Upgrade Windows 8 Installed on a USB drive

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8 Release Preview, 7 Home Premium
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS K53SJ Notebook
    CPU
    CPU @ 2.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2310M Processor
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, 2 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 8 G SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 520M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 16:9 HD (1366x768) LED Backlight
    Hard Drives
    500GB 5400rpm/7200rpm
    Case
    Aluminum Blue
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    HP 2.4 GHz Wireless Optical Mobile Mouse
    Other Info
    Qualcomm Atheros AR9002WB-1NG Wireless Network Adapter
    Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
    Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
    Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
It's a lengthy process, I know, I've done it. It takes about an hour and a half for the install itself and some prep time before hand. The above links should work for you.

Honestly though, using a USB 2.0 flash drive or hard drive can suffice for light tasks, but not so great when dealing with constant program installation or saving HUGE files to it.

I haven't tried using a USB 3.0 flash drive yet, but I would think that should be faster since the flash can run faster than a USB 2.0 built flash.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I also want to mention that from my experience, boot time actually doesn't take that long. It's about the same boot time as a normal hard drive system with USB 2.0.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Thank you, both! I've managed pretty quickly to install it, but I don't have the consumer release and was wondering whether I could somehow update this one without doing a clean install.

Is it possible?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Thank you, both! I've managed pretty quickly to install it, but I don't have the consumer release and was wondering whether I could somehow update this one without doing a clean install.

Is it possible?

Better to download this one http://www.eightforums.com/windows-8-news/6511-windows-8-release-preview-released.html, and you need to make a clean installation to avoid error from Win7 OS or you might get errors along the way you use Win8 OS. Follow this link http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html to have a smooth set up. :thumb:

Inform us once done. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8 Release Preview, 7 Home Premium
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS K53SJ Notebook
    CPU
    CPU @ 2.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2310M Processor
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, 2 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 8 G SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 520M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 16:9 HD (1366x768) LED Backlight
    Hard Drives
    500GB 5400rpm/7200rpm
    Case
    Aluminum Blue
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    HP 2.4 GHz Wireless Optical Mobile Mouse
    Other Info
    Qualcomm Atheros AR9002WB-1NG Wireless Network Adapter
    Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
    Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
    Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8 Release Preview, 7 Home Premium
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS K53SJ Notebook
    CPU
    CPU @ 2.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2310M Processor
    Memory
    DDR3 1333 MHz SDRAM, 2 x SO-DIMM socket for expansion up to 8 G SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 520M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" 16:9 HD (1366x768) LED Backlight
    Hard Drives
    500GB 5400rpm/7200rpm
    Case
    Aluminum Blue
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    HP 2.4 GHz Wireless Optical Mobile Mouse
    Other Info
    Qualcomm Atheros AR9002WB-1NG Wireless Network Adapter
    Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
    Microsoft Wi-Fi Direct Virtual Adapter
    Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
Hmmm. For each new Win8 release, the installer hasn't presented "upgrade install" as an option (to go from Developer Preview to Customer Preview, or from CP to Release Preview). I've been FORCED to do a re-install each time (though it does preserve the Windows directory as "Windows.old" as per earlier installer behavior), I've yet to see options for saving settings, preferences, or applications. Am I missing something?

--Ed--
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    White box
    CPU
    i7 2600K
    Motherboard
    GA Z77X-UD3H
    Memory
    32 GB F3-10666
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTX-750 Ti
    Sound Card
    Real-Tek HD Audio (mobo)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Dell 2707 WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1980 x 1020
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Vertex 4 256 GB
    2x Jmicron RaidO 2xEVO256 GB
    2xToshiba 3GB drives
    Other drives as needed
    PSU
    SeaSonic 650W 80-Plus Gold
    Case
    Antec Nine Hundred Two
    Cooling
    1 x 200 mm top fan, 6 x Nexus 120 mm fans
    Keyboard
    MS Comfort Curve 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech M325
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps and up (Road Runner Turbo Internet)
    Browser
    IE 11, Chrome, Firefox, Safari
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
    Other Info
    Asus Blu-ray Optical Player
    Axiom Audio amp/sub/speakers (2.1)
    APC 1500W UPS
Ed, there are apparently several different ways to install Windows 8.

Apart from directly from the internet from the Microsoft site for the Windows 8 Release Preview Setup
Download Windows 8 Release Preview

As an Upgrade:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2234-upgrade-install-windows-7-vista-windows-8-a.html

In this installation, setup is run from within Windows 7 (or 8) using an Iso file from the above Microsoft page.

