Running Windows from an external USB drive with Windows To Go

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by 100, Sep 16, 2011.

  1. kirpeace

    kirpeace MDL Novice

    Nov 7, 2009
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    #41 kirpeace, Nov 1, 2011
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2011
    i managed to get the driver installed. i was running pwcreator from 7850 and trying to install from 8102 at the end it encountered some problem i cannot recollect so which from iso i use pwcreator.
     
  2. thals1992

    thals1992 MDL Novice

    May 28, 2011
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    #42 thals1992, Nov 9, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Can somebody explain to me why I needed the microdriver? I just installed my second copy of Windows 8 on a USB device and didn't need it (or knew/understood what to do with it). I ended up just running the "Windows 7 USB DVD Download Tool" and selected the Windows 8 x86 iso (Just to get it to NTFS) and then I needed to take the usb off quick removal in the properties and then i ran...
    Code:
    format [Flash Drives name]: /FS:NTFS /Q /X
    I then ran imagex as usual, and did the bootsect thing, and then I needed to do the bcdboot thing without /x BIOS.

    Can someone else explain this to me, why I'm the odd out where I now have 2 different LiveUSBs of Windows 8 that works as well as being installed on one of my Hard Drives?
     
  3. TFN

    TFN MDL Member

    Apr 27, 2011
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    #44 TFN, Nov 9, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Hitachi microdrive is used to modify a bit wich tells your PC if the USB device is a removable memory or not.
    When you use an USB pendrive (removable memory), if you use Imagex instead of pwcreator it works even without Hitachi microdrive filter... but I encountered some permission problems running Windows to go so I had to apply hitachi drivers anyway to make Windows working propely.

    If you use an external HDD (it sees the HDD as a fixed memory) you won't encounter any problem and you don't have to apply Hitachi drivers.
     
  4. coleoptere2007

    coleoptere2007 MDL Guru

    Apr 8, 2008
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    Hello everybody,
    Is there a way to change the Keyboard by default to french on the first installation of Windows To Go.
    The default one is qwerty (English).
    Thanks for your answers. Have a nice day.
     
  5. coleoptere2007

    coleoptere2007 MDL Guru

    Apr 8, 2008
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    Finally found the solution. After the first boot, enable virtual Keyboard for filling the different fields and choose Customise to valid French keyboard.
     
  6. paul3200

    paul3200 Guest

    i followed the guide on pureinfotech.com to make a windows2go usb and eventually got it to work :D

    i then tried it on a different computer and it came up with the BSOD and :(
    it said somthing about there was no bootable medium (or something smiliar) is this a common problem or did i mess something up?
    thanks
     
  7. MrG

    MrG MDL Expert

    May 31, 2010
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    I created my W8 DP USB drive on test rig1, it worked fine on that PC, then I tested it on my laptop, it worked fine there.

    I didn't mess w/ the bios, I used the F8 (test rig1) & F12 (laptop) key @ post & selected the boot device.

    You can try this, Re: "no bootable medium" I think I've seen this message before using other (not sure which) W2G tips, the one w/ my link (above) worked the best for me though.
     
  8. paul3200

    paul3200 Guest

    i just followed it again and it is working now :D but thanks anyway i am now installing office 2010 on it and hopefully Expression Web 4
     
  9. ReelFiles

    ReelFiles MDL Addicted

    Mar 30, 2011
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    Could somebody please upload an image of a premade Windows To Go USB drive of WDP x86. I am back on 7601 and really don't feel like installing 7989 on my SSD... don't wanna put too much wear on it. Thanks in advance! :worthy:
     
  10. win8togo

    win8togo MDL Novice

    Oct 17, 2012
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    @100
    Thank you for recompiling microdriver!
    It works great!

    I was thinking about digitally signing that driver so test signing shouldn’t be enabled.

    So, I followed instructions from a link I googled (I'm a noob so I can't post links, just google "Sign your unsigned drivers - damn it" open first resuld leading you to "deploymentresearch")

    there were no errors reported during procedure but unfortunately driver is still not signed as it should be.

    "cfadisk.sys" in \windows\sstem32\drivers isn't signed when you check its properties

    in package I've downloaded there are cfadisk32.sys and 64.sys but in cfadisk.inf there is also cfadisk.sys mentioned.

    I really have no clue about programing and driver creation so all this troubleshooting is mostly guess work.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you!
    Best regards,
    Walter
     
  11. 100

    100 MDL Expert

    May 17, 2011
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    Oh, I see what you're asking. It wasn't exactly clear from the other thread:

    This is only possible with an appropriate code-signing certificate. This has to be issued by an MS-approved CA, and such a certificate is not free. Non-MS-approved certificates are only loaded in test mode.
     
  12. win8togo

    win8togo MDL Novice

    Oct 17, 2012
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    It seems that we are chasing same theme on two threads.
    Sorry for that, I've opened another thread so I wouldn't go off topic here.


    Don't know if you had a chance to look at procedures I mentioned but those procedures claim that you yourself are self-signing your own driver and on your machine where you created certificates for signing that is enough.
    There is even a procedure for that from MS on TechNet "Steps for Signing a Device Driver Package"

    As I mentioned in the other thread, if you have somewhere microdriver package before you've signed it with DSEO so I could research this a bit further, I would be really grateful.

    Thank you!
    Best regards,
    Walter
     
  13. Sunzi

    Sunzi MDL Novice

    Feb 17, 2011
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    #56 Sunzi, Nov 29, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    thank you very much for keep working on that driver!
    I installed my Windows 8 Pro x64 onto my flash drive, everything works fine.
    I disable UAC, run CMD in Admin Mode and use the following commands:

    Code:
    bcdedit.exe -set loadoptions DISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS
    bcdedit.exe -set TESTSIGNING ON
    then I restart and boot from my USB again. now I install your driver for my USB stick in the device manager. then restart.
    now I find myself in a loop... I've waited 30 minutes, but I do not pass the W8 loading screen. (loading circle keeps circling)
    so I force a restart using the power button, an action which is well known to cause either recovery options or a blue screen on the next boot.
    I get the bluescreen, that winload.exe is corrupted and needs to be repaired.
    I can choose between "try again" and "recovery mode". no matter which one I choose, i immediately return to the choosing screen after pressing enter.
    only way to get W8 booting again is an reinstall.

    my usb drive: amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZNA3UA

    can somebody help me out?
     
  14. ericgl

    ericgl MDL Senior Member

    Mar 10, 2011
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    I sure hope that someone here on MDL can sign this driver (100's recomplied 64bit driver) with an MS-approved certificate.
    I really don't wanna put my machine(s) in Test Mode.
     
  15. Sunzi

    Sunzi MDL Novice

    Feb 17, 2011
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    So, nobody has an idea about my problem? o_O
     
  16. bicyclechris

    bicyclechris MDL Novice

    Oct 31, 2012
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    Thanks for posting this! To date I've been making custom WINPE images in order to rescue computers that are busted, as well as to experiment with portable apps. It is great that Microsoft has come out with an innovative new way to use a portable version of Windows!
     
  17. Sunzi

    Sunzi MDL Novice

    Feb 17, 2011
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    is anybody able to answer my question? I tried everything...