Boot drives n things

[Dangerboyy]

So, I was wondering... After if I install windows on a usb drive, can I take out the usb and use it normally? Also, during a windows install, can I chose to download windows onto an ssd, or what? I am such a noob and forgot how to how to do things since my last build where I installed windows. Also, in this new build there'll be an ssd and and I am trying out downloading windows from a usb.

[Guest]

You could use a USB drive as you boot drive, but it would be INCREDIBLY slow.

 

And you wouldn't be able to use the USB drive in a different computer due to how Windows locks it selft to a Motherboard.

 

If you were to use Linux instead of Windows, you would be able to do it with a high success rate.

[royalcrown]

You mean install windows onto a USB stick and run it, or install a copy so you can install it to your computer faster than disc/online ?

 

Also, I want to help you level up from your noobness. Many people use download like you did, "Download it from the disc onto my drive..."; Technically "download" is used only when it applies to obtaining/ copying from a network...same with upload. Install is more correct, install to SSD from USB for example. 

 

You can install to an SSD the same as an old school hard drive, no different. You can also install to USB / Flash and run windows off of it, but it's slower and hard on the device.

[royalcrown]

You could use a USB drive as you boot drive, but it would be INCREDIBLY slow.

 

And you wouldn't be able to use the USB drive in a different computer due to how Windows locks it selft to a Motherboard.

 

If you were to use Linux instead of Windows, you would be able to do it with a high success rate.

OSX will run off USB fine too.

[Guest]

OSX will run off USB fine too.

But only on Apple verified hardware.

[Tmt97]

Well one USB drive will be pretty slow, but... 8 of them in raid 0 might actually get you decent speed. Just depends how many USB ports your willing to sacrifice for your boot drive.

[royalcrown]

But only on Apple verified hardware.

*hackintosh* cough* I never patch my SLIC table so OSX would run on here...errrr...it's unpossible I mean

[Guest]

*hackintosh* cough* I never patch my SLIC table so OSX would run on here...errrr...it's unpossible I mean

Sorry. I don't like breaking rules.

[Dangerboyy]

You mean install windows onto a USB stick and run it, or install a copy so you can install it to your computer faster than disc/online ?

Also, I want to help you level up from your noobness. Many people use download like you did, "Download it from the disc onto my drive..."; Technically "download" is used only when it applies to obtaining/ copying from a network...same with upload. Install is more correct, install to SSD from USB for example.

You can install to an SSD the same as an old school hard drive, no different. You can also install to USB / Flash and run windows off of it, but it's slower and hard on the device.

That didn't really answer my question. I am just asking, can I have the iso on a usb and then download windows to a specific drive? Simple question

[royalcrown]

That didn't really answer my question. I am just asking, can I have the iso on a usb and then download windows to a specific drive? Simple question

EDIT - You are misusing the term ISO i think, no offense. An ".ISO" is a single file that is an exact copy of the disk, like a .zip archive. Also called an "image" or "image file". The copy where you can just see files and folders is not an "ISO" per se.

 

YES...You can Have the ISO on a USB drive, either flash or HDD and install it. If it's an actual .ISO file you need something like Magiciso or a virtual drive software that can read .ISO's to open it first.

 

IF by ISO you mean, "Can I have it on USB with the same file structure as on the DVD and not a single .ISO file" then also YES. This is what you'd plug in and directly boot off of and install from.

 

What you need to do depends on the version of windows you want to install. Windows 10 will make it's own install DVD or USB drive from the little setup file (stub) you download from Microsoft. Whether it is a full install or an upgrade version depends on the version you get.

 

1. If you are running windows 7 for instance and UPGRADE to 10, your version of 10 will be an upgrade version of whatever you have (Home, Pro, etc..)

2. You can buy a FULL retail version of 10 and need no previous OS.

 

If you have an earlier version of windows like 8, or 7 or Vista there are different procedures because they don't have a built in way to make a USB install drive.

 

The easiest way is to use Microsoft's own tool to make the USB key for you:

 

link: http://wudt.codeplex.com/

 

The parent page for the Link:

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

 

If you have an earlier version then you need to look up exactly how to do it on the internet, I don't know the particulars of making an XP or earlier boot / install key.

 

http://www.komku.org/2013/07/winsetupfromusb-simplest-way-to-install-windows-xp-from-usb-flash-drive.html

 

I hope this answers all your questions, if not then just let us know

[royalcrown]

Sorry. I don't like breaking rules.

