This was posted 6 years 7 months 5 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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WinToUSB Professional 3.9 Free (Usually US $29.99) - Giveaway of The Day

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WinToUSB is the World's First and Best Windows To Go Creator which allows you to install and run a fully-functional Windows operating system on an external hard drive or a USB flash drive. It is so easy and efficient, with just a few simple steps and a few minutes, you can create your first portable Windows 10/8/7 directly from an ISO, WIM, ESD, SWM, VHD, VHDX image file or a CD/DVD drive, or you can use it to clone an existing Windows 10/8/7 OS installation to a USB drive as portable Windows.

WinToUSB also supports creating a Windows installation USB flash drive from a Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/2016/2012/2010/2008 installation ISO file, so you can install Windows from the USB flash drive easily.

There are three ways to install/clone Windows to an external hard drive or a USB flash drive as a Windows To Go Workspace:
- Image To USB: Create Windows To Go from an ISO/WIM/ESD/SWM/VHD/VHDX file
- CDROM To USB: Create Windows To Go from a CD/DVD drive
- Physical To USB: Clone current Windows OS to a USB drive as portable Windows

NB: Lifetime license (Serial Number: P9VAZATC-QGV8X3AE-M6T8DNT9-3RGLFS6U-P9JPTACT-7CDVPP7A)

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  • +10

    Also worth noting that if you have an "Enterprise" or "Education" version of Windows 8 or Windows 10 then this feature is built in by default, officially called "Windows to Go".

      • Isn't the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool only for creating OS installation media?

        • -1

          Yes for creating an .ISO file or directly creating the media onto a USB flash drive. But the program first has to download the installation media which is a drawback for those with a slow internet connection.

        • +8

          @hollykryten: That is a little different to the product that is on offer here. WinToUSB allows you to create a USB drive with a functional working OS, Not just the installation media.

        • @SwampCrack:

          Well that's pretty good.

    • Also worth noting windows to go can only be installed to to windows to go certified memory sticks which are very expensive. These certified sticks are tuned for performance and read/write durability.

  • +26

    or you can just use rufus?

    https://rufus.akeo.ie/

    • +1

      Is that a question?

      You can use rufus, but it has to be running on a win 8/8.1/10 machine. AFAIK the win to go feature of rufus isn't available on other platforms/versions.

      • +2

        if you're on any other platform just use etcher or https://github.com/slacka/WoeUSB, both free

      • Yes it is..
        Source: Me. Built a W10Pro To-Go external SSD using it.

    • I use rufus for creating a USB bootable disc for installs but wasn't sure you could use it as a portable windows not that I've tried.

    • +2

      An alternative, is the Windows USB/DVD Download Tool by Microsoft not exclusive for Windows 7 use, despite it's name.

    • No I think this is more a "live" USB type thing - IE, you don't install it from the USB, the actual OS runs completely on the USB with no installation required.

      That is me semi-assuming things based on how there are live ISOs of Linux OSes, so I'm assuming this is a similar thing.

      Of course unless I just missed that feature of Rufus…

  • +7

    I've always had a BARTPE bootdisk on USB back in the day as a tech and handed them out to all my guys for diagnostics. Needed a modern alternative. haha

    • Oh that brings back memories. You don't happen to have the bits and pieces of his MODBOOT project lying around, do you? He's taken them down off his site.

      • No I don't.. sorry.. I think I've still got the sources though for the compile of the PE CD/USB.

        • No, but that looks like a cool project too. Thanks for trying.

          Bart's MODBOOT was a DOS boot disk that you could expand by copying .cab files into special directories, and the boot scripts would handle unpacking them to a ramdrive, driver loading and all that sort of thing.

        • +1

          @endgame:
          Interesting, found one site with the modules still available.Seems to be a copy of the original site which has broken links now.

          http://severinterrier.free.fr/Boot/Modules.htm

          Is this what you were looking for?

        • @Buzzl1ght: Damn, your search-fu is strong. That's exactly it, except in French. I can guess enough from context, anyway. Time to get archivin'.

        • @endgame: Ha, I was using chrome, I didn't even notice it was in French. translated to English without noticing.

    • +2

      Google "Gandolf", thats all you need these days :P

      • +2

        "Gandalf"

        • +1

          Well there you go, might not get so far then.
          Add ISO to the search and it takes you right there.

  • "World's First" LOL!

