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Windows To Go

Windows To Go
Windows To Go USB Drive.png
A component of Microsoft Windows
A USB flash drive offered by Microsoft at the BUILD conference with Windows To Go pre-installed
Details
TypeLive USB
Included withWindows 8 Enterprise

Windows To Go is a feature in Windows 8 Enterprise that allows Windows 8 Enterprise to boot and run from mass storage devices such as USB flash drives and external hard disk drives.[1] It is a fully manageable corporate Windows 8 environment. Using Group Policy, Windows Store can be enabled for a Windows To Go workspace (limited to one PC) and Store apps can be used on that workspace.

It is intended to allow enterprise administrators to provide users with an imaged version of Windows 8 that reflects the corporate desktop and as such is aimed at enterprises. Creation of Windows To Go drives is not supported by other Windows 8 editions.[2] However, flash drives set up by Microsoft were distributed to those who attended their BUILD developer conference held in September 2011.

Contents

History

Portable Workspace Creator on Windows 8 build 7955

Before Windows 8, only embedded versions of Windows, such as Windows Embedded Standard 7, supported booting from USB storage devices.[3][4]

In April 2011, after the leak of Windows 8 build 7850,[5] some users noticed that those builds included a program called "Portable Workspace Creator", indicating it was intended to create bootable USB drives of Windows 8.[6][7]

In September 2011, Microsoft officially announced Windows To Go at the Build Conference, and distributed bootable 32GB USB flash drives with Windows To Go pre-installed.[8]

Safety and security features

As a safety measure designed to prevent data loss, Windows pauses the entire system if the USB drive is removed, and resumes operation immediately when the drive is inserted within 60 seconds of removal. If the drive is not inserted in that time-frame, the computer shuts down after those 60 seconds to prevent possible confidential or sensitive information being displayed on the screen or stored in RAM.[9] It is also possible to encrypt a Windows To Go drive using BitLocker.[10]

Technical details

According to Microsoft, a Windows To Go drive can be deployed, once created, with Windows tools such as Dism.[9]

The first time Windows To Go boots on a particular computer, it installs the drivers for that particular hardware and no reboot is required. Subsequent booting operations go straight into Windows 8.[9]

Hardware considerations

Windows To Go works both on USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 connections, and both on legacy BIOS and UEFI firmware.[11] Not just any USB drive can be used in this environment and Microsoft has set up specific testing requirements that the USB drive manufacturer must meet in order to be a supported device. Currently there are five USB Flash memory devices listed as supported by Microsoft for Windows To Go:[12][13][14]

  • Imation IronKey Workspace[15]
  • Kingston DataTraveler Workspace[16]
  • SPYRUS Portable Workplace[17][18]
  • SPYRUS Secure Portable Workplace (w/ Hardware Encryption)[19][20]
  • SuperTalent Express RC8[21]

When using a PC as a host, only hardware certified for use with either Windows 7 or Windows 8 operating systems will work well with Windows To Go. Computers running Windows RT or OS X are not supported.[12]

Licensing

At the announcement at BUILD, licensing details were not discussed,[22] but on 18 April 2012, Microsoft Windows To Go will be licensed by Software Assurance as with Windows To Go rights under Software Assurance, employees can use Windows To Go on any Windows Software Assurance licensed computer as well as their home PC. With a new companion device license from Software Assurance, employees will be able to use Windows To Go on their personal devices from work.[23]

