For Double / Triple booters this is the best way by far.


jimbo45

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Hi folks
Double / triple booting etc can often be a problem especially if you have a non Windows OS and decide to wipe that OS or even one of the Windows OS'es.

I'd recommend - if you have a decent spare SSD device and a SATA->USB3/ USBC type connector. This method depends on creating a fully standard Windows system on the externel device so nothing in the main computer is touched.
What you basically need is :
1) macrium image of a fully running W10 system (latest possible version) or the W10 system itself on THE TARGET MACHINE.
2) Stand alone bootable partition manager
3) W11 running in any sort of VM -- HYPER-V, VMWare, VBOX (if you van get W11 to work -- eluded me I'm afraid) , or KVM/QEMU.
4) Usb thumb drive for booting the macrium iso.

OK here goes
1) Image the VM (FROM WITHIN the VM) and ensure the image is written to a device accessible to Windows.

2) create the Macrium Free stand alone rescue media -- FROM WITHIN THE VM. You need to choose the advance build and select the WINPE version -- choose the one that says best for Win 8.1 / Win 10 not the WINRE version and ensure all device drivers are loaded . You need that when we come to fix the boot on the Real machine !!

3) ensure that the bootable rescue media is available to a bootable USB device - what usually works best here is to (again from WITHIN the VM) to create an iso image in macrium and then use RUFUS to create a bootable USB stick. I've found creating the USB directly via macrium doesn't always work so I'd recommend using the ISO.

4) Take a macrium image and save to storage device.

5) on the target machine ensure macrium thumb device and macrium image are available as well as the external target device for Windows.

6) boot into Macrium and restore the image. You don't need the W10 system or image at this stage yet.

7) do not yet reboot the machine - but still within Macrium choose fix Windows boot problems - I've found by using an image from a VM this invariably works. Attempting similar from a Physical image doesn't work for me - often get BSOD or "OOPS something went wrong at boot time so i'd recommend using the VM image !!).

8) boot the external USB device -- should work - you'll probably get a few messages like getting device ready -- but there's still a bit of work to do.

9) Now boot your stand alone partition manager -- you'll probably want to do this as your VM might only use 40GB of "Virtual disk space" whereas on an external USB device you might want to use the whole device say 128 / 250 GB --these are the best to use for this as they only cost a few dollars each these days. !!!

10) move the recovery partition to the end and expand the C partition.

11) now re-boot the external SSD drive

12) you'll need to update a whole slew of drivers -- so either from the W10 macrium image (yes the W10 one) or an actual Windows internal W10 "C" drive point to directory windows->system32->driverstore

11) via device manager go through each device which needs a driver update or "unknown" device and choose update driver, scan this computer and use the directory in step 12). Ensure the "include subdirectories / folders " box is checked

12) should fix things like video drivers / sound etc etc.

13) activate as normal - in some cases this will activate via Digital License if you created the W11 system via an update from W10.

Have fun and enjoy your "Portable Windows 11 system". For me it actually works better than my Disk based W11 system -- that's because the old laptop still has laptop "spinners" and even via a USB 3 connection any SSD is way faster than those older 2.5 inch spinners - even if they are sata ones.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
Hi, This what I will do in my system (no more disk space for the imaging stuff),

Requires Windows 10 and 11 install media (as far, my system doesn't meet the requirements to run 11 so I modified my 10 media to add the 11 install.wim)

Because my data on my system is full software, not files (some file will put in my Google Drive (also I have an managed school account if my GDrive is full)), so I will do an clean install. Note I will dual boot my system, 10 and 11 insider.

IMPORTANT: Back up any data if you want to do this, because it will delete all DATA on your system.

