How to install Windows 8 on a flash drive with Windows To Go

Take Windows 8 with you wherever you go

The first time you boot a Windows To Go drive on a new PC it will scan for devices, and install appropriate drivers. That set up remains cached, so you'll be able to boot much more quickly in future. Drives can hold several system configurations, so you can take it from work to home to an internet café to a client's offices to a friend's home without worrying about losing data or drivers. It's this flexibility that makes Windows To Go an ideal tool for employees who can work from any PC, anywhere. It's also a tool you can slip into a pocket to use anytime you need secure access to your business systems, without having to carry a work laptop with you.

Once setup, a Windows To Go system works like any Windows PC. Just boot from USB, and you're in the familiar Start screen, and able to use the basic Windows store applications that come with Windows 8 or any pre-installed applications in the image (and install others by more traditional means). Users are able to log in with a Microsoft account, though by default there's no access to the Windows store – so you'll need to use Intune or System Centre to sideload Windows Store applications onto managed devices. If you want to enable access to the Store you can use Group Policy to allow access to the store, but applications are only licensed to a specific PC, so won't be portable (unlike the stick).

Unlike Windows RT ARM devices, Windows To Go sticks can be part of an Active Directory, making them easier to control and manage. If you're using any of the Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Package (MDOP) tools to deliver a managed desktop, Windows To Go will provide that same desktop to a user wherever they are – so you can use it to give home workers access to work resources, or to give casual staff access to office resources, without having to worry if your desktop optimisations will overwrite their personal settings. You'll also be able to use System Center to push updates and policies to Windows To Go, as well as using Direct Access to simplify connections to your IT resources.

Microsoft has taken several routes to supporting BYOD in Windows 8, with Windows To Go one of the most attractive. It's low cost, easy to set up, and relatively secure. IT teams don't need to learn anything new, and users have a simple way of using their applications and data, without reconfiguring their PCs. If you've got a Software Assurance agreement, Windows To Go could be your reason for upgrading to Windows 8.

Windows To Go step-by-step guide

Choose the USB you want to use for Windows To Go

Choose the USB you want to use for Windows To Go

1. Start installing Windows To Go by choosing the USB disk you want to use. Microsoft recommends using a USB 3.0 disk, and has a list of certified devices.

The Windows To Go wizard will scan local drives

The Windows To Go wizard will scan local drives

2. The Windows To Go wizard will scan local drives for suitable Windows images – or you can manually connect to an installation share, and use Windows deployment tools to deliver pre-configured images with OS and applications.

You're now ready to create your Windows To Go disk

You're now ready to create your Windows To Go disk

3. Once you've chosen a flash drive and an image, you're ready to create your Windows To Go disk. Just click to get started.

Encrypt Windows To Go with BitLocker

Encrypt Windows To Go with BitLocker

4. Encrypt Windows To Go drives as part of the setup process, using BitLocker. Just type a password to turn it on.

The USB drive is partioned just like a normal drive

The USB drive is partioned just like a normal drive

5. Preparing the drive is more than just formatting it – the disk is partitioned like a full Windows install, complete with recovery partitions.

You're now ready to install Windows 8

You're now ready to install Windows 8

6. The last part of the process takes the longest – installing Windows 8 on your drive ready to go. The installer gives you a Windows 8 install that's ready to install devices the first time you plug it into a PC.

Windows 8 will now load the right drivers for your device

Windows 8 will now load the right drivers for your device

7. Once a stick has been made you can choose whether to set up the host PC to boot from USB devices, or leave it as it is.

Latest in Pro
Finger Presses Orange Button Domain Name Registration on Black Keyboard Background. Closeup View
I visited the world’s first registered .com domain – and you won’t believe what it’s offering today
Racks of servers inside a data center.
Modernizing data centers: an efficient path forward
Dr. Peter Zhou, President of Huawei Data Storage Product Line
Why AI commonization is so important for business intelligent transformation and what Huawei’s data storage has to offer
Wix automation
The world's leading website builder aims to save businesses time with new tool
Data Breach
Thousands of healthcare records exposed online, including private patient information
China
Juniper patches security flaws which could have let hackers take over your router
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough