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Bootable USB of your system

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valttt Posted messages 321 Status Member -  
valttt Posted messages 321 Status Member -

Hello,

After hours and hours of research, I am asking for your help.

I would like to know how to create a Bootable USB (live USB) of my own Windows 10 operating system (already installed and functional), with all my already installed programs as well.

Unfortunately, I can't find a solution, other than existing live USBs, but that doesn't suit me (Malekal, Hiren's, etc....).

I want to clarify that this is not a recovery disk I want to make.

Thank you in advance for your help....


10 answers

  1.
    thev Posted messages 2010 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   723
     

    Hello,

    I thought I had been clear in my responses since I personally implemented it. You can create this key using WintoUSB or Rufus with the WintoGO option by reinstalling everything: Windows, drivers, and programs, but not by cloning your existing system.

    Moreover, during the reinstallation on the USB key, some drivers may be missing. The easiest way will be to search for and install them from the System32\DriverStore directory of your current system.

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  2. brucine Posted messages 24977 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 179
     

    Hello,

    Customizing a Windows deployment Wim image is quite complex and would only install the programs that are added to it during startup on that USB drive.

    To create a Live USB with the programs of your choice, you need to go through a PE environment in which you add the programs in question, but in principle, they should be 32-bit.

    Bart PE is a good candidate for this, provided it runs on a FAT partition (maximum 4 GB and you need to partition it on the drive) and it only supports Legacy booting, making it impossible on some recent PCs that only boot in UEFI.

    Otherwise, you need to look for another PE program that offers the same capabilities.

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    1. thev Posted messages 2010 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   723
       

      To create a Live USB key with the programs of your choice, you need to go through a PE environment in which you add the programs in question, but in principle, they should be 32-bit.

      Customization can also be done in 64 bits. I have developed these customizations in 32/64 bits.

      For me, Live USBs are made from Linux and not from Windows PE.

      BartPE relates to older Windows systems: Windows XP and possibly Windows 7.

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  3. thev Posted messages 2010 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   723
     

    Hello,

    Recover your current Windows 10 from a Bootable USB drive: no

    But you can definitely do a second installation of Windows 10 on a Bootable USB drive: you will then have to reinstall everything. The easiest way is to do it using Rufus with the image option set to Windows To Go instead of Standard Windows Installation.

    It is obviously worth noting that this Windows 10 USB drive is specific to your PC.

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    1. quentin2121 Posted messages 9063 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   1 313
       

      Hello,

      With Windows To Go, will it reinstall all the programs and the system?

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  4. thev Posted messages 2010 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   723
     

    Will Windows To Go reinstall all programs and the system?

    It will reinstall the system. After that, it's up to you to reinstall the programs by retrieving their installation files.

    Moreover, concerning the reinstallation of the system, some drivers may be missing. The easiest way will then be to install them from the System32\DriverStore directory of your current Windows 10.

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    1. quentin2121 Posted messages 9063 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   1 313
       

      May as well create a bootable key with the Windows 10 ISO.

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      1. brucine Posted messages 24977 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 179 > quentin2121 Posted messages 9063 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
         

        Hello,

        No, a bootable key installs Windows; it's not a Live USB Windows like Windows To Go that runs Windows.

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  6. fabul Posted messages 42183 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 071
     

    Hello,

    Flashboot Pro does it, but it's paid.

    You might as well use Hasleo WinToUSB Free or Pro and start fresh with the Windows ISO.

    But it requires at least a USB 3.1 Gen 1 SSD, not a slow USB stick or one that overheats, to work properly.

    A tip: Use a "U3-047" NVMe USB enclosure with an M.2 NVMe 2242 SSD of your choice.

    And I think you should add some 25MM electrical tape on the door for safety, for insulation.

    It's DIY with separate parts, a mini screwdriver, and scissors, but it works.

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  7. thev Posted messages 2010 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   723
     

    May as well create a bootable USB drive with the Windows 10 ISO.

    In any case, you obviously need the Windows ISO. Rufus has 2 options: Windows installation or Windows to go.

    The first installs Windows on the chosen hard drive, while the second allows you to install Windows on the USB drive.

    In fact, this Windows To Go option is roughly equivalent to the result of the installation phase 1 on the hard drive.

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  8. valttt Posted messages 321 Status Member 15
     

    Hello everyone,

    Serious health problems have prevented me from returning to the forum sooner, so I apologize for that.

    Thank you very much for your very clear answers. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year.

    My first goal is to create a bootable image that faithfully reflects my already installed and operational system in order to create my own bootable USB drive.

    Now, if that is impossible, knowing that it is possible to modify an official Windows 10 ISO by adding or removing features/drivers/software (with NTLite for example, if that is feasible with this software), wouldn't that be the best solution, and then use "Windows to Go" to create this USB drive in a clean way?

    Thanks again to you... ;-)

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    1. brucine Posted messages 24977 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   4 179
       

      Hello,

      It won't change much, Windows To Go is a portable Windows, not a recovery tool.

      There's still a way to customize a Windows ISO, it's always cumbersome and unreliable over time because we will install other software, have a Windows version update...

      It seems healthier to create an image with appropriate software for enthusiasts, but even without that, with a Windows installation key and data backup, as well as possibly that of program installers we might fear not finding online, we can restore everything on a formatted disk in less than 2 or 3 hours.

      We have a certain degree of security in case of a crash of the only system partition if we have created a data partition and a program partition, the latter greatly facilitates their reinstallation.

      1
  9. thev Posted messages 2010 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   723
     

    Hello,

    My first goal is to create a bootable image that is faithful to my already installed system

    This is not possible for copying onto a USB drive.

    What is possible is to create on a USB drive (flash drive or disk), an identical Windows to your current system by performing a complete reinstallation of Windows and the applications present on your system.

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    1. fabul Posted messages 42183 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 071
       

      Hello,

      My first goal is to create a bootable image that faithfully reflects my already installed system.

      This is not possible for reproduction on a USB drive.

      I thought it was possible with Flashboot Pro, but now I'm less sure, it's been a long time since I used it.

      It seems to me that we could clone the already installed system onto a USB drive, and we could even exclude folders from the cloning process, if I remember correctly.

      https://flashboot-v3.prime-expert.com/UserGuide-3.3q.pdf

      Edit: Page 8

      Create bootable clone of Windows 10/11 or Windows 8.
      x on USB thumbdrive, which will boot independently from
      main OS on HDD/SSD

      Otherwise, it seems to me that WinToUSB does that, right?

      Or others.

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      1. thev Posted messages 2010 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   723 > fabul Posted messages 42183 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         

        WintoUSB does exactly the same thing as Rufus WintoGo option except that in the free version, it does not offer it for the professional versions of Windows.

        I tested cloning to a USB drive of a Windows installed on an internal disk. It didn't work because I suppose that operation on a USB drive requires special settings. However, an installation via WINtoUSB or Rufus works without any issues.

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  10. valttt Posted messages 321 Status Member 15
     

    Thank you THEV, I will look into how to proceed with this Rufus WinToGo feature.

    I will get back to you to hopefully mark this post as resolved.

    Have a nice day everyone.

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  11. valttt Posted messages 321 Status Member 15
     

    Hello and thank you for your feedback.

    Either I’m not awake, or I’m stupid, but from what I understand, the answers provided are contradictory to each other.

    I clarify my wish: To have a USB key (LIVE USB) of MY system, with my drivers and programs already installed because in case of a crash (which has happened to me before), I want to be able to boot from it and thus be able to work immediately without wasting time (reinstalling Windows, drivers, programs, etc....).

    I am in no way talking about my personal documents and so I could start working IMMEDIATELY and take care of the repair over the weekend.

    Thank you...

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