Windows 10 on an external HDD

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

Can I install win 10 on external HDD?? How?? And is it possible to do it without any third party software??? I have built a pc but I didn’t purchase a internal HDD instead I have a 1TB external HDD. Can I install it on HDD (external)?? Will it boot on other pc?? Will it be a portable OS?? Note I have genuine OEM key

[aezakmi]

it might boot but it'll be really really slow due to USB limitation

 

unless you have an esata port on your case

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

1 minute ago, aezakmi said:

it might boot but it'll be really really slow due to USB limitation

 

unless you have an esata port on your case

I don’t care about speed, just wanna know will it install or not, and what is windows to go ??

will my installation boot in other pc?? Note I’m NOT using any other software like wintousb 

[aezakmi]

3 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

I don’t care about speed, just wanna know will it install or not, and what is windows to go ??

will my installation boot in other pc?? Note I’m NOT using any other software like wintousb 

I know XP and 7 were able to boot from USB but I never tried 10, it might work though

wintogo is just like a live windows, it works just like any live linux distro or those old portable XP

[DrMacintosh]

As far as I know, the only way to create a Windows to go installation (what you would need in this case) would be to do this on a Mac. 

 

Alternatively you could crack open the external drive and install that since a external USB HDD is just a laptop HDD hooked up to a controller. 

 

and technically I guess a random PC could boot from it but a lot of things won't work. 

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

19 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

Can I install win 10 on external HDD?? How?? And is it possible to do it without any third party software??? I have built a pc but I didn’t purchase a internal HDD instead I have a 1TB external HDD. Can I install it on HDD (external)?? Will it boot on other pc?? Will it be a portable OS?? Note I have genuine OEM key

As far as I know, you can't. There is Windows to go but you would need an actual system with Windows installed in order to set that up. Not only that, you'll need an enterprise or education edition of Windows. Also, you'll be running it off the USB bus which is slow for an OS to work properly off of for a daily machine. 

[Guest]

You can do it. It'll be slow as hell, but you can do it. It's just like installing a light Linux distro on a USB. As for whether or not it'll boot in another PC, it depends. In some cases, during installation, Windows likes to get real familiar with the motherboard/CPU it has access to, and as a result will refuse to boot on a different PC. Sometimes it works without a hitch. Flip of a coin, from my experience.

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

4 minutes ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

As far as I know, you can't. There is Windows to go but you would need an actual system with Windows installed in order to set that up. Not only that, you'll need an enterprise or education edition of Windows. Also, you'll be running it off the USB bus which is slow for an OS to work properly off of for a daily machine. 

 

6 minutes ago, DrMacintosh said:

As far as I know, the only way to create a Windows to go installation (what you would need in this case) would be to do this on a Mac. 

 

Alternatively you could crack open the external drive and install that since a external USB HDD is just a laptop HDD hooked up to a controller. 

 

and technically I guess a random PC could boot from it but a lot of things won't work. 

 

8 minutes ago, aezakmi said:

I know XP and 7 were able to boot from USB but I never tried 10, it might work though

wintogo is just like a live windows, it works just like any live linux distro or those old portable XP

Okay but I have a OEM win 10 home, will it work?? Before this, I installed win 10 Pro on a internal “2.5” inches drive using my old core 2 duo PC, then I ordered a external enclosure and fitted that Win 10 Pro HDD. Now in my laptop with Intel i3, I connected it to my laptop using USB 3.0 and booted it using legacy mode as my old PC is legacy and my dell laptop is UEFI and legacy capable. And it works just fine, but sometimes my laptop’s internal HDD with win 8.1 got corrupted and gets unbootable but my Win 10 Pro HDD via USB 3.0 stays intact!! What conclusion can we draw with this?? Will this work on OEM key?? 

[Syntaxvgm]

To contradict these comments, no, it will NOT be slow. A usb stick would be, but the throughput of even 2.0 is good enough for a  mechanical hard drive- cutting total write speed down to below 60MB/s from between 100-140MB/s, but most writes and reads are NOT sequential. Access times can suffer for SSDs even on 3.0, but it's not bad at all, trust me as long as you have a good drive adapter and a good drive itself it's fine, and you'll even see SSD benefits for random access times over mech drives despite some bottlenecking.

 

The problem is unlike linux windows will not work on a usb drive by default. There's some driver magic you have to do, especially if you plan to install to the usb drive instead of installing then making the changes needed. I don't have any guides saves for this, but they are out there and I have done it, so give it a search, sorry I can't recommend any guides been years since I've done this and I can't verify anything I find. 