1. Restart the system (as far you are booted into Windows)
2. Go to your Boot menu, and select your USB drive.
3. Because I have secure boot enabled, I get a splash screen that the key could not be verified. (because I have an multiboot Ventoy USB that I will use here, and it supports Secure Boot, it will easy to me) Now, I will select the right partition (VTOYEFI), and select the key file, it now boots to my Boot Menu.
4. Select first the Windows 10 media.
5. Do the normal W10 install process, until you on the partition map.
6. Allocate 60GB in Windows 10, 60GB in Windows 11, and the rest is on your data partition.
7. Install Windows 10 in your Windows 10 partition.
8. Complete OOBE, and complete the setup of your system.
9. Restart your system.
10. Go to your boot menu, and select your USB drive.
11. Select now the Windows 11 media.
12. Do step 5.
13. Select now your Windows 11 partition.
14. Do step 7.
15. You can now see the Choose the operating system screen, choose Windows 11.
16. Do Step 8.
17. Restart your system, and check if your 10 and 11 is detected by Windows Boot Manager (or GRUB, or others)

Now it is OK.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    EndeavourOS, Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    custom PC
    CPU
    Core i5 8400
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte B360M-HD3
    Memory
    8gb DDR4-2400
    Graphics Card(s)
    iGPU
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    some generic 1080p 75hz monitor * 2
    Screen Resolution
    1080p * 2
    Hard Drives
    GIGABYTE NVMe SSD 256GB (GP-GSM2NE3256GNTD)
    Internet Speed
    200MBit/s
    Antivirus
    WD
Talk about sledgehammers to crack a nut.

Here is my method to create a bootable external usb hard drive.

1) get iso

2) use rufus to create a windows to go drive.

3) set pc bios to boot from usb drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
Talk about sledgehammers to crack a nut.

Here is my method to create a bootable external usb hard drive.

1) get iso

2) use rufus to create a windows to go drive.

3) set pc bios to boot from usb drive.
Hi there
The problem with that method is that it doesn't "Clone" your current system -- it boots OK but then it's basically a blank -- i.e clean Windows system.

Yes it's a simple a, quick and easy method if you want to create a new Windows system from scratch - I agree but sometimes one doesn't want to go through the whole exercise of re-installing everything over and over again together with various updates (not only of Windows but also applications) etc etc !!!!!!

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
Hi there
The problem with that method is that it doesn't "Clone" your current system -- it boots OK but then it's basically a blank -- i.e clean Windows system.

Yes it's a simple a, quick and easy method if you want to create a new Windows system from scratch - I agree but sometimes one doesn't want to go through the whole exercise of re-installing everything over and over again together with various updates (not only of Windows but also applications) etc etc !!!!!!

Cheers
jimbo
then

1) image backup C drive

2) get iso

3) use rufus to create wtg drive

4) restore c drive image backup over clean c drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
Hi folks
Double / triple booting etc can often be a problem especially if you have a non Windows OS and decide to wipe that OS or even one of the Windows OS'es.

I'd recommend - if you have a decent spare SSD device and a SATA->USB3/ USBC type connector. This method depends on creating a fully standard Windows system on the externel device so nothing in the main computer is touched.
What you basically need is :
1) macrium image of a fully running W10 system (latest possible version) or the W10 system itself on THE TARGET MACHINE.
2) Stand alone bootable partition manager
3) W11 running in any sort of VM -- HYPER-V, VMWare, VBOX (if you van get W11 to work -- eluded me I'm afraid) , or KVM/QEMU.
4) Usb thumb drive for booting the macrium iso.

OK here goes
1) Image the VM (FROM WITHIN the VM) and ensure the image is written to a device accessible to Windows.

2) create the Macrium Free stand alone rescue media -- FROM WITHIN THE VM. You need to choose the advance build and select the WINPE version -- choose the one that says best for Win 8.1 / Win 10 not the WINRE version and ensure all device drivers are loaded . You need that when we come to fix the boot on the Real machine !!

3) ensure that the bootable rescue media is available to a bootable USB device - what usually works best here is to (again from WITHIN the VM) to create an iso image in macrium and then use RUFUS to create a bootable USB stick. I've found creating the USB directly via macrium doesn't always work so I'd recommend using the ISO.

4) Take a macrium image and save to storage device.

5) on the target machine ensure macrium thumb device and macrium image are available as well as the external target device for Windows.

6) boot into Macrium and restore the image. You don't need the W10 system or image at this stage yet.

7) do not yet reboot the machine - but still within Macrium choose fix Windows boot problems - I've found by using an image from a VM this invariably works. Attempting similar from a Physical image doesn't work for me - often get BSOD or "OOPS something went wrong at boot time so i'd recommend using the VM image !!).

8) boot the external USB device -- should work - you'll probably get a few messages like getting device ready -- but there's still a bit of work to do.

