Windows to go RTM via control panel rather than Manual method

jimbo45

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Hi there
I am a bit busy today so I won't have time to test this but has anybody tried creating a Windows to Go system from the RTM (official version) control panel and loaded it up on to a different machine.

I'm curious as to whether it preserves the Windows Enterprise Key supplied with your Windows Enterprise system or does it request activation - or finally is it not activated at all.

Does the system using the WAIK and the Manual method (see the Windows to Go tutorial in the Forum) react the same way too.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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I ran the Windows to go from the control panel on my Enterprise trial install. It would only let me select an Enterprise image (WIM). When I inserted my 8 Pro RP disk it listed the 8 and 8 Pro WIM's but wouldn't let me use them. It stated the only an enterprise image could be used. I have never tried making a Windows to go using the other method. I did boot up from the Windows to go drive on the PC I made it on just to see if it worked. I got though the first time use/customization screen to the desktop but that was as far as I got. I'm about to fire it up on this PC and see what happens. I'll post back in a little while.

EDIT: Posting this from Windows to go. I just booted from it on a different PC, my main daily user. Had to wait a bit on the Configuring Devices screen but finally got to the desktop and everything seems to work except my built in VIA sound card. I'm sure it would work if I installed the drivers manually. I had to too get it to work in the RP. Seeing as this is the enterprise Trial I don't think this helps you with your activation question. It shows activated but why wouldn't it, its a trial. Still I didn't think it would hurt to post some of my observations on the Windows to go install.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
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    Stock heatsink fan
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    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
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    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
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    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
How's the activation status?

I remember before it would tell me to activate Windows when it was on different hardware.
 

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
How's the activation status?

I remember before it would tell me to activate Windows when it was on different hardware.

????????


Mine never did - either on CP DP or RP versions (3 different versions) -- Windows to go fired up on at least 3 different computers with totally different sets of hardware -- just said at ist boot on a new computer -- Getting devices ready.

AFAIK NONE of the above base products EVER ASKED for activation in the FIRST PLACE anyway even when installed NATIVELY so I'm not sure where you got your info from.

Are you SURE you REALLY tried creating Windows to go using the Manual method in the excellent tutorial in the Forums.

(installed programs like office were another issue -- it asked for activation).

The only product that seemed to want activation was the "Unofficial" Leaked version of the RTM Enterprise -- and if you use "Unofficial Software" you cannot guarantee that it will work the same as the "Original" - unless you created it in the first place !!!!.

So my remark covers the Legally available versions DP, RP, CP and Enterprise RTM. Windows 8 PRO won't work as it's not an Enterprise version.


I'll try my current (activated) Enterprise version sometime this weekend and see what happens.

@alphanumeric -- try using the MANUAL method to create a Windows to go with your PRO WAIK image and see what happens.
It *Could* work as maybe the version check is only in the GUI and not in the underlying commands.

When you use the BOOT command you could even try running that command from the CP version if you still have it. I'm fairly sure that someway or other a W8 to go on the PRO system will work -- but not being a VL or MAK version I'm still sure you'll run into activation problems.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
My Windows to go showed Activated. I used the Enterprise Trial as the WIM image. I got the "Getting Devices Ready" screen also. I haven't installed any programs like office on it yet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
How's the activation status?

I remember before it would tell me to activate Windows when it was on different hardware.

????????


Mine never did - either on CP DP or RP versions (3 different versions) -- Windows to go fired up on at least 3 different computers with totally different sets of hardware -- just said at ist boot on a new computer -- Getting devices ready.

AFAIK NONE of the above base products EVER ASKED for activation in the FIRST PLACE anyway even when installed NATIVELY so I'm not sure where you got your info from.

Are you SURE you REALLY tried creating Windows to go using the Manual method in the excellent tutorial in the Forums.

(installed programs like office were another issue -- it asked for activation).

The only product that seemed to want activation was the "Unofficial" Leaked version of the RTM Enterprise -- and if you use "Unofficial Software" you cannot guarantee that it will work the same as the "Original" - unless you created it in the first place !!!!.

So my remark covers the Legally available versions DP, RP, CP and Enterprise RTM. Windows 8 PRO won't work as it's not an Enterprise version.


I'll try my current (activated) Enterprise version sometime this weekend and see what happens.

@alphanumeric -- try using the MANUAL method to create a Windows to go with your PRO WAIK image and see what happens.
It *Could* work as maybe the version check is only in the GUI and not in the underlying commands.

When you use the BOOT command you could even try running that command from the CP version if you still have it. I'm fairly sure that someway or other a W8 to go on the PRO system will work -- but not being a VL or MAK version I'm still sure you'll run into activation problems.

Cheers
jimbo
It didn't straight up ask to reactive or demand it, but when I went to PC Settings to change the Start Screen color, I remember on a particular machine I could, but sometimes I couldn't as it said needs to be activated. I think it might had been a network delay with Windows getting the system activated on different hardware or something.

I did do the manual method with the CP, RP, and RTM builds. The CP was the one that did that, as I haven't further tested out a To Go drive lately. But Office 2010 ran fine for me on different hardware.
 

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
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