Redirecting 24H2 to different target drive

Hello all,

I signed up for Dev Insider track, and it's waiting for me to dl the 24H2 Preview, but I want to install it to a blank SSD rather than my primary build (23H2) drive .. I started the dl, and got down to the final install prompt (Keep current settings, files) realizing there isn't a Install on x: drive option .. Am I going to need to clone my primary drive, (m.2) unplug it and all other than the intended target (cloned) drive and let it run, or can I regedit the OS path? Beta testing Vista, 7 and 10, there was a prompt for other target, but I dont see one for 11 :O

The Update icon in the sys tray is beckoning a click, but I dont want to oblige unless I can re-direct the install.

Paula

I have never seen where Windows updates are installed on different storage drive.

FreeBooter said:

I have never seen where Windows updates are installed on different storage drive.

Click to expand...

Doing any kind of installs, in place, or boot, Upgrade or Clean, up til now, you've always been able to pick a target. That's what I want to do with 24H2 as I really do not want to goomb up the 23H2 m.2 boot drive and have to do a re-install should I want to get out of Insider. If its on a different drive (or even partition), a reformat the 24H drive and I'm back to 23H on the untouched m.2.

EDIT: I've started AOMEI to clone the m.2 to the clean SSD, in prep to just swapping boot order.

Basically same thought here, all updates have to be done within the program installed, especially with the OS involved and critically where programs offer either 32-bit/x86 or 64-bit/x64. Even though Win11 doesn't offer a 32-bit version it can still run the same as Win10.

Berton said:

Basically same thought here, all updates have to be done within the program installed, especially with the OS involved and critically where programs offer either 32-bit/x86 or 64-bit/x64. Even though Win11 doesn't offer a 32-bit version it can still run the same as Win10.

Click to expand...

.. figured that .. so AOMEI is 61% of 617GB cloning the 23H2 m.2 to a clean SSD to become the boot drive that 24H2 will update, leaving the original 23H2 on the m.2 untouched. I was just hoping I could redirect a clean install of 24H somewhere else without risking the m.2.

bah .. I should have moved all the music, videos, docs, games off before so cloning would have gone faster.

Buschik said:

bah .. I should have moved all the music, videos, docs, games off before so cloning would have gone faster.

Click to expand...

The issue with that would be that the folders are Defaults in Windows installation. Be better to Copy them to a second drive then empty the contents of the folders under Users\USERNAMEHERE\, leave the folders in place. Makes a good backup anyway.

Berton said:

The issue with that would be that the folders are Defaults in Windows installation. Be better to Copy them to a second drive then empty the contents of the folders under Users\USERNAMEHERE\, leave the folders in place. Makes a good backup anyway.

Click to expand...

Normally, yes, I keep all those in outside folders, so the usual My Music, Pictures, Documents, etc folders are empty.

An alternate way is to download a 24H2 Insider build from UUP dump.

Extract the ZIP file and run their script to create a new ISO. Use Rufus to copy the ISO to an USB drive.
Now you can boot, and select the spare drive. While UUP dump doesn't have the latest Insider build, you can ask Windows Update to update your new install.

Buschik said:

I keep all those in outside folders,

Click to expand...

Me too. I don't like foxing up my C: drive with stuff that's not part of the system.

BTW, Hi, and welcome to the Eleven Forum. It's a great place to visit, and some people actually LIVE here. Come back early and often.

=) dingdingding .. no more calls please, I think we have a winner!! idky I didnt think of Rufus or Hirens for this!! I've used them for other versions and builds but didnt think of grabbing the .iso elsewhere!! And you're right, if UUP doesn't have the latest, the updates after install would true it up .. thank you, Garlin!!

Wisewiz said:

Me too. I don't like foxing up my C: drive with stuff that's not part of the system.

BTW, Hi, and welcome to the Eleven Forum. It's a great place to visit, and some people actually LIVE here. Come back early and often.

Click to expand...

Thanks so much!! I'm in (well, was) the Vista, Seven and Ten forums .. idky I didnt think of looking for Eleven earlier .. lots of my WinSmarts I got of YT and someone on it mentioned this group, or I found it in search result, cant remember .. but happy to be here and learn from the best! =)

Buschik said:

I signed up for Dev Insider track, and it's waiting for me to dl the 24H2 Preview, but I want to install it to a blank SSD rather than my primary build (23H2) drive .. I started the dl, and got down to the final install prompt (Keep current settings, files) realizing there isn't a Install on x: drive option .. Am I going to need to clone my primary drive, (m.2) unplug it and all other than the intended target (cloned) drive and let it run, or can I regedit the OS path? Beta testing Vista, 7 and 10, there was a prompt for other target, but I dont see one for 11

Click to expand...

