Is it OK to install windows in a USB 3.0 portable hard drive?

Sanjay_Vig · Sep 15, 2017

I am planning to buy a portable WD Elements 1 TB hdd and want to install windows 10 in it so that I can carry the same OS between my workplace and home. Is it feasible? What are the pros and cons compared to an Internal 1 TB Sata drive?

USAFRet · Sep 15, 2017

Sanjay_Vig :

No, you can't.
Windows really, really does not want to be installed on an external drive.
Moving between system is often unlikely to boot.
And then you have the activation issues when it sees a whole new system/motherboard.

If you have Windows 10 Enterprise (unlikely), there is WinToGo.
But even with that, it will be slooooow.

Phillip Corcoran · Sep 15, 2017

You won't be able to do that as when you run Windows Setup to install Windows it won't show any external storage for you to choose as a target for the installation, only internal drives will be shown.

And even if it were possible, Windows would take forever to start and would run ridiculously slow - - you would very soon get frustrated and annoyed trying to use it like that.

That's why external drives aren't shown for a Windows install - - to stop you choosing a drive that's not suitable for it.

smorizio · Sep 15, 2017

your better off for speed to use a remote software to dial into your work pc or use a secure cloud storage to move work files from work and home.

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Is it OK to install windows in a USB 3.0 portable hard drive?

Sanjay_Vig

Commendable

Phillip Corcoran

USAFRet

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Phillip Corcoran

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smorizio

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