All major Linux distributions (e.g. Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Elementary) have the in-built functionality to directly run from USB flash drives. This is quite convenient as it lets you carry your personalised desktop settings, files etc. with you anywhere. Wonder if you could do something like this with Windows 10 as well?
Yes, you can. A free Windows utility program called WinToUSB allows you to install the full copy of Windows 10 on any flash drive. This flash drive can be then used to boot just about any computer (as long as it supports booting from USB flash drive) to a fully-functional Windows 10 OS.
To get this done, all you need is a USB flash drive (preferably 16B or higher in capacity) and a Windows 10 installation disc (or ISO file).
Here's how to create a portable Windows 10 installation using WinToUSB:
1: Download and install WinToUSB from its website. On running the utility, you have to specify the location of the Windows 10 ISO or the installation disc. Click Next.
2: After plugging in the flash drive into the USB port of the computer, select it in WinToUSB and format it. Once this is done, you have to select the flash drive as both system and boot partition. Finally, click Next to start copying essential Windows 10 files to the flash drive.
3: The process of creating the bootable Windows 10 USB may take a few minutes. When the process is finally finished, you can use this flash drive to boot (and run) a fully-working copy of Windows 10 on any computer. That's how easy it is.
It's important to note some pointers here. When you boot up Windows 10 from USB for the flash drive for the first time, you'll need to do a little bit of an initial setup.
This includes regular tasks such as setting up user accounts and passwords and configuring network settings. But after this, all those settings would be saved to the USB flash drive itself and thus won't need to be configured every time you boot from the flash drive.
Yes, you can. A free Windows utility program called WinToUSB allows you to install the full copy of Windows 10 on any flash drive. This flash drive can be then used to boot just about any computer (as long as it supports booting from USB flash drive) to a fully-functional Windows 10 OS.
To get this done, all you need is a USB flash drive (preferably 16B or higher in capacity) and a Windows 10 installation disc (or ISO file).
Here's how to create a portable Windows 10 installation using WinToUSB:
1: Download and install WinToUSB from its website. On running the utility, you have to specify the location of the Windows 10 ISO or the installation disc. Click Next.
2: After plugging in the flash drive into the USB port of the computer, select it in WinToUSB and format it. Once this is done, you have to select the flash drive as both system and boot partition. Finally, click Next to start copying essential Windows 10 files to the flash drive.
3: The process of creating the bootable Windows 10 USB may take a few minutes. When the process is finally finished, you can use this flash drive to boot (and run) a fully-working copy of Windows 10 on any computer. That's how easy it is.
It's important to note some pointers here. When you boot up Windows 10 from USB for the flash drive for the first time, you'll need to do a little bit of an initial setup.
This includes regular tasks such as setting up user accounts and passwords and configuring network settings. But after this, all those settings would be saved to the USB flash drive itself and thus won't need to be configured every time you boot from the flash drive.