9) Now boot your stand alone partition manager -- you'll probably want to do this as your VM might only use 40GB of "Virtual disk space" whereas on an external USB device you might want to use the whole device say 128 / 250 GB --these are the best to use for this as they only cost a few dollars each these days. !!!

10) move the recovery partition to the end and expand the C partition.

11) now re-boot the external SSD drive

12) you'll need to update a whole slew of drivers -- so either from the W10 macrium image (yes the W10 one) or an actual Windows internal W10 "C" drive point to directory windows->system32->driverstore

11) via device manager go through each device which needs a driver update or "unknown" device and choose update driver, scan this computer and use the directory in step 12). Ensure the "include subdirectories / folders " box is checked

12) should fix things like video drivers / sound etc etc.

13) activate as normal - in some cases this will activate via Digital License if you created the W11 system via an update from W10.

Have fun and enjoy your "Portable Windows 11 system". For me it actually works better than my Disk based W11 system -- that's because the old laptop still has laptop "spinners" and even via a USB 3 connection any SSD is way faster than those older 2.5 inch spinners - even if they are sata ones.

Cheers
jimbo
Thanks, but I've had my dual boot system set up for a few years and I'm not going to change things now. :-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy TE01-1xxx
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700 CPU @ 2.90GHz 2.90 GHz
    Motherboard
    16.0GB Dual-Channel Unknown @ 1463MHz (21-21-21-47)
    Memory
    16384 MBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Monitor 1 - Acer 27" Monitor 2 - Acer 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G-1006 (SSD)
    Seagate ST1000DM003-1SB102
    Seagate BUP Slim SCSI Disk Device (SSD)
    PSU
    HP
    Case
    HP
    Cooling
    Standard
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    500 mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's all Folks!
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 (10th gen) 10700
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Built-in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 27" & Samsung 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x
    Hard Drives
    SSD (512 GB)
    HDD (1 TB)
    Seagate
    PSU
    Intel i7 10th Generation
    Case
    HP
    Cooling
    HP/Intel?
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Internet Speed
    50 mbps
    Browser
    Firefox 90.2
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Headphone/Microphone Combo
    SuperSpeed USB Type-A (4 on front)
    HP 3-in-One Card Readr
    SuperSpeed USB Type-C
    DVD Writer
I just followed this guide, and installed it on a second drive. No need to mess with cloning anything.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 3900X
    Motherboard
    ASUS X570-E ROG Strix Gaming
    Memory
    G.Skill Ripjaws V 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR4-3200
    Graphics Card(s)
    PNY GTX 1070 XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition 8GB
    Sound Card
    HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1x Samsung Odyssey G5 35" & 4x LG 24" IPS LED's
    Screen Resolution
    1x 2560x1440 4x 1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Evo 860 SSD (OS)
    1TB Evo 860 m.2 (Games)
    2x 2TB FireCuda Solid State Hybrid Drive (SSHD) in RAID-0 (Software)
    2TB Toshiba (storage)
    PSU
    Corsair 750W Gold
    Case
    Cooler Master MasterBox MB511 ARGB
    Cooling
    Wraith Prism
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic 4000
    Mouse
    Anker 2000dpi Precision Gaming
    Internet Speed
    1200Gbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    BitDefender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer G9-793-79v5
    CPU
    i7-7700HQ
    Motherboard
    Acer Challenger2_SKS (U3E1)
    Memory
    16GB DDR4 2400 (2x8)
    Graphics card(s)
    GTX 1070 8GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" Full HD IPS display with NVIDIA G-SYNC technology
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    2x 120GB m.2 SSD's in RIAD-0 (OS)
    1x 250GB Evo 850
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Predator FrostCore
Geez like he said 'Talk about using a sledge hammer to open a peanut
I guess you guys don't like "Easy BCD"
So simple, Create the ISO on MS media creation tool, Boot to USB drive and install on an empty partition.
I'm on a NUC with 1 M.2 drive and 1 1 TB SSD
Rolling right along down the old Hersey highway with no boot issues, and no cloning.
 

