For a long time Linux users have been able to install their OS onto a portable USB drive, but Windows just caught up. Read on to find out how you can install Windows 8 onto a USB drive so you can take it wherever you go.Note: This was written on the RTM version of Windows 8 Enterprise and you will need to have an RTM build of the Enterprise edition to complete the steps in this article.
Using Windows To Go to create a portable workspace
1. Press the Win + X keyboard combination and select Control Panel from the context menu.
2. Change your Control Panel view to the Small icons view.
3. Click on Windows To Go.
4. Select the USB drive that you would like to turn into a portable workspace. Click Next.
5. The wizard will automatically scan your CD/DVD and Removable drives for valid installation files, once you have selected a version of Windows click Next.
6. You can optionally set a BitLocker password if you want.
7. Once you have reached the end of the wizard, you will be warned that your USB drive will be formatted. You can then click on Create to start the creation process.
2. Change your Control Panel view to the Small icons view.
3. Click on Windows To Go.
4. Select the USB drive that you would like to turn into a portable workspace. Click Next.
5. The wizard will automatically scan your CD/DVD and Removable drives for valid installation files, once you have selected a version of Windows click Next.
6. You can optionally set a BitLocker password if you want.
7. Once you have reached the end of the wizard, you will be warned that your USB drive will be formatted. You can then click on Create to start the creation process.
Now your USB drive is bootable with Windows. The only problem is that it’s no longer visible in Windows Explorer.
How to reformat your Windows To Go USB drive
1. If you’re done using Windows on a drive, you can reformat the drive, but you’ll need to open a command prompt and type diskpart. Press Enter.
2. Once you enter Diskpart you will need to find out which drive is the one you need to format, the list disk command will show you all the drives currently connected to your system. Take note of your drive number for the next step.
3. Now use the select disk command along with your drive number to select your disk. Command should be something like “select disk 2″.
4. Type the clean command and press Enter to wipe out the entire disk. (make sure you selected the right one, as this results in the loss of data of the current drive without warning.)
5. Use the Win + R keyboard combination to open Run. Type diskmgmt.msc and press Enter.
6. Now you need to initialize the disk, and create the partition for your drive.
2. Once you enter Diskpart you will need to find out which drive is the one you need to format, the list disk command will show you all the drives currently connected to your system. Take note of your drive number for the next step.
3. Now use the select disk command along with your drive number to select your disk. Command should be something like “select disk 2″.
4. Type the clean command and press Enter to wipe out the entire disk. (make sure you selected the right one, as this results in the loss of data of the current drive without warning.)
5. Use the Win + R keyboard combination to open Run. Type diskmgmt.msc and press Enter.
6. Now you need to initialize the disk, and create the partition for your drive.
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