Windows 11 (To Go) on an external SSD


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rick99

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I have a Windows 11 To Go Installation on an external drive. The internal drive is running a Linux variant. Before it was Windows 11, it was Windows 10 To Go. When Feature updates came out, I was offered them via Windows Update but never did them because Microsoft said they don't support Feature updates on a To Go installation. Has anyone ever tried to install a feature update on an external SSD To Go installation when offered?
 
Windows Build/Version
21H2

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I'll see on mine one sec... (you want to see if Cumulative updates are workable on Go Editions?)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    WiN11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom 775 System
    CPU
    Xeon E5450 3.0GHZ (OC 3.6GHZ)
    Motherboard
    ASUS PQ5-EM
    Memory
    8GB (2GBX4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K2200 4GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    1TB|750GB USB, 3 SSDs 2 240GB 1 128GB, 750GB HDD
    PSU
    650WATT Rosewill
    Case
    Rosewill with side Window
    Cooling
    5 Fans and a big HSK for cpu
    Keyboard
    Rosewill RGB
    Mouse
    Rosewill RGB
    Internet Speed
    AT&T 150MB DL\UP
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    None
    Other Info
    I'm lucky to even be here after 6yrs from my car accident
  • Operating System
    WiN10 LTSC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Hp 8460p
    CPU
    i7 2670QM 2.20GHZ
    Motherboard
    Hp 161C
    Memory
    8GB (2X4GB) DUAL Channel
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 3000
    Sound Card
    Intel high Def (basically onboard)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    OS 128GB l Storage (caddy) 320GB
    PSU
    AC (IDK the watts)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    A USB 3.0 in the Express Card Slot
rick99 said:
I have a Windows 11 To Go Installation on an external drive. The internal drive is running a Linux variant. Before it was Windows 11, it was Windows 10 To Go. When Feature updates came out, I was offered them via Windows Update but never did them because Microsoft said they don't support Feature updates on a To Go installation. Has anyone ever tried to install a feature update on an external SSD To Go installation when offered?
Click to expand...
If you use the "VHDX" physical install methods then it will just update as per a normal Windows install. There's no reason to bother with various 3rd party stuff like HASLEO or rufus.

Simply ensure the boot system has an EFI partition and the vhdx file size is > 48 GB.
Then all works 100% just as if it's on a standard internal drive.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
That's what WINtoUSB is for at least that what I use to test. I simply use Lacey
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    WiN11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom 775 System
    CPU
    Xeon E5450 3.0GHZ (OC 3.6GHZ)
    Motherboard
    ASUS PQ5-EM
    Memory
    8GB (2GBX4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K2200 4GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    1TB|750GB USB, 3 SSDs 2 240GB 1 128GB, 750GB HDD
    PSU
    650WATT Rosewill
    Case
    Rosewill with side Window
    Cooling
    5 Fans and a big HSK for cpu
    Keyboard
    Rosewill RGB
    Mouse
    Rosewill RGB
    Internet Speed
    AT&T 150MB DL\UP
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    None
    Other Info
    I'm lucky to even be here after 6yrs from my car accident
  • Operating System
    WiN10 LTSC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Hp 8460p
    CPU
    i7 2670QM 2.20GHZ
    Motherboard
    Hp 161C
    Memory
    8GB (2X4GB) DUAL Channel
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 3000
    Sound Card
    Intel high Def (basically onboard)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    OS 128GB l Storage (caddy) 320GB
    PSU
    AC (IDK the watts)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    A USB 3.0 in the Express Card Slot
WAI said:
I'll see on mine one sec... (you want to see if Cumulative updates are workable on Go Editions?)
Click to expand...
I know Cumulative updates work. I'm curious about feature updates... so it will be from 21H2 to 22H2. I'm not sure what the boot partition is. The device came with a Linux OS and I added the Windows To Go as an alternate boot OS. I wouldn't want to damage the Linux install. I used Rufus to create the Windows To Go SSD.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
  • Like
Reactions: WAI
rick99 said:
I know Cumulative updates work. I'm curious about feature updates... so it will be from 21H2 to 22H2. I'm not sure what the boot partition is. The device came with a Linux OS and I added the Windows To Go as an alternate boot OS. I wouldn't want to damage the Linux install. I used Rufus to create the Windows To Go SSD.
Click to expand...
Historically, you could not upgrade WTG drives, but that was really a restriction of MS. The same was true for native booting vhdx files i.e. until fairly recently, you could not upgrade OS on them, only in a vm like Hyper-V. However that has changed and you can upgrade as native hosted.

So, it is possible a wtg drive booting with a vhdx file could upgrade.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14
    CPU
    I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB soldered
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop OLED screen
    Screen Resolution
    2880x1800 touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
    PSU
    Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
    Keyboard
    Built in UK keybd
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
    Internet Speed
    900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

    Macrium Reflect Home V8
    Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
    Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
Hmm... so If one create a USB bypass with RF then copy content to the Drive and run setup it'll upgrade? or if one creates a ISO with IMGBurn you could upgrade?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    WiN11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom 775 System
    CPU
    Xeon E5450 3.0GHZ (OC 3.6GHZ)
    Motherboard
    ASUS PQ5-EM
    Memory
    8GB (2GBX4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K2200 4GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1080p
    Hard Drives
    1TB|750GB USB, 3 SSDs 2 240GB 1 128GB, 750GB HDD
    PSU
    650WATT Rosewill
    Case
    Rosewill with side Window
    Cooling
    5 Fans and a big HSK for cpu
    Keyboard
    Rosewill RGB
    Mouse
    Rosewill RGB
    Internet Speed
    AT&T 150MB DL\UP
    Browser
    FireFox
    Antivirus
    None
    Other Info
    I'm lucky to even be here after 6yrs from my car accident
  • Operating System
    WiN10 LTSC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Hp 8460p
    CPU
    i7 2670QM 2.20GHZ
    Motherboard
    Hp 161C
    Memory
    8GB (2X4GB) DUAL Channel
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 3000
    Sound Card
    Intel high Def (basically onboard)
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    OS 128GB l Storage (caddy) 320GB
    PSU
    AC (IDK the watts)
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    A USB 3.0 in the Express Card Slot
cereberus said:
Historically, you could not upgrade WTG drives, but that was really a restriction of MS. The same was true for native booting vhdx files i.e. until fairly recently, you could not upgrade OS on them, only in a vm like Hyper-V. However that has changed and you can upgrade as native hosted.

So, it is possible a wtg drive booting with a vhdx file could upgrade.
Click to expand...
Mine is not booting with a vhdx file. Can I upgrade mine and will it try to write anything to the internal SSD with Linux?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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