Poodlefaking WintoGO so it updates to new build via WU.

Hi there

This method works (if you have the patience to do it) when you have an external WintoGo system and you want to update to a new build (not clean install again).

The trick is to create a VM and then ensure in that VM's config VM define the USB device as a physical device. You'll probably need (in fact will need) a 2nd NIC whether an external wireless>USB device or 2nd lan for the "Pseudo real machine".

Boot the original VM to show the standard Windows Boot menu -- from that select other options, boot from a device and chose the UI (or possibly EFI file depending on the Bios in your machine).



You should then see this sort of menu -- the basic boot menu of your VM (ist level) system with the USB device containing the Windows physical systems now being bootable !!!


boot the device -- in this case the SABRENT device (SATA->USB connected)

and voila """"



I'll boot W11 (option 3 on the screen)


Now updating nicely. Just have to put up with the reduced video bur saves re-install every time.




I know people think I'm bonkers -- but this works and saves me loads of time.

The only thing that's a problem doing it this way is that the Video driver will be Ms basic video (unless you have 2 graphic cards !!) and the network won't be fast as you are going through 2 sets of NICs as your "physical machine" is effectively a Guest on the original VM.

Re-boot the USB on the physical machine -- the original drivers (video / LAN) will all be fine again.

Cheers
jimbo

Have you ever tried changing the PortableOperatingSystem registry key to allow upgrades?

grumpus said:

Have you ever tried changing the PortableOperatingSystem registry key to allow upgrades?

Click to expand...

No good -- that is for old systems / convert from W8->W10 or W10>W11. No good for W11 21H2 to 22H2,

The other Hasleo product costs 30 bucks !!! -- I'm too much of a skinflint when I can achieve the same object for Free --in any case it's an interesting technical challenge -- I always like playing around with VM's !!!!

Cheers
jimbo

A much easier way is to create your initial WTG system with OS inside a VHDX file, then simply connect vhdx file to Hyper-V (you need an EFI partition in vhdx file as well), and upgrade.

cereberus said:

A much easier way is to create your initial WTG system with OS inside a VHDX file, then simply connect vhdx file to Hyper-V (you need an EFI partition in vhdx file as well), and upgrade.

Click to expand...

Agreed if I'm using a HOST Windows system -- no argument there.

But if using Linux as a Host then this works !!! (at least for the 3 different distros I've tried).

Also I think with BOTH of these methods you don't get the "Keep USB plugged in" message at initial boot of the newly cloned system.

BTW the paid for version of HASLEO wintousb professional -- sort of works after a fashion --I tried on a friend's PC who had a copy -- but the "Dogs dinner" of the thing is that Windows nags for re-activation as it thinks "your hardware has changed". Not a problem for me who still have a load of the old Technet keys left (still working !!!) but many wouldn't want to "waste" a Windows activation on doing this sort of stuff.

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Agreed if I'm using a HOST Windows system -- no argument there.

But if using Linux as a Host then this works !!! (at least for the 3 different distros I've tried).

Also I think with BOTH of these methods you don't get the "Keep USB plugged in" message at initial boot of the newly cloned system.

BTW the paid for version of HASLEO wintousb professional -- sort of works after a fashion --I tried on a friend's PC who had a copy -- but the "Dogs dinner" of the thing is that Windows nags for re-activation as it thinks "your hardware has changed". Not a problem for me who still have a load of the old Technet keys left (still working !!!) but many wouldn't want to "waste" a Windows activation on doing this sort of stuff.

Cheers
jimbo

Click to expand...

Huh - I do not see the difference - you can run Hyper-V from a Linux hosting Windows.
The WTG is not a linux installation.

WTG will always require reactivation if you use it on any OS that does not have a digital licence. It will only activate on one device (original host device).

PS - I do not know where you get term poodlefaking - it has rather derogatory implications associated with mating habits.

cereberus said:

Huh - I do not see the difference - you can run Hyper-V from a Linux hosting Windows.
The WTG is not a linux installation.

WTG will always require reactivation if you use it on any OS that does not have a digital licence. It will only activate on one device (original host device).

PS - I do not know where you get term poodlefaking - it has rather derogatory implications associated with mating habits.

Click to expand...

"Poodlefaking" comes from antique furniture auctioneers / dealers where often marks / other (usually) minor or even not so minor damage etc were "repaired" to guarantee authenticity of the product ands make it more likely to sell for a good price at auction !!.

Nothing to do with "mating habits" of any particular species, Human or otherwise.

As far as "Activation" -- my method preserves the Windows activation -- assuming the original Windows you are cloning to WTG was already activated.

I've created 6 of these as a test on 6 different vhdx files. -- all activated.

The original state of activation of the "1st level VM" doesn't effect the activation state of the "Cloned" windows system on the WTG device. The copy / WTG created version retains the activation state of the "SSD / NVMe / HDD based version of your Windows install.

cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

"Poodlefaking" comes from antique furniture auctioneers / dealers where often marks / other (usually) minor or even not so minor damage etc were "repaired" to guarantee authenticity of the product ands make it more likely to sell for a good price at auction !!.

Nothing to do with "mating habits" of any particular species, Human or otherwise.

As far as "Activation" -- my method preserves the Windows activation -- assuming the original Windows you are cloning to WTG was already activated.

I've created 6 of these as a test on 6 different vhdx files. -- all activated.

The original state of activation of the "1st level VM" doesn't effect the activation state of the "Cloned" windows system on the WTG device. The copy / WTG created version retains the activation state of the "SSD / NVMe / HDD based version of your Windows install.

cheers
jimbo

Click to expand...

google poodlefaking - it has always been rude.

Activation depends on digital licence on pc you use it on.

jimbo45 said:

The other Hasleo product costs 30 bucks !!! -- I'm too much of a skinflint when I can achieve the same object for Free --in any case it's an interesting technical challenge -- I always like playing around with VM's !!!!

Click to expand...

That was just the first link shown by google when I searched for PortableOperatingSystem. As a fellow skinflint, I use Rufus to create Win-to-Go USB drives (win10 only though, for use on Macs).

cereberus said:

google poodlefaking - it has always been rude.

Activation depends on digital licence on pc you use it on.

Click to expand...

Google isn't always"The Fount of all knowlege" !!!

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Google isn't always"The Fount of all knowlege" !!!

Cheers.
jimbo

Click to expand...

No but as a Brit, I know derivation of the term. So called officers being less than gentlemen to ladies.

cereberus said:

No but as a Brit, I know derivation of the term. So called officers being less than gentlemen to ladies.

Click to expand...

OK

But I have been in quite a few antique furniture auction rooms where that expression was commonly used / not to say I've attended a quite a few Used Car sales auctions too-- I'll leave it there.

Perhaps because the names of some of the workers were "Sid and Fred" might explain the discrepancy !!!!.

BTW the Win to Go I made is updating OK via WU to the latest Birdie release without erroring on "Can't update / install on an external device". Your method also works perfectly OK too.

Will use "alternative expression" then in the days of "Political Correctness" .

Cheers
jimbo