Is there any way to convert an existing installation on HDD to a Windows To Go installation (at which point I can create an image from it and/or clone it to USB)?

Or, can I copy all of the applications, data, and profiles from an existing Windows 8.1 installation over to my Windows To Go drive?

I'm willing to try third-party utilities. Basically I just want my existing installation to run off USB, and be portable with the ability to detect new hardware, etc.

Thanks.

Technically there are ways and means to pull an image off an existing computer (lots actually) providing you are running an enterprise version of windows 8.1 with that saying pulling an image in somecases you will need to re-enter a license key.

You can then write that wim image to your USB using the Windows To Go utility or powershell /command line see this blog post http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/6991.windows-to-go-step-by-step.aspx

Technically there are ways and means to pull an image off an existing computer (lots actually) providing you are running an enterprise version of windows 8.1 with that saying pulling an image in somecases you will need to re-enter a license key.

You can then write that wim image to your USB using the Windows To Go utility or powershell /command line see this blog post http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/6991.windows-to-go-step-by-step.aspx

• Marked as answer by Michael ShaoMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, October 09, 2014 10:10 AM

In short, yes it is supported to deploy Windows to Go with a custom image. You could capture this image with DISM /Capture-Image, or you could use an existing image (WIM) used with MDT or WDS.

One difference between MDT deployment and Windows to Go deployment is that with the Windows to Go Creator Wizard, the image is applied directly to the USB drive. There is no task sequence and thus no image servicing done at the time of deployment to inject drivers and answer files.

• To ensure network connectivity, ensure that any required network drivers are installed in the image.
• To avoid the questions from Windows Welcome, either specify an answer file when running sysprep or ensure one is placed in \Windows\System32\Sysprep in the image.

Brandon
Windows Outreach Team- IT Pro
Windows for IT Pros on TechNet

In short, yes it is supported to deploy Windows to Go with a custom image. You could capture this image with DISM /Capture-Image, or you could use an existing image (WIM) used with MDT or WDS.

One difference between MDT deployment and Windows to Go deployment is that with the Windows to Go Creator Wizard, the image is applied directly to the USB drive. There is no task sequence and thus no image servicing done at the time of deployment to inject drivers and answer files.

• To ensure network connectivity, ensure that any required network drivers are installed in the image.
• To avoid the questions from Windows Welcome, either specify an answer file when running sysprep or ensure one is placed in \Windows\System32\Sysprep in the image.

Brandon
Windows Outreach Team- IT Pro
Windows for IT Pros on TechNet

• Marked as answer by Michael ShaoMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Thursday, October 09, 2014 10:10 AM

There is a third-party tool called WinToUSB, you can use it to clone Windows installation to a USB drive as a Windows To Go Workspace.