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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro, Partition 1/Windows 11 Partition 2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    NUC 7i5BNB
    CPU
    Intel Core I5
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    Onboard
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Hard Drives
    Samsung M.2 NVMB 500
    Internet Speed
    DSL
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    MS
Geez like he said 'Talk about using a sledge hammer to open a peanut
I guess you guys don't like "Easy BCD"
So simple, Create the ISO on MS media creation tool, Boot to USB drive and install on an empty partition.
I'm on a NUC with 1 M.2 drive and 1 1 TB SSD
Rolling right along down the old Hersey highway with no boot issues, and no cloning.
Why even use the third party program EasyBCD when all you need is the bcdboot command built into Windows 10 and 11?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
My older computer is a Dell Inspiron 530a (from 2009). The primary (internal) hard disk drive (HDD) (Seagate 1TB) has two boot partitions. Windows Vista (Dell OEM) is on one and Windows 7, which is what I use, is on the other. The second internal HDD (Western Digital 500GB) has the 'free' copy of Windows 10. To get to Windows 10 (almost never), I change the boot drive in BIOS. When not in Windows 10, I use part of that drive for storage.

My newer computer is a Dell XPS 8920 (July 2017). The primary boot drive (internal, Dell OEM Seagate 1TB HDD) has Dell OEM Windows 10, but I upgraded that drive to a 'new' ("Recertified Product" - thanks Amazon!) Seagate 2TB HDD (in the system now). When I attempted to clone the OEM drive to the 'new' 2TB drive, the clone failed miserably. (See Windows 10 Forums and Intel Community Forum.) The 2TB drive has a "Reset" copy of Windows 10, and yes, it took days to bring that drive up to speed with what I had before. In the process, I discovered that the Dell OEM drive may be failing, so the 'new' 2TB drive may have saved my bacon.

Short story long, I intend to clone the 2TB drive to another drive (most likely another 2TB, but maybe a SSD SATA), and put Windows 11 on that. I can do the BIOS trick to switch boot drives. The only fly in the ointment is that my system has Intel Optane Memory to accelerate the boot drive. I will have to Disable that before I switch from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

Microsoft claims that you can 'evaluate' Windows 11 for "ten days" before you have to make a permanent decision (Windows 10 or 11). I got dragged into Windows 10 kicking and screaming, because Dell did not have a Windows 7 option when I bought the XPS 8920. It may take me weeks, if not longer to see if I even want Windows 11.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 10 Home 21H1 (as of 26 June 2021)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8920 circa 2017
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i7-7700 CPU @ 3.60GHz
    Motherboard
    0VHXCD
    Memory
    16 Gb plus 16Gb Intel Optane
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio on motherboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SE2717H 27" flatscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Internal - C: Seagate 2Tb, D: Seagate 2Tb
    External - H: Seagate 4Tb, I: Western Digital Passport 3Tb
    PSU
    460W
    Case
    Tower
    Cooling
    Internal OEM CPU and case fans, External AC Infinity supplemental fans
    Keyboard
    Dell OEM US
    Mouse
    Dell OEM 4 button wheel scroll
    Internet Speed
    Cable modem
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (default),Internet Explorer 11, Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    McAfee
    Other Info
    I also have a Dell Inspiron 530, circa 2009 running Windows 7 Pro and the Windows Vista mail client (WinMail.exe)
  • Operating System
    Windows 7 Home Premium (64 bit)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 530a circa 2009
    CPU
    Intel Celeron CPU 450 @ 2.20 GHz
    Motherboard
    0FM586
    Memory
    Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB 4.9 Gaming graphics 5887 MB Total available graphics memory 6.5
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT 730
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio on motherboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S1709W 17" HD Widescreen Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Internal Drive 0 = C, D: Seagate 1TB (Windows 7 on C, Windows Vista on D)
    Internal Drive 1 = G: Western Digital 500 GB (Windows 10 {64 bit}, change boot through BIOS)
    External USB Drive F: Seagate Barracuda 1TB (SATA in enclosure - switched off when not in use)
    External USB Drive H: Western Digital 250GB (SATA in enclosure)
    External USB Drive I: Seagate Expansion + 1TB
    PSU
    450W
    Case
    Tower
    Cooling
    Internal fans
    Mouse
    Microsoft USB
    Keyboard
    Dell OEM US USB
    Internet Speed
    Cable modem
    Browser
    Internet Explorer (default), Microsoft Edge (Chromium), Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Security Essentials
    Other Info
    Western Digital My Passport 4TB shared between all three computers
    (Dell Latitude D830 with Windows 10 (32 bit) is my third system - rarely used.)

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