    • +2

      World's First and Best

  • What are the limitations of using a Windows to go on a thumb drive as your main OS on different computers? Say for example you take it to school/work/uni etc to have a familiar computing experience as you do at home. Would that work? Do you need to access the boot menu/bios in order to boot to it? isnt the bios often locked down on corporate computers? Just curious as to how it works and if it’s worth the effort. Or is it’s main purpose more for diagnostics than general computing?
    How does being on a USB effect performance, I’m guessing it would be much better on usb3 than usb2?

    • You're correct.
      Most places you'd consider this useful wouldn't allow you to boot from USB in the first place, so no way will you being going to work and losing your own person os, or school, or anywhere public. The idea sounds better than the real practical use of it. There's a reason this is typically an Enterprise solution.

      As for performance, that all depends on what you install it on. I wouldn't go down to officeworks and buy the cheapest 64gb+ USB and expect good results. No reason a portable hdd wouldn't be fine.

      • +2

        The best scenario to keep one at home is when you have a machine that has a corrupted (or malware infested) Windows 10 install or even the backup hidden partition but still want to get your data off it. Assuming the hard drive isn't encrypted, you can boot up over USB and copy the data to USB before you reformat and reinstall.
        IMO, this should be a must for almost everyone out there trying to recover stuff when their PC won't boot up anymore due to Windows not working correctly on it.

        • While I agree that it's useful, this is perhaps an overkill method to do so. Pretty sure a simple recovery disk option will allow you to boot into a separate safe mode to obtain files and such in the evening Windows won't load period.

          Though I guess that, for free, this is possibly a simpler method for some.

      • I used this on a 64GB USB3 stick on a work laptop once with Win10…. ran like a bag of shit.

        • The random read/write latency is the biggest limiting factor. You may get better results with an external SSD than a standard USB 3 stick.

        • +1

          @Detective Pikachu: Yeah you're probably right. I had a USB stick lying around and thought I'd try it out for a laugh.
          I would recommend against anyone going out buying a stick solely for this purpose is all.

  • Can someone explain how this helps one in everyday pc situations?

    • -5

      It probably useless for those who already have a Windows Vista, 7, 8 or 10 .ISO file to use.

      With the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool it tends to want to download the installation media every time that it's used which on a slow internet connection can take ages to do.

      • +1

        That is not what the software is for.
        It allows you to install a windows installation onto a usb drive and allows UEFI boot.
        It works well.

        • It's also for creating a Windows installation media USB flash drive if that's what you need to do. And i quote.

          "WinToUSB also supports creating a Windows installation USB flash drive from a Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/2016/2012/2010/2008 installation ISO file, so you can install Windows from the USB flash drive easily."

          So i was correct it is useful for those who want to create a Windows installation media on a USB flash drive from a Windows .ISO file. And i got neg voted for that for saying a factual thing.

        • What I'm struggling to understand is why would a normal user want to do this? I can see why it might be nice to carry my PC with me, with email, antivirus and other settings all set up for when I want to use a PC away from home without worrying about leaving settings or files behind. However, if I understand the comments above, this isn't usually possible.
          As an everyday user, who sends emails, edits Microsoft Office documents and browses Ozbargain looking for deals, is there a situation where i might want to 'UEFI boot'?

          PS I have no idea what uefi means, but am about to google it.

          EDIT - just did. Apparently its different from BIOS and enables a software platform, … jargon, jargon, blah, blah, blah, technical mumbo jumbo, ….
          I'm guessing this isn't a deal I need or need to worry about missing out on.

        • +1

          @newdad:
          Just consider it Windows in your pocket, that you can load up anywhere that allows you to boot from USB.

          Admittedly for most users, outside of having a working Windows to fix a non working Windows, this isn't too useful.

          Some of the other features this program has can be useful for non computer savvy people - though the program Rufus is probably as simple as this for the only other real use, and is much smaller…

          … I can't think of a good use outside of retrieving files from a HDD when Windows fails to load, and you don't know how to use a live Linux distro

      • It should have said this. Was a typo.

        "It probably useful for those who already have a Windows Vista, 7, 8 or 10 .ISO file to use."

    • +3

      You know those times when your computer is not working properly - Windows doesn't boot up properly, got hacked or got virused so much you cannot access anything anymore? Or simply trying to diagnose which part of the computer has a problem? Making Windows on USB allows you to boot up using a USB stick instead of the Hard drive/SSD. You should be able to access your hard disk assuming you don't do anything funky with it (encrypt) and being able to recover those files onto USB.

  • Ty

  • Anyone have a direct download link?

  • +1

    Setup.exe came up as a virus

    • +1

      Download the program from the link direct from the the app maker which i just posted up above. The file name is WinToUSB_Free.exe which should be virus free.

  • -7

    lol. why so much useless shitware on the front page of ozbargain these days?

