Solved Windows to Go with BitLocker

Hi all,

I'm trying to create a Windows to go drive, I'm just using regular USB 3.0 drive to test. Since the drive is not certified, Windows to Go Creator Wizard won't run. As far as I understand, if the Windows is created with Windows to Go Creator Wizard. The whole drive can be encrypted with BitLocker. I tried to imagex apply Win8 Ent, it will boot without any problem. As soon as I encrypted the drive, it won't boot anymore. It didn't prompt me for the password during boot. My question is if I buy one of those 4 certified drives, can I have a bootable bitlockered USB drive and use it on multiple computers. Thanks.

Hello Hyunkeru, and welcome to Eight Forums.

How did you encrypt the drive?

Using BitLocker To Go to directly encrypt the USB flash drive would not work since it would make it unbootable as you found out already.

Instead, you might see if booting to the Windows To Go USB, then use BitLocker for an OS like in the tutorial below instead while in the running Windows To Go.

If you had a Windows To Go certified USB flash drive, then yes you would be able set up Windows To Go with it encrypted by BitLocker automatically while setting it up like in the tutorial below.
Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi there
The whole point of Windows to go is that it's a PORTABLE OS that is bootable basically on ANY capable computer. Any hardware changes will be adjusted where possible at system boot drive. The OS will have most of the common drivers so the system should boot except in a very rare case and the basic drivers can be updated as soon as the system connects to the Internet.

If the device is encrypted how will it boot since the OS has to be able to start before the encryption / decryption routines come into play.

(If you are using Windows to Go on a load of different computers it probably would make more sense to use the 32 bit version in case you have to boot from a machine that isn't 64 bit capable although pretty well all computers made within the last 5 years or so are all 64 bit machines.).

Note - my comments here are for a NON certified USB drive.

Cheers
jimbo

Hi Hyunkeru, welcome to the Eight Forums.

Yes, Win2Go installed on a certified USB 3 drive can be used with any host PC that can boot from USB and is Windows 7 or 8 certified. The drive certification ensures that the USB drive is factory configured as a fixed drive so it boots through USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 ports.

I use Kingston USB drives, have had no issues. Retail prices here in Europe start from €80 for 32GB, €140 for 64GB and €260 for 128GB.

Kingston Win2Go drives: Windows To Go Drives | Kingston Technology

Kari

Thank you so much for your reply. I just want to clarify with the "real certified" Windows to Go. I can have an encrypted bootable drive. The drive will be use for work, data encryption will be the first priority. We are handing out company laptops and remote access our main office. If we could just hand out USB drive and able to boot from any computer, may be it is more convenience.

Yes, BitLocker works without issues on Win2Go drives.

Kari said:

Yes, BitLocker works without issues on Win2Go drives.

Click to expand...

I concur. Mine works great on a certified USB with BitLocker protection as well.

Thank you so much

You're welcome. Glad we could help.