Windows 8.1: "Windows-To-Go" not working ?

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by NiFu, Jul 3, 2013.

  1. kingferp

    kingferp MDL Novice

    Jul 18, 2013
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    What excactly did you do to resolve the issue, or did it even get resolved. Because I am confused.
     
  2. NiFu

    NiFu MDL Member

    Jun 29, 2013
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    No, problem is not resolved till now.

    Only work around till now: I installed "Windows 8" on USB stick, then store update to "Windows 8.1"
     
  3. kingferp

    kingferp MDL Novice

    Jul 18, 2013
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    Ok, I'll try that. Sounds simple enough.
     
  4. pisthai

    pisthai Imperfect Human

    Jul 29, 2009
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    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  5. NiFu

    NiFu MDL Member

    Jun 29, 2013
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    I agree with you. If you need it professionally or have enough money or time is money for you - no worth of discussion.

    But if you need to save money - why not give it a try ?
    Not all people do not care to spend $7.75 or $39 just for an experiment.

    A Microsoft certificated USB stick is only necessary if you use the "Enterprise" installation method. If you use the "imagex" method you also can use a cheap "not" Microsoft certificated USB stick.
     
  6. lunar21

    lunar21 MDL Addicted

    Dec 14, 2008
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    I use an ex harddrive for my Win2go. I have activated it via my KMS server and it stays activated no matter where i plug it in at. The best way to use Win2go is via an ex harddrive as it has lots of space compaired to a flash drive which is limited.
     
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  7. MrG

    MrG MDL Expert

    May 31, 2010
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    My WD passport does the same thing & is activated the same way (W8 Enterprise x64 RTM).

    This AM I noticed it wasn't activated in the CP/System & a watermark was in the corner of the Desktop. I started DL & installing (62) updates, the screen blinked & the watermark was gone. After the updates were installed I checked the CP & it says it’s activated now/again.

    None of my 2 flash drives w/ W2G on them are activated & won't DL & install WU updates. They have the watermark but keep working otherwise, no notification pop-up.
    Now I am wondering if W8.1 GA will act the same w/o needing activation but just keep working anyways, minus the updates, on a flash drive.
     
  8. syuesw

    syuesw MDL Novice

    Apr 28, 2013
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    #52 syuesw, Nov 4, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    I encountered the same problem with you.
    How did you solve it?
     
  9. NiFu

    NiFu MDL Member

    Jun 29, 2013
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    What Windows version do you have used ?

    • With Windows 8 it works as described.
    • With Windows 8.1:
      • With normal, cheap USB sticks (USB stick is recognized as removal drive) I haven't found a solution.
      • With expensive "Windows 8 certified" USB sticks (USB stick is recognized as hard disk) it works.
     
  10. NiFu

    NiFu MDL Member

    Jun 29, 2013
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    How to identify the manufacturer ?

    Here I have for example two USB sticks - who is the manufacturer?

    • Generic STORAGE DEVICE USB Device
      USBSTOR\DISK&VEN_GENERIC&PROD_STORAGE_DEVICE&REV_0250\000000000250&0
    • CNMemory Spaceloop 32GB USB Device
      USBSTOR\DISK&VEN_CNMEMORY&PROD_SPACELOOP_32GB&REV_0.00\07040000000007A0&0
    Do all manufacturer offer such a tool ?
    If yes - where to find their tool ?
     
  11. Tito

    Tito Super Mod / Adviser
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    Nov 30, 2009
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  12. murphy78

    murphy78 MDL DISM Enthusiast

    Nov 18, 2012
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    Even if you modify your usb flash drive to run Windows to Go on 8.1, you'll not have a good time using it unless MS has determined that it's fast enough.
    I've done the rmusbprep thing on a substandard usb3 drive on 8.0 and it was a bad time... Everything took a long time.

    I'd recommend using a removable usb3 hard disk instead if you really plan on using Windows 8.1 to go.
    You'll see what I mean when you try to use it with a slow flash drive.
     
  13. Jacoub

    Jacoub MDL Member

    Aug 14, 2011
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    #60 Jacoub, Nov 4, 2013
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2013
    Greetings All
    This is what I experienced.
    1- It is true using USB 2.0 Flash Drives is time consuming since it takes more than 45 minutes to create but it is manageable after booting so it is not bad overall
    2- I was able to use SanDisk cruze 32GB USB2 and it worked fine on Windows 8.0
    3- It is True using an External USB HD gives a better overall user experience but you need to take under consideration this in not something you can keep in your pocket or attach to your keychain
    4- I was able to use SanDisk Extreme 64GB USB3 to create Windows 8.0 to go and it was a great experience. You can create it in less than 10 minutes and it boots faster than a normal mechanical built in HD and the performance index was greater than 5.9 which is also better than a built in mechanical HD. But of course performance starts to deteriorate once you start using it extensively. I tried upgrading it to Windows 8.1 with no luck
    5- I was un able to use the same Flash Drive "SanDisk Extreme USB3 used in step 4" to create a Windows 8.1 to go Flash Drive for reasons I don't know so far. But I was able to create Windows 8.1 Single Language "or any version I want" on a brand new SanDisk Extreme USB3 Flash Drive and the overall user experience is nice. I was even able to upgrade the Windows 8.1 single language to Windows 8.1 Pro using a Windows 8.0 Pro retail Key on the same new SanDisk Drive.

    Windows to Go is a great tool I was able to recover a server with a total of 4 hard disks configured as 3xRAID5 & 1xHot Spare. Two were showing dead and the 3rd was showing Defunct. IBM representative confirmed no way to recover anything. I booted the system using Windows to go on an External USB HD attached the failed storage from disk manager. Copied everything to that external USB HD. Used Acronis True Image Home to create an Image of the OS partition to a file stored on the Same External USB. Replaced all 4 HDs. Restored that Image and everything worked like a charm. I need to mention this Server was the Active Directory to the entire enterprise and It had an Archiving solution that contains over 2 Million Documents. So well done Microsoft

    Using Windows 8.0 I was able to create W2G on any type of USB 2 or 3 and any version Core, Sl, Pro, Pro N, Enterprise, Enterprise N, 32 & 64
    Using Windows 8.1 I lost that option for reasons I don't know I wish somebody can advice how to resolve that

    I don't want to argue the $/GB value since the solo reason "at least from my point of view" behind Windows to Go is mobility which I find it hard to carry an external HD.

    Apologies if you find this boring or irrelevant but I thought of sharing it maybe somebody can come up with a solution

    Thanks a lot