  • +3

    Now all I need it to be able to have ONE usb with Hiren's, Barts and bootable Windows with a menu to load them when it boots!

      • Awwwwwww yes, thank you, looks perfect! Fallen out of IT support these last few years and sick of having bits and pieces and different USBs scattered around and can't find them all for the few things I do.

      • Any experience with how this compares to SARDU?

        • No experience with SARDU, looks similar to YUMI, but YUMI is totally free. SARDU has free and Pro versions.

    • +1

      And what about if you want to play one of those new modern Windows games which requires Steam, Origin or uPlay. Which pretty much would be most Ozbargainers have in mind. And what about the fact that Linux doesn't support 100% of the modern computer hardware and peripherals for for example Windows 10 does.

      • +2

        Not to mention the amount of time and effort constantly updating and fixing and finding workaround for things on Linux. Forget it. Some things are worth paying for 'just works' convenience.

        • Agree. Plenty of times I've seen s Linux feature that I thought "looks good, I'll try it" just to find it destroys my build because it's not compatible with one of the parts I have.

          Then I get to restart from scratch! Step one - get WiFi to work so I can access the internet.

      • Steam

        Runs native on Linux

        Origin or uPlay.

        wine

        And what about the fact that Linux doesn't support 100% of the modern computer hardware and peripherals

        Never had an issue with this (but maybe if you have a printer). And as a bonus, you get AMD drivers built-in to the kernel.

        There's also a lot more malware, there's the windows 10 telemetry, forced updates, etc.

        That said, using windows is definitely the ozbargain way, provided it's discounted.

        • Wine is an emulator program. It's not the same thing as Windows itself. No game will run as good through a Windows emulation on Linux than it does on native Windows.

          Try running Battlefield 1 on Wine through Linux and see how it runs. I guess it won't run too hot shot.

        • +1

          @hollykryten: Wine Is Not an Emulator. It's a compatibility layer.
          And actually, CEMU (the wii U emulator for windows) runs FASTER on linux if you have an AMD GPU.

        • -1

          @idonotknowwhy:

          Call you what you want a compatibility layer. It's still running a game designed for the Windows operating system through a third party operating system. I don't think it will run the game as good as it does on the native Windows operating system in which it was designed to run.

        • +1

          @hollykryten: Only in the same way that your 'emulating' when you run a 32-bit program on 64-bit windows.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatibility_layer

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emulator

          ie, there's a very minimal performance hit if any, and in some cases, apps/games run faster in wine than on windows.

          Another advantage is preservation. When I ran windows, I was hoping wine would get ported over, to make it easier to run legacy windows software which linux users had no problems running under wine.

    • -2

      But only windows users get to take advantage of shitware deals like this, and that defrag program from a few months ago lol

  • Do NOT use the WinToUSB setup.exe file in the zip file you download from the link in sent email. This program appears to have at least one known virus.

    Do use the License Code in the same zip file. Use this license code with the trial WinToUSB you can download direct from the WinToUSB home page (also v3.9). This will give you a Machine Code which when entered in the WinToUSB website will give you a Activation Code that works.

    • +2

      So every one who's downloading and installing it and not bothering to use an anti malware program are getting their computers infected. That's great.

      • I use Windows 7 defender and it doesn't capture it as a virus… interesting, perhaps worth installing malwarebytes now…

  • thanks

  • +1

    Key has been disabled.

    • Which Key has been disabled ??

      The one listed in the OP post >>NB: Lifetime license (Serial Number: P9VAZATC-QGV8X3AE-M6T8DNT9-3RGLFS6U-P9JPTACT-7CDVPP7A) ??

      Did you try activating and blocking the app in the firewall so it cannot call home ??

      • Yea not working anymore. :(

        • @Andy99:

          Well this is Giveaway of the Day. Where the ability to get the program activated only works for a day and then becomes disabled. Such as if you try to online activate after the daily giveaway then you can't.

          And then even if you get it activated during the giveaway period and after it's over it's basically a full version trial up until you uninstall the program. Then no more Professional version and back to the Free version.

  • +2

    Above product key has been disabled. Not working anymore.

    • +1

      No more ability to activate the program. Or even if you have activated it during the period then no more ability to reactivate it if you need to reinstall the program. So too bad if you need to clean wipe the hard drive if a nasty virus has wrecked the Windows installation.

      This is how these giveaways on Giveaway of the Day operate. Want unrestricted lasting activations and reactivation then you need to purchase the program. Otherwise this is just like a full version trial.

      • Just had a thought - bit late tho. You could install an infrequently used program like this inside a virtual machine, as the image is portable to any new computer…

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