[SOLVED] Making Windows To Go bootable with Ventoy

[strongbad75]

Many thanks to meilon for posting about this solution.

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[Moderator note: quote edited; please, don't quote a long post in full just to add your observations.]

I have struggled with recent Windows to Go builds, until I found this commercial software: https://www.easyuefi.com/wintousb/

Thanks for the input, strongbad75.

I have no experience with WinToUSB but, although its WindowsToGo functionality appears to be free, contrary to Rufus it isn't free software...

Hi @Midas,
I just found the Rufus supports making Windows to Go bootable disks!  I have used it to make a 20H2 EDU version (you can choose any version...though I have only tried the EDU version).
I did need to shrink it to fit on my small USB ventoy drive, using hyper-v tools (have to add them as a feature to Windows 10 host system).

1. I made the WTG drive using Rufus 3.13
   
2. I used Disk2VHD from Microsoft to make a vhdx file
   
3. I shrank it with disk management
   
4. I then compacted it with HyperV tools (not sure this is necessary)
   
5. I then used Hyper-V tools to shrink it to make the volume smaller
   
6. I then used command line DISM to integrate storage and network drivers
   
7. I then copied to my ventoy drive, booted and setup WTG
   

I have booted this on two modern machines with great success (need to boot new machines twice, so lots of the new hardware is found)

References:
Article for Rufus process: https://www.uubyte.com/create-win-to-go-...rufus.html
Article for the compact/shrink process: https://www.enhansoft.com/how-to-compact...-vhd-file/