The WinOps Blog

I tested windows to go for windows 8.

Brainstorming...

I) Using RMPREPUSB that is working with ALL Usb Key:
The source of this part is: http://www.pcastuces.com/pratique/windows/8/windows_to_go/page4.htm :

1) download here: https://www.rmprepusb.com/documents/release-2-0/Install_RMPrepUSB_Full_v2.1.730B_pwd_is_rmprep.zip?attredirects=0&d=1
(* password zip = rmprep) and install it.
2) Plug in your USB Key. Attention: all its content will be erased. So make sure you save your content if you need it.
3) Start RMPrepUSB by double clicking its shortcut on the desktop. Click Open.
4) Your USB flash drive is detected. Select it.
5) In the File System and Limitations frame, select the NTFS option.
6) Select the Boot as HDD check box (C: 2PTNS).
7) Click Format Media (* "Formater le support").
8) Confirm the operation by clicking OK twice.
9) Finally, click Exit when the command window closes (* click on "Quitter").

blablabla...

II) or use this deployment script:

deploy.cmd
[
param($winsource,$winsourcetogo,$toolstogo="C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64")

[int]$taille=($ligne.split("GiB")(0)).split(" - ")(1)
if($taille -lt 16){[int]$drive = ($ligne.split(" - ")(0)).split("DRIVE ")(1)

$cmd = "C:\Program Files\RMPrepUSB\RMPREPUSB.exe" drive=$drive WINPE NTFS 2PTN VOLUME=W8TOGO
$cmdi = "C:\Program Files\RMPrepUSB\RMPARTUSB.exe" DRIVE=$drive GETDRV

$wintogo=$env:USBDRIVELETTER

function DEPLOY{
imagex /apply install.wim 1 $wintogo
C:\Windows\System32\bcdboot $wintogo\Windows /s $wintogo
}

function PAUSE ($Message="Press any key to continue...")
{
Write-Host -NoNewLine $Message
$null = $Host.UI.RawUI.ReadKey("NoEcho,IncludeKeyDown")
Write-Host ""
}

IF ($winsourcetogo\W8togo\imagex.exe){DEPLOY}

md $winsourcetogo\W8togo
PAUSE("PLEASE DEPLOY WAIK")
copy "$winsource\sources\install.wim" $winsourcetogo\W8togo
copy "$toolstogo\imagex.exe" $winsourcetogo\W8togo

usage:
- winsource is the drive of Windows (7/8/8.1) installation sources are
- winsourcetogo is the folder you create as repository for windows deployment sources (or where you download this sources: deploysources (upload in progess))
- wintogo is the drive of the windows to go installation destination (vhd, or usb)

.\deploy.ps1 $winsource:<winsource letter> $winsourcetogo:<winsourcetogo letter>

####
Really the process is quit simple, it is just a wim deploy on drive with bcdboot on that drive.
And windows do the rest of the deployment

just a few thing:
if you want to not have to write the windows key.
do it before deploy:

if you deploy windows 7, use this:
Dism /Image:$winsourcetogo\install /Set-ProductKey:12345-67890-12345-67890-12345

if you deploy windows 8.x, use this:
Dism /Image:$winsourcetogo\install /ProductKey:12345-67890-12345-67890-12345

so you can use this deploy.cmd:

[
$winsource=%1:
$winsourcetogo=%2:
$wintogo=%3:
$toolstogo="C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\amd64"
$Producttype=%4

IF EXIST $winsourcetogo\W8togo\imagex.exe GOTO :DEPLOY
md $winsourcetogo\W8togo
ECHO PLEASE DEPLOY WAIK
PAUSE
copy "$winsource\windows8_togo\Win8.1&Wmc August (x64)\sources\install.wim" $winsourcetogo\W8togo
copy "$toolstogo\imagex.exe" $winsourcetogo\W8togo
cd /d $winsourcetogo\W8togo

:DEPLOY
imagex /apply install.wim 1 $wintogo
C:\Windows\System32\bcdboot $wintogo\Windows /s $wintogo
goto ProductKey

:ProductKey
md $winsourcetogo\install
DISM /Mount-Wim /WimFile:$winsourcetogo\install.wim /Index:1 /MountDir:$winsourcetogo\install

IF %Producttype%==7 GOTO :WIN7
GOTO :WIN8

:WIN7
Dism /Image:$winsourcetogo\install /Set-ProductKey:12345-67890-12345-67890-12345}
GOTO :END

:WIN8
Dism /Image:$winsourcetogo\install /ProductKey:12345-67890-12345-67890-12345
GOTO :END

:END
Dism /Unmount-Wim /MountDir:$winsourcetogo\install /Commit
EXIT

]

deploy.cmd <winsource letter> <winsourcetogo letter> <7 or 8>

i write it directly but not tested in the batch
it is working manually
enjoy ;)

N.B: i am not sure of the product key installation, if some one want to correct i am ok with it ;)

some voluntarily inserts mistakes into their codes. Me, I prefer to give my code and tell if I have not tested. If not, what's the point of tired to blog??
... to be continued

BONUS:
Windows 8 Answer File Generator for x86 and x64 processors
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B44X_H05wMHFMjVZMWdRcm5BLVE

and another interesting tool:
http://www.easy2boot.com/download/xmltoe2b/