Dual (Multi) boot with Windows 10, Windows 11 on external usb drive by DISM command at command prompt using Windows 10/11 bootable drive.


Ramesh Sharma

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OS
Window 11 v24H2 Build 26100.2033
Caution :- Be careful to select disk number, drive letter, partition letter/number as seen in your pc.
I used 1 TB new ssd for multi booting Windows 10 home, Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 home and Windows 11 Pro.
I used the guide lines in the link below:-
Thanks to NavyLCDR.
1. Boot from Windows 11 bootable drive. At Install screen press Shift+F10. This brings command prompt.
2. X:\sources>diskpart
3. DISKPART> list disk
select disk 1(should be different in your pc , please note the disk number in your case.)
clean
convert mbr
4.DISKPART>create partition primary size=2048(try 500 , 1024)
format fs=ntfs quick label="System Reserved"
assign letter=E
active
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
assign letter=R
5.DISKPART>list volume (suppose bootable drive letter is F:)
6. X:\sources >F:
7. F:>cd sources
8. F:\sources>dir install.*
note install.wim or install.esd
9. F:\sources>dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:install.esd
(or install.wim according to setup)
suppose index number is 6 for Windows 11 Pro.
10. F:\sources>dism /apply-image /imagefile:install.esd /index:6 /applydir:R:
The operation completed successfully.
11. F:\sources>bcdboot R:\windows /s E: /f All
Boot files successfully created.
12. F:\sources>R:\windows\system32\shutdown /s /t 00
Now power on pc and change first boot sequence to boot from ssd.
On booting, In boot menu, select first Windows 11.Installation starts.
Note:- You may have to change drive/partition letters in steps 10 and 11. R: is partition letter and E: is System Reserved partition letter in my case.
Use diskmanagement to shrink the primary partition to create a New Simple Volume. Alternatively use third party softwares to create additional partitions to install other versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Repeat the same procedure to install other versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11.
If Windows 10 Setup has x64 and x86 folders, then change the command as F:\x64\sources or F:\x86\sources in above steps.
Thanks for reading this thread.
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 v22H2 OS build 1555

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Window 11 v24H2 Build 26100.2033Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2100 CPU @ 3.10GHz 3.10 GHz4.00 GB (3.89 GB usable)Onboard
OS
Window 11 v24H2 Build 26100.2033
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
ASSEMMBLED
CPU
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2100 CPU @ 3.10GHz 3.10 GHz
Motherboard
ZEBRONICS
Memory
4.00 GB (3.89 GB usable)
Graphics Card(s)
Onboard
Sound Card
Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
LG
Screen Resolution
1366x768
Hard Drives
Toshiba HDD 1 TB
Keyboard
Mechanical
Mouse
Mechanical
Internet Speed
700 kb/s
Browser
Microsoft EDGE, CHROME
Antivirus
Microsoft Defender
It is much easier to install additional OSs in virtual hard disks and create boot entries for each. I have 5 additional OSs in my boot menu with no need to mess around with system partitions. It is much more space efficient as well if you use dynamic, as you not have to reserve space for each partition.

Also if setup properly, each vhdx file contains a recovery file pertaining to that version.

You can use dism in same way to install OS if you wish.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ16 GB solderedIntegrated Intel Iris XE
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)

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