[TheKDub]

38 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

Can I install win 10 on external HDD?? How?? And is it possible to do it without any third party software??? I have built a pc but I didn’t purchase a internal HDD instead I have a 1TB external HDD. Can I install it on HDD (external)?? Will it boot on other pc?? Will it be a portable OS?? Note I have genuine OEM key

It's possible, just install Windows 10 on the external HDD when you go to install it.

 

You might run into some driver issues with it if you plan to move around PCs. License issues are possible as well.

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

6 minutes ago, TheKDub said:

It's possible, just install Windows 10 on the external HDD when you go to install it.

 

You might run into some driver issues with it if you plan to move around PCs. License issues are possible as well.

What if I plan to use it in one pc only?? What will happen if I install OEM key?? Will the OEM key attach itself to the motherboard?? But I am installing it on external drive, what will happen if I switch the PCs?? 

[TheKDub]

2 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

What if I plan to use it in one pc only?? What will happen if I install OEM key?? Will the OEM key attach itself to the motherboard?? But I am installing it on external drive, what will happen if I switch the PCs?? 

Then you should be fine.

 

If you switch PCs with it, it might not have the right drivers to make everything on the PC function correctly, and Windows might invalidate itself.

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

Okay, ones a OEM key is used it is attached to a motherboard okay, what will happen if i install it on external drive and booted it on any other pc?? Can i transfer a OEM key for a activated pc to a inactivated win install by deactivating OEM and reusing it on any not activated pc, this way I’m transferring the key?? 

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

1 minute ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

Okay, ones a OEM key is used it is attached to a motherboard okay, what will happen if i install it on external drive and booted it on any other pc?? Can i transfer a OEM key for a activated pc to a inactivated win install by deactivating OEM and reusing it on any not activated pc, this way I’m transferring the key?? 

 

4 minutes ago, TheKDub said:

Then you should be fine.

 

If you switch PCs with it, it might not have the right drivers to make everything on the PC function correctly, and Windows might invalidate itself.

 

7 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

What if I plan to use it in one pc only?? What will happen if I install OEM key?? Will the OEM key attach itself to the motherboard?? But I am installing it on external drive, what will happen if I switch the PCs?? 

 

16 minutes ago, TheKDub said:

It's possible, just install Windows 10 on the external HDD when you go to install it.

 

You might run into some driver issues with it if you plan to move around PCs. License issues are possible as well.

 

20 minutes ago, LeinadTM said:

Try it and find out. For science.

 

21 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

To contradict these comments, no, it will NOT be slow. A usb stick would be, but the throughput of even 2.0 is good enough for a  mechanical hard drive- cutting total write speed down to below 60MB/s from between 100-140MB/s, but most writes and reads are NOT sequential. Access times can suffer for SSDs even on 3.0, but it's not bad at all, trust me as long as you have a good drive adapter and a good drive itself it's fine, and you'll even see SSD benefits for random access times over mech drives despite some bottlenecking.

 

The problem is unlike linux windows will not work on a usb drive by default. There's some driver magic you have to do, especially if you plan to install to the usb drive instead of installing then making the changes needed. I don't have any guides saves for this, but they are out there and I have done it, so give it a search, sorry I can't recommend any guides been years since I've done this and I can't verify anything I find. 

I need to clear the points before using my OEM key, I bought it on full price, it cost me around ($90). 

I got it cheap because I purchased a new PC and the system builder offered the OEM key for $90 

[TheKDub]

1 minute ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

 

 

 

 

 

I need to clear the points before using my OEM key, I bought it on full price, it cost me around ($90). 

I got it cheap because I purchased a new PC and the system builder offered the OEM key for $90 

IIRC OEM keys get tied to the motherboard.

[Syntaxvgm]

5 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

 

 

 

 

 

I need to clear the points before using my OEM key, I bought it on full price, it cost me around ($90). 

I got it cheap because I purchased a new PC and the system builder offered the OEM key for $90 

you wont have a key problem with a usb drive, just if you move from system to system. I use a lot of virtual machines that I place on a disk then boot normally sometimes and that's a problem to where I have to crack it basically, but for this you'll be fine.

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

1 minute ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

 

 

 

 

 

I need to clear the points before using my OEM key, I bought it on full price, it cost me around ($90). 

I got it cheap because I purchased a new PC and the system builder offered the OEM key for $90 

My win 10 includes a DVD and key, it looks like it is for OEM builders it’s fully packed and includes instructions for System builders

[Guest]

1 hour ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

I need to clear the points before using my OEM key, I bought it on full price, it cost me around ($90). 

I got it cheap because I purchased a new PC and the system builder offered the OEM key for $90 

You can try with an unlicensed copy. Just get the Windows Media Creation Tool from Microsoft's website, and during installation, skip the product key step.

