Windows 11 (To Go) on an external SSD


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rick99

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I have a Windows 11 To Go Installation on an external drive. The internal drive is running a Linux variant. Before it was Windows 11, it was Windows 10 To Go. When Feature updates came out, I was offered them via Windows Update but never did them because Microsoft said they don't support Feature updates on a To Go installation. Has anyone ever tried to install a feature update on an external SSD To Go installation when offered?
 
Windows Build/Version
21H2

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I'll see on mine one sec... (you want to see if Cumulative updates are workable on Go Editions?)
 

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rick99 said:
I have a Windows 11 To Go Installation on an external drive. The internal drive is running a Linux variant. Before it was Windows 11, it was Windows 10 To Go. When Feature updates came out, I was offered them via Windows Update but never did them because Microsoft said they don't support Feature updates on a To Go installation. Has anyone ever tried to install a feature update on an external SSD To Go installation when offered?
Click to expand...
If you use the "VHDX" physical install methods then it will just update as per a normal Windows install. There's no reason to bother with various 3rd party stuff like HASLEO or rufus.

Simply ensure the boot system has an EFI partition and the vhdx file size is > 48 GB.
Then all works 100% just as if it's on a standard internal drive.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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That's what WINtoUSB is for at least that what I use to test. I simply use Lacey
 

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WAI said:
I'll see on mine one sec... (you want to see if Cumulative updates are workable on Go Editions?)
Click to expand...
I know Cumulative updates work. I'm curious about feature updates... so it will be from 21H2 to 22H2. I'm not sure what the boot partition is. The device came with a Linux OS and I added the Windows To Go as an alternate boot OS. I wouldn't want to damage the Linux install. I used Rufus to create the Windows To Go SSD.
 

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rick99 said:
I know Cumulative updates work. I'm curious about feature updates... so it will be from 21H2 to 22H2. I'm not sure what the boot partition is. The device came with a Linux OS and I added the Windows To Go as an alternate boot OS. I wouldn't want to damage the Linux install. I used Rufus to create the Windows To Go SSD.
Click to expand...
Historically, you could not upgrade WTG drives, but that was really a restriction of MS. The same was true for native booting vhdx files i.e. until fairly recently, you could not upgrade OS on them, only in a vm like Hyper-V. However that has changed and you can upgrade as native hosted.

So, it is possible a wtg drive booting with a vhdx file could upgrade.
 

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Hmm... so If one create a USB bypass with RF then copy content to the Drive and run setup it'll upgrade? or if one creates a ISO with IMGBurn you could upgrade?
 

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cereberus said:
Historically, you could not upgrade WTG drives, but that was really a restriction of MS. The same was true for native booting vhdx files i.e. until fairly recently, you could not upgrade OS on them, only in a vm like Hyper-V. However that has changed and you can upgrade as native hosted.

So, it is possible a wtg drive booting with a vhdx file could upgrade.
Click to expand...
Mine is not booting with a vhdx file. Can I upgrade mine and will it try to write anything to the internal SSD with Linux?
 

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