Cannot follow the manual powershell instructions to create a W2Go Device

Hi,

I tried to use the native Windows To Go creator wizard in my Windows 8.1 Enterprise edition. My USB flash drive was a Patriot 32 GB one of RAGE type. It was the best product found in our local market, as the Microsoft recommended devices were not available to purchase. Unfortunately, the wizard failed to start with my flash drive and refused to work with it.

Then, I found a page on TechNet through google (http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/6991.windows-to-go-step-by-step.aspx) which showed me a step-by-step guide to create a Windows To Go drive using a list of PowerShell commands. It requires you to create two separate partitions on the drive and execute some instructions to make it. The surprising point that I realized was that the Windows does not allow you to have access to more than one primary partition at a time on the Removable disks. This meant for me that the powershell script was not applicable to my flash.

I also tried to make a trick and used BootIce software to swap accessible partitions. But, I could not link the two partitions so that the Windows boots from the device.

My first question is: Does Microsoft certified W2G devices bypass the restrictions mentioned above on simultaneous access to flash drive partitions?

Second question: How to logically link the two partitions stated above so that the drive can boot successfully any system? Am I wrong with the process?

Thanks


  • Edited by sisili Wednesday, February 18, 2015 7:58 AM
February 18th, 2015 10:56am


Hello sisili,

Are you confused about the two partition?
The 350 MB partition is system partition , and the other is OS partition.

Based on my knowledge, the certification process ensures that drives are built for the high random read / write speeds required for running Windows smoothly. In other part, they are same.

For more information, please take a look at the following video about how to create a Windows To Go Workspace.
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dn127075.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396
It give the steps about create Windows To Go by by using the Create a Windows To Go Workspace wizard.
And then analyze the how to use Windows PowerShell.

Best regards,
Fangzhou CHEN

Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
February 19th, 2015 4:28am

Hi Chen,

The video had nothing more than a visual performance of what I had followed in recent weeks. I again executed the PowerShell script line by line. The surprising thing is that when I create the first partition using the script, the second one (OSPartition) cannot be create as the script displays an error of "Not Enough available memory". When I check the flash disk, there is no FREE space! I did the similar steps using the Diskpart, but the result is similar as before. I do not know what is the matter. Also, the Windows just allows to access the first primary partition in its partition table; that means, we cannot assign drive letters to both of partitions at the same time.

If I do the partitioning stage using another utility such as "AOEMI Partition Assistant", and use "BootIce" tool to change the accessible partition, and do the remaining stages on the powershell script, how could I link the two partitions to make a fully operational bootable Windows To Go disk when I can access one partition at a time?

Thanks

February 22nd, 2015 1:46am

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