For a clean install, booting from the same install media on bootable DVD or USB is required:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

Another way does not require the setup file at all. - The way I do it now is to use Dism.exe, but before I used Imagex.exe to unpack the install.wim directly to the partitioned and formatted target drive or virtual hard disk.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...tup-usb-flash-drive-usb-disk-6.html#post98278

It has the benefit of being quick, and can also be used to install Windows 8 to USB external disks and Thumb drives for portable installations.

I never upgrade - waste of a good system - or if it is not good, better to start from scratch!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP COMPAQ Presario CQ57
    CPU
    AMD E- 300 APU with Radion HD Graphics 1.30GHz
    Motherboard
    inbuilt
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    notebook
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST9500325AS
    Google drive 15GB
    Skydrive 25GB
    BT Cloud
    PSU
    external 20v
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    pretty good
    Keyboard
    inbuilt
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity Unlimited - 80 up 20 down =70/16 really
    Browser
    Chrome Canary usually
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    no Start menu modifications
    Upgraded with no issues to 8.0 and to 8.1
Dear Fafhrd:

Thanks! I didn't realize you could run an in-place upgrade from one preview version of Win8 to another. Great info. I totally get the clean install and Windows 8 to Go stuff. And FWIW, I agree with your views on upgrade. Much prefer clean install myself, for all kinds of reasons.

Now for the important question: Did your handle come from Fritz Leiber's immortal tales of you-know-who and the Grey Mouser? Some of my very favorite fantasy fabula!

Best wishes,
--Ed--
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    White box
    CPU
    i7 2600K
    Motherboard
    GA Z77X-UD3H
    Memory
    32 GB F3-10666
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTX-750 Ti
    Sound Card
    Real-Tek HD Audio (mobo)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Dell 2707 WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1980 x 1020
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Vertex 4 256 GB
    2x Jmicron RaidO 2xEVO256 GB
    2xToshiba 3GB drives
    Other drives as needed
    PSU
    SeaSonic 650W 80-Plus Gold
    Case
    Antec Nine Hundred Two
    Cooling
    1 x 200 mm top fan, 6 x Nexus 120 mm fans
    Keyboard
    MS Comfort Curve 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech M325
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps and up (Road Runner Turbo Internet)
    Browser
    IE 11, Chrome, Firefox, Safari
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
    Other Info
    Asus Blu-ray Optical Player
    Axiom Audio amp/sub/speakers (2.1)
    APC 1500W UPS
Hi Ed - The information on this forum is amazing - thanks to a fantastic team of Mods and contributors - hope you stay around for a good time.

And yes, Fritz Leiber's immortal tales indeed. But it's amusing to see the variants on the replies in this forum - my all-time favourite is Fathed!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP COMPAQ Presario CQ57
    CPU
    AMD E- 300 APU with Radion HD Graphics 1.30GHz
    Motherboard
    inbuilt
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI
    Sound Card
    High Definition Audio on-board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    notebook
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST9500325AS
    Google drive 15GB
    Skydrive 25GB
    BT Cloud
    PSU
    external 20v
    Case
    Laptop
    Cooling
    pretty good
    Keyboard
    inbuilt
    Mouse
    touchpad
    Internet Speed
    BT Infinity Unlimited - 80 up 20 down =70/16 really
    Browser
    Chrome Canary usually
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    no Start menu modifications
    Upgraded with no issues to 8.0 and to 8.1
Dear Fafhrd:

Thanks for the clarification. AFAIK, this doesn't migrate apps, though I think you can do some fiddling to move settings and preferences from Windows.old to the new runtime environment. I agree that this kind of upgrade is seldom worth doing, and like you, generally go for a clean install as a matter of principle. But it's important for me to understand what's possible, even if it isn't always the kind of approach or solution I might prefer. So thanks for helping me to understand that "upgrade" has many shades of meaning.

Best wishes,
--Ed--
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    White box
    CPU
    i7 2600K
    Motherboard
    GA Z77X-UD3H
    Memory
    32 GB F3-10666
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTX-750 Ti
    Sound Card
    Real-Tek HD Audio (mobo)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Dell 2707 WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1980 x 1020
    Hard Drives
    OCZ Vertex 4 256 GB
    2x Jmicron RaidO 2xEVO256 GB
    2xToshiba 3GB drives
    Other drives as needed
    PSU
    SeaSonic 650W 80-Plus Gold
    Case
    Antec Nine Hundred Two
    Cooling
    1 x 200 mm top fan, 6 x Nexus 120 mm fans
    Keyboard
    MS Comfort Curve 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech M325
    Internet Speed
    100 Mbps and up (Road Runner Turbo Internet)
    Browser
    IE 11, Chrome, Firefox, Safari
    Antivirus
    NIS 2015
    Other Info
    Asus Blu-ray Optical Player
    Axiom Audio amp/sub/speakers (2.1)
    APC 1500W UPS
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