I hear you, but if I never broke the rules and played with OSX in a VM (prohibited by Apple's license agreement), I never would have bought my 27 inch Imac and they'd be 2500 bucks poorer. It was the shenanigans that let me play with it enough to get me to like it. You can't just camp out at BEST BUY all day, they bug you too much

[Dangerboyy]

EDIT - You are misusing the term ISO i think, no offense. An ".ISO" is a single file that is an exact copy of the disk, like a .zip archive. Also called an "image" or "image file". The copy where you can just see files and folders is not an "ISO" per se.

YES...You can Have the ISO on a USB drive, either flash or HDD and install it. If it's an actual .ISO file you need something like Magiciso or a virtual drive software that can read .ISO's to open it first.

IF by ISO you mean, "Can I have it on USB with the same file structure as on the DVD and not a single .ISO file" then also YES. This is what you'd plug in and directly boot off of and install from.

What you need to do depends on the version of windows you want to install. Windows 10 will make it's own install DVD or USB drive from the little setup file (stub) you download from Microsoft. Whether it is a full install or an upgrade version depends on the version you get.

1. If you are running windows 7 for instance and UPGRADE to 10, your version of 10 will be an upgrade version of whatever you have (Home, Pro, etc..)

2. You can buy a FULL retail version of 10 and need no previous OS.

If you have an earlier version of windows like 8, or 7 or Vista there are different procedures because they don't have a built in way to make a USB install drive.

The easiest way is to use Microsoft's own tool to make the USB key for you:

link: http://wudt.codeplex.com/

The parent page for the Link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

If you have an earlier version then you need to look up exactly how to do it on the internet, I don't know the particulars of making an XP or earlier boot / install key.

http://www.komku.org/2013/07/winsetupfromusb-simplest-way-to-install-windows-xp-from-usb-flash-drive.html

I hope this answers all your questions, if not then just let us know

That still didn't answer my question. I am just asking, if I have the files on a usb to install windows, then during the setup can I install windows to an ssd from there during the setup? It is a brand new pc.

[Dangerboyy]

That still didn't answer my question. I am just asking, if I have the files on a usb to install windows, then during the setup can I install windows to an ssd from there during the setup? It is a brand new pc.

^Bump^

[royalcrown]

That still didn't answer my question. I am just asking, if I have the files on a usb to install windows, then during the setup can I install windows to an ssd from there during the setup? It is a brand new pc.

Yes, you let it boot off the USB just like the DVD. 

[Dangerboyy]

Yes, you let it boot off the USB just like the DVD.

Kinda answered my question. The thing is, I don't remember what booting off a DVD is like. I downloas windows off the usb and take the usb out, I'm all good to go? Or do I need the usb in? I have a feeling all of this will be answered when I actually install windows

[royalcrown]

Kinda answered my question. The thing is, I don't remember what booting off a DVD is like. I downloas windows off the usb and take the usb out, I'm all good to go? Or do I need the usb in? I have a feeling all of this will be answered when I actually install windows

Okay, let's go over this whole thing.

 

1. You have to make sure the copy of windows/usb key is bootable, it wont just boot if you copied the files on it. Usually it is made bootable by the utilities i mentioned.

 

2. Assuming it is bootable, you insert it into your USB port (USB 2 is best because the BLUE USB 3 ports sometimes don't work until after windows loads) before you start the computer.

 

3. Power up your PC (from all the way off, not reset) and hit whatever key you need to enter the bios configuration screen, sometimes called SETUP. Most of the time it is the DELETE key and / or F2 key.

 

4. Set your boot drive to the USB key (set it as first  or primary boot device) and save and exit the configuration. Your PC should reboot and boot off the USB key, starting the windows setup. You will need your windows key ahead of time because there is not a way to look it up off the key once windows setup is running.

 

 

EXTRA INFO: To boot off a DVD you set it as the first boot device, same for USB. If it doesen't boot off the USB key, try again. If it still doesn't boot then it is likely one or both of the following:

 

A. Your USB drive isn't properly formatted to be booted from (usually FAT 32).

B. Your windows files were just copied over in the regular manner and the USB key was not properly prepared. Just follow the guides I linked to.

C: If you have a really old PC, it might not be able to boot from USB.

 

That's pretty much all the basics there is.

[Dangerboyy]

 C: If you have a really old PC, it might not be able to boot from USB.

I have the opposite. My case doesn't support optical drives (H440)

[royalcrown]

I have the opposite. My case doesn't support optical drives (H440)

If u ever need a DVD drive, they do have USB ones. I don't know if you can boot off of them however.