Reception

Simon Bisson, writing for ZDNet called Windows To Go "One of the more interesting features of Windows 8", noting "Even though we were using a USB 2.0 port performance was good, with no noticeable lag" and calling it "a very useful way of running of Windows 8".[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gregg Keizer (2011-09-14). "Windows 8 will run from USB thumb drive". Computerworld. http://www.computerworld.com/s/articl e/9220004/Windows_8_will_run_from_USB _thumb_drive. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  2. ^ a b "Windows 8: Windows To Go". First Take (CBS Interactive). ZDNet UK. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2012. 
  3. ^ "Build a Bootable USB Image". MSDN. Microsoft. 13 June 2012. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libra ry/ff793778%28v=winembedded.60%29.asp x. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Bootable Windows USB Stack". MSDN. Microsoft. 13 June 2012. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libra ry/ff794931%28v=winembedded.60%29.asp x. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Windows 8 leaked, caught looking a lot like Windows 7". Engadget. http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/13/wi ndows-8-leaked-caught-looking-a-lot-l ike-windows-7/. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  6. ^ "Windows 8: Portable Workspace allows you to run Windows from a USB device". WinRumors. 2011-04-15. http://www.winrumors.com/windows-8-po rtable-workspace-allows-you-to-run-wi ndows-from-a-usb-device/. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  7. ^ "Windows 8 to feature USB-runnable Portable Workspaces, sales of 16GB thumb drives set to soar". Engadget. http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/15/wi ndows-8-to-feature-usb-runnable-porta ble-workspaces-sales-of/. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  8. ^ Take, First (2011-09-20). "Windows 8: Windows To Go | ZDNet UK". Zdnet.co.uk. http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blogs/zdnet-uk -first-take-10013312/windows-8-window s-to-go-10024384/. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  9. ^ a b c Bright, Peter (2011-09-18). "Making the lives of IT easier: Windows 8 Refresh, Reset, and Windows To Go". Arstechnica.com. http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news /2011/09/making-the-lives-of-it-easie r-windows-8-refresh-reset-and-windows -to-go.ars. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  10. ^ "Windows 8 Running on a USB – Windows To Go - Softpedia". News.softpedia.com. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Window s-8-Running-on-a-USB-Windows-To-Go-22 1470.shtml. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  11. ^ "Microsoft Demonstrates Windows To Go (Run Windows 8 From USB On Any PC)". Techie-buzz.com. http://techie-buzz.com/microsoft/wind ows-8-usb-to-go-demo.html. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
  12. ^ a b "Windows To Go: Feature Overview". http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/li brary/f82d1a0a-d8f7-4e8a-86a6-7041669 69a42#wtg_hardware. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  13. ^ "Super Talent Also Has a Windows To Go Certified Flash Drive". Softpedia.com. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Super- Talent-Also-Has-a-Windows-To-Go-Certi fied-Flash-Drive-287471.shtml. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  14. ^ "Imation’s IronKey Workspace Certified For Windows To Go". http://www.cdrlabs.com/News/imations- ironkey-workspace-certified-for-windo ws-to-go.html. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  15. ^ "IronKey Workspace for Windows To Go". imation.com. http://www.imation.com/en-US/Mobile-S ecurity/Mobile-Security-Products/Secu re-Mobile-Workspace/IronKey-Workspace /. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  16. ^ "Kingston Windows To Go". Kingston.com. http://legacy.kingston.com/wtg/. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  17. ^ "SPYRUS Portable Workplace for Windows To Go". Spyrus.com. http://www.spyruswtg.com. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  18. ^ "Windows Certified Products List - SPYRUS Portable Workplace for Windows To Go". http://sysdev.microsoft.com/en-US/Har dware/LPL/ProductDetails.aspx?Product ID=91372&OrganizationID=1011. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  19. ^ "SPYRUS Secure Portable Workplace for Windows To Go, the first hardware encrypting WTG drive". Spyrus.com. http://www.spyruswtg.com. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  20. ^ "Windows Certified Products List - SPYRUS Secure Portable Workplace for Windows To Go". http://sysdev.microsoft.com/en-US/Har dware/LPL/ProductDetails.aspx?Product ID=91372&OrganizationID=1011. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  21. ^ "SuperTalent Windows To Go". SuperTalent.com. http://www.supertalent.com/WTG/. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  22. ^ Mackie, Kurt (16 September 2011). "Windows 8 Will Run On Thumb Drive". Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine (1105 Media). Retrieved 3 September 2012. 
  23. ^ Visser, Erwin (18 April 2012). "Introducing Windows 8 Enterprise and Enhanced Software Assurance for Today’s Modern Workforce". Windows for your Business Blog. Microsoft. http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/ business/archive/2012/04/18/introduci ng-windows-8-enterprise-and-enhanced- software-assurance-for-today-s-modern -workforce.aspx. Retrieved 3 September 2012.

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