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

Okay guys thanks for your help, just one quick question- 

so, OEM keys attach itself to motherboard so now I have installed WIN 10 OEM on my new PC in external HDD but now I purchased a internal drive and want to Clean install windows 10 on it, so can I use that key or transfer my external installation to my internal HDD??

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

6 minutes ago, LAwLz said:

The amount of bullshit you post and how often you manages to shove Apple into any conversation is truly astonishing to me.

I have no idea where you got the idea that you need a Mac to create a Windows to Go installation from, but it is 100% false and it does not even begin to make any sense.

 

Here is a guide on how to create a Windows to Go install:

http://www.intowindows.com/rufus-to-create-windows-to-go-usb-drive/

Can I use Etcher.io instead of Rufus??

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

1 minute ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

Can I use Etcher.io instead of Rufus??

https://etcher.io/

[LAwLz]

13 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

Will it apply for OEM Keys??

Windows To Go only works with Windows 10 Enterprise or Educational.

It's either that or WinToUSB. 

 

11 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

Can I use Etcher.io instead of Rufus??

I have never used Etcher before so... maybe?

If you're unsure then I strongly recommend you just follow a guide, rather than try and swap programs for other programs.

 

14 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

Okay guys thanks for your help, just one quick question- 

so, OEM keys attach itself to motherboard so now I have installed WIN 10 OEM on my new PC in external HDD but now I purchased a internal drive and want to Clean install windows 10 on it, so can I use that key or transfer my external installation to my internal HDD??

In a worst case scenario, you will have to call Microsoft and they will give you a new key.

 

I should probably add that this is a pretty bad idea. Why not just get a hard drive or SSD and put it in your computer? Or how about taking the HDD out of the external enclosure and put that into your computer?

It is far simpler and it will work as intended, rather than using fairly dirty and hacked together solutions which may or may not break cause issues in the future.

 

 

Also...

1) Use multiple quotes and edit your posts if you forgot something. There is no need to make 3 posts replying to a single comment.

2) Have some patience. It didn't even take 10 minutes before you posted again, asking for help.

I literally didn't even have time to write a response before you asked for help again. This is not your private instant messaging tech support.

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

1 minute ago, LAwLz said:

Windows To Go only works with Windows 10 Enterprise or Educational.

It's either that or WinToUSB. 

 

I have never used Etcher before so... maybe?

If you're unsure then I strongly recommend you just follow a guide, rather than try and swap programs for other programs.

 

In a worst case scenario, you will have to call Microsoft and they will give you a new key.

 

I should probably add that this is a pretty bad idea. Why not just get a hard drive or SSD and put it in your computer? Or how about taking the HDD out of the external enclosure and put that into your computer?

It is far simpler and it will work as intended, rather than using fairly dirty and hacked together solutions which may or may not break cause issues in the future.

Okay that’s fine, but can I use Rufus method and on activation time I provide the OEM product key?? Will it work?? Can I switch machines?? Everyone is saying that OEM keys stick to the motherboard then what will happen if I put this product key in that Rufus windows 10 and switch  PC (boot into another PC)

[LAwLz]

4 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

can I use Rufus method and on activation time I provide the OEM product key

Rufus is just the tool for creating the boot/install media. It has no effect on the actual installation or activation process.

However, Windows To Go does not work with anything but a valid Enterprise or Educational license.

If you do not have that, then it will not work. 

 

If you have for example Windows 10 Home then you can not install it on an external device without using WinToUSB.

 

Your only two options are:

WinToUSB - Works with any edition.

Windows To Go - Only works with Enterprise or Educational.

 

 

10 minutes ago, LIQUIDFOX00200 said:

Can I switch machines?? Everyone is saying that OEM keys stick to the motherboard then what will happen if I put this product key in that Rufus windows 10 and switch  PC (boot into another PC)

The OEM key, if you use WinToUSB, will most likely only work on the computer you first activated it on. if you switch to another PC then chances are it will get deactivated, and need to be reactivated again.

[LIQUIDFOX00200]

2 minutes ago, LAwLz said:

Rufus is just the tool for creating the boot/install media. It has no effect on the actual installation or activation process.

However, Windows To Go does not work with anything but a valid Enterprise or Educational license.

If you do not have that, then it will not work. 

 

If you have for example Windows 10 Home then you can not install it on an external device without using WinToUSB.

 

Your only two options are:

WinToUSB - Works with any edition.

Windows To Go - Only works with Enterprise or Educational.

 

 

The OEM key, if you use WinToUSB, will most likely only work on the computer you first activated it on. if you switch to another PC then chances are it will get deactivated, and need to be reactivated again.

Okay