Hi, I would like to know how I can run windows 8 or 8.1 on usb drive or sd card.

Any real help in tutorial or info greatly appreciated.

Hi there,

You can easily setup windows 8 or 8.1 on a USB to boot the computer from.

This will give you the steps to create the USB: http://technet.microsoft.com/library/jj721578.aspx#BKMK_WTGStep1

This is a very useful feature of Windows 8.

the info is insufficient and effectively doesnt help b/c following the instruction presents a screen telling me i cant do it.  Let me clarify, I just want to have a USB drive made that I can run Win 8 on.  Not anything else.

Dialog: 

[Window Title]
Windows To Go Startup Options

[Main Instruction]
Do you want to automatically boot your PC from a Windows To Go workspace?

[Content]
This PC can run Windows To Go using both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. Having trouble?

[Save changes] [Cancel]

*** I select Yes and it states ***

[Window Title]
Windows To Go Startup Options

[Main Instruction]
Sorry, your changes can't be saved.

[Content]
You'll need to change your firmware settings to start your Windows To Go workspace.  How do I do that?

[Expanded Information]
You have 2 or more internal drives containing an active partition. You should have only 1 internal drive with an active partition.

[V] See details  [Close]

*** So doesnt work or FAIL again as ususal.

Is the USB drive you are using certified to run Windows 8 on it?  To use the boot to USB (Windows to go), you need to have a certified USB drive to install on.  If the drive is not certified, it won't work.

You probably want to look into getting a certified USB drive:

• IronKey Workspace W500 (http://www.ironkey.com/secure-workspace/ironkey-workspace-w500.html)
• IronKey Workspace W300 (http://www.ironkey.com/en-US/secure-workspace/ironkey-workspace-w300.html)
• Kingston DataTraveler Workspace for Windows To Go (http://www.kingston.com/wtg/)
• Spyrus Portable Workplace (http://www.spyruswtg.com/)
  
  We recommend that you run the Spyrus Deployment Suite for Windows To Go to provision the Spyrus Portable Workplace. 
• Spyrus Secure Portable Workplace (http://www.spyruswtg.com/)

Once you have this hardware, you should be able to run the Windows to go setup and move forward. 

Is the USB drive you are using certified to run Windows 8 on it?  To use the boot to USB (Windows to go), you need to have a certified USB drive to install on.  If the drive is not certified, it won't work.

You probably want to look into getting a certified USB drive:

• IronKey Workspace W500 (http://www.ironkey.com/secure-workspace/ironkey-workspace-w500.html)
• IronKey Workspace W300 (http://www.ironkey.com/en-US/secure-workspace/ironkey-workspace-w300.html)
• Kingston DataTraveler Workspace for Windows To Go (http://www.kingston.com/wtg/)
• Spyrus Portable Workplace (http://www.spyruswtg.com/)
  
  We recommend that you run the Spyrus Deployment Suite for Windows To Go to provision the Spyrus Portable Workplace. 
• Spyrus Secure Portable Workplace (http://www.spyruswtg.com/)

Once you have this hardware, you should be able to run the Windows to go setup and move forward. 

• Proposed as answer by Kate LiMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Friday, December 13, 2013 1:06 PM

If you are Windows Enterprise Edition.

You can use the built-in feature "Windows to go"

If you are not,

You can with the help of Aomei Partition Assistant which has a feature of "Windows to go creator" 

read more:

http://www.disk-partition.com/features/windows-to-go-creator.html

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enterprise/products-and-technologies/devices/windowstogo.aspx

Windows to Go is only licensed with Windows 8 Enterprise edition.  You cannot use it with other versions of Windows 8 since it cannot be activated.

You can definitely read this article for running your Windows 8 or 8.1 on your hard drive step by step:

How to Boot Our Computer from an External Hard Drive?

http://www.itrelated.info/how-to-boot-our-computer-from-an-external-hard-drive-2/