Welcome to Eleven Forum.

When you sign up for an Insider build you are effectively asking for an in-place upgrade of the Windows you are currently running.

If you want it as a dual boot, leaving your current Windows as it is, then install a second instance of Windows 11, boot into that one, sign in, then sign it up for Insiders.

OMG, I've been using SSD's for so long, I'd forgotten how bad spinning performance was!! Installing 24H2 on one and jus' dyin' at the speeds zzzzzzzzzzz

I swear, I could buy an ssd on Amazon, wait for it to be delivered, stick it in the case, install a new copy of 7, 10 or 11 on it, update to 12, make the beds, do some laundry, clean the house, make lunch, AND dinner and it would STILL be faster than this 5400rpm spinning drive!! And I just may!

Note to self, just bc you have a spare 2tb drive doesn't mean it should be used for anything other than unattended overnight backups.

Buschik said:

OMG, I've been using SSD's for so long, I'd forgotten how bad spinning performance was!!

.....Note to self, just bc you have a spare 2tb drive doesn't mean it should be used for anything other than unattended overnight backups.

Click to expand...

I have quite an eclectic collection of laptops, most had spinner in when I got them - they don't now, I've swapped almost all of them over to SSDs

I was absolutely dyin' waiting on this drive .. cancelled the install, ordered a 1TB off Amazon, stuck it in, installed fresh copy of 23H2, did the updates, 24H2 was buggy, more than 5 mins to finish booting .. restarted over a dozen times .. going to pause Core prot, and few other things see if it'll finish installing. ..

Soon as it's settled, install Steam, Epic and few other gaming loaders, install from the libraries, several diag and benchmark apps, and see how this runs ..

Buschik said:

....24H2 was buggy, more than 5 mins to finish booting .. restarted over a dozen times .. going to pause Core prot, and few other things see if it'll finish installing. ..

Soon as it's settled, install Steam, Epic and few other gaming loaders, install from the libraries, several diag and benchmark apps, and see how this runs ..

Click to expand...

If you're using 24H2, whether the Dev or Canary build, then you need to be aware there are some known issues for gaming....

Known issues​

[General]​

• [IMPORTANT NOTE FOR GAMERS – UPDATED!] Some popular games may not work correctly and cause a bugcheck (green screen) when launched on the most recent Insider Preview builds in the Canary Channel. Please be sure to submit feedback in Feedback Hub on any issues you see with playing games on these builds.

Click to expand...

It doesnt even get to the point it finishes booting properly. Dl'd the 24H Update, 3 separate times, goes to install, restarts, but just cycles booting (AMI bios logo), Blue windows logo appears, spinning circle, goes around couple times, freezes. Then screen then says Uninstalling (rollback) update. 3 times it's done this. had to hit reset button to get it to wake up each time. Core Isolation turned off but it wont even finish booting properly .. going to have to debug it .. but for now, it's just 23H2 running.

there isn't a Install on x: drive option ..

Click to expand...

find the downloaded .esd and apply the image to any partition you like.

If you use winntsetup it will create the boot menu entry for you as well as applying the image.

Otherwise apply it with dism or whatever other tool you want, then add the boot menu entry with bcdboot command

I tried to disable the startup GUI screen in msconfig for the drive, to read the loading dialog but it gave the normal gui screen. Error msg that comes up after the "Uninstalling updates" is in 2nd Section, drivers, but all USB's are removed (except kb, mouse) .. 4 more times it froze on booting. Still more troubleshooting .. even clicked the Windows11_InsiderPreview_Client_x64_en-us_26058.iso hoping it was maybe a corrupted dl .. but no .. the 2nd pic is the fail after trying to install from the .iso

I'm going to try to put it on the rufus drive and see if it'll install that way ..

I'm beginning to think of moving to the Beta, slow or fast side .. meh ..

Buschik said:

Doing any kind of installs, in place, or boot, Upgrade or Clean, up til now, you've always been able to pick a target.

Click to expand...

You would be mistaken. In place upgrades have never allowed you to pick a target drive.