WIN8: Correctly set up to use Windows to go

BYOD (self-contained) is a trend that employees use personal smartphones to access corporate e-mail and other corporate data. This new trend is a huge challenge for our SMEs.

In fact, the challenge of BYOD comes not just from smartphones. For a corporate team, it can also pose challenges if you have a remote office, a contractor, or a temporary employee. Because, rather than equipping telecommuting and temporary workers with corporate computers, many organizations would prefer to have these workers carry their own computers to work in the company. Regardless of whether it is used on site or remote connection, this approach can lead to huge it expenditures and poses serious security risks.

For companies caught in the BYOD dilemma, you can choose Windows to go in the Windows 8 system to address the challenges posed by BYOD. Simply put, windows to go allows the enterprise to create a personalized and closed copy of Windows 8 and put it on a USB drive, where employees can plug in a USB disk and use the secure and portable Enterprise Windows "Workspace" on their computers.

Windows to go software and hardware requirements

Given that you will often interact with other Microsoft products, Windows to go also has prerequisites and considerations for its operations, so here are some basic terms you need to know before you practice windows to go.

Windows 8 Enterprise Edition

Unfortunately, Windows 8 is not included in the Professional edition. It is only available in the Windows 8 Enterprise Edition, so you can't buy its boxed version, and you can't find it in the pre-installed version.

To get the Windows 8 Enterprise Edition, you can register for Microsoft's Software Assurance Volume Licensing program (which requires at least 5 pcs), or cloud-based Windows Intune PC Management and security services ($ 11 a month per PC). Once purchased, it can be automatically upgraded to Windows 8 Enterprise Edition as long as the PC is already running a professional or enterprise version of Windows 7/VISTA/XP. At the same time you can download a 90-day trial version of the trial.

Only supported USB 3.0 flash drives that are "certified"

Microsoft Windows to go only supports the "certified" USB 3.0 flash drive. There is only one supertalent USB drive that can be purchased on the market. But on October 26, 2012, Microsoft extended its support to Kingston and several other vendors ' products.

Figure 1: "Certified" USB 3.0 drive recommendation (only formal support) Windows to go

Also, part of the unauthenticated USB 3.0 drive will be compatible with Windows to go. To ensure adequate space for Windows applications and data, Microsoft recommends using at least GB USB drives.

Host must support U disk boot

Hosts that intend to use Windows to go must support U disk boot. Computers that have been produced in the last 5 years should be able to do this (Windows to go does not support Macs). In addition, there is no requirement for host system USB3.0 to support, but it is still the best choice.

Create a drive for Windows to go

To create your Windows to go USB drive, first insert the U disk into your PC with Windows 8 Enterprise Edition and make sure that the Windows 8 Enterprise DVD is in the drive. Press Windows key + W to search for system settings, and then type Windows to go, and then press ENTER to start the Workspace Wizard to create a Windows to go. Select the drive you want to use, and then click Next.

(Note: If the Next button is grayed out, you are using a drive that is incompatible with Windows to go.) Unfortunately, it is not entirely clear how Microsoft is determining the compatibility of drives. 4 USB 3.0 devices, two are not working, but the wizard does not indicate what makes the drive incompatible. )

The wizard then finds a mirrored file for Windows 8, which is the file name?? Is "Install.wim", located under the Sources folder of the Windows 8 Enterprise Edition DVD. (Note that this mirrored file contains a standard "instant-use" Windows 8 Enterprise Edition.) If you want to create a mirror with custom settings and applications, there are several ways you can implement it. Here is one of the methods. )

Figure 2: You will find a common image file for the Windows 8 operating system CD.

With some extra action, you can make the image file custom settings and software.

You must choose to use BitLocker encrypted Windows to go workspace (you can skip activating BitLocker), and then Windows 8 images will be created on the USB device. This process will also remove any existing data on the USB drive.

The wizard will complete the final selection for you, choosing a startup option for the computer you are using, not the Windows device itself. Now that you're probably using a device other than Windows to create to go, select No, and then click Save and Close.

Drive with Windows to go

In the shutdown state, insert a drive with Windows to go into the host. You can enter the BIOS to set the boot order for USB first, or you can call the boot menu on the power-on, then select "Boot from USB".

The first time a device that starts Windows to go will take a few minutes to configure the hardware and reboot after the configuration is complete. You will then be prompted to accept the personalized Windows Copy license Terms, connect to the network, and then close and run. In the next use you will feel that Windows 8 is running on the hard drive, but if the USB drive is unplugged it will be completely shut down.

To take full advantage of Windows to go, keep the following considerations in mind:

You must start from a device with Windows to go. If you insert a device while Windows is running, the operating system will not recognize it.

· Windows to go must be plugged directly into the USB port on the computer, not to a USB hub.

• Do not remove USB devices while the Windows to go Workspace is running. If you do this, the system freezes and waits 60 seconds until the device is plugged back in. If the drive is not reinserted or plugged into a different USB port, the system will shut down in 60 seconds. And even if you do it again within 60 seconds, you're still at risk of being compromised by the windows to go workspace.

• To keep a secure windows to go workspace, the USB device for Windows to go does not see the hard drive running on its host system. Therefore, you cannot repair your computer or recover files by using Windows to go.

• Although windows to go devices require the device to be USB 3.0, you can still create a workspace on a computer that has only USB 2.0 ports.

· Windows 8 in Windows to go can be a useful tool to help businesses cope with the BYOD phenomenon. You can also go to Microsoft TechNet to find out more details.