steps under

Generalizing Windows image using SysPrep​

basically just press the generalize option.

Then you copy that image to anywhere in your system or on any USB and you can add it to your boot menu in windows, or you can do whatever you tried already to boot from it.

There are also many other guides for generalization.
These deal with vhd that you already have.
Just don't mind the setup steps and only look at the generalization steps.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/a...dge-gpu-prepare-windows-vhd-generalized-image

Sysprep (Generalize) a Windows installation

Sysprep (Generalize) a Windows installation

learn.microsoft.com

of course ! a local copy before processing it ... dumb me
TY ! I'M going to give it a try

 

[TerryLaze]

of course ! a local copy before processing it ... dumb me
TY ! I'M going to give it a try

You haven't answered the most important thing though, is this windows image/disk even from the system you are trying to boot it on?!
If it's an older windows install from a system without efi and on mbr instead of gpt partitioning then there are a lot more things you need to do, and it might still not be possible in the end.

 

[cruisetung]

iSumsoft SYSOnUSB now $19.95, costs less than WinToUSB

iSumsoft SYSOnUSB – Easily Create Windows To Go USB Drives

 

[Érica van Hellsing]

Again. As I siad, Windowa To Go feature is a hack (it must be at least a lot of different registries difference between standard version and WTG version) , the only option to convert existing installation is paid version of WinToUSB utility.

Done !
9 minutes, reboot, working !
Now I have to tweak it to get network working and clone the partitions it didn't move
But all good, I'm so relieve (and feel so dumb I ddin't go for it earlier)
Thank you again !