Easily Boot Windows 11 from USB, fully contained inside a Virtual Hard Disk (VHDx) image file. The following process enables you to take a full installation of Windows 10 or 11 with you on a removable external bootable USB flash drive, and then run the operating system portably at any computer that can boot from USB. For this process, we will be using YUMI as our Windows media creation tool however, you could use Universal USB Installer in its place, if you prefer.
Running Windows 10 or 11 from USB
Shown above is the Phoenix LiteOS version of Windows 11 Pro Plus running entirely from a self contained dynamically expandable VHD Image file on the YUMI exFAT formatted flash thumb drive. Note that this will work for version 10 as well.
The resulting Windows 11 bootable USB install bypasses Microsoft Windows TPM, CPU, RAM, and storage requirements, so it should boot from most modern computers even if they don't meet those minimum requirements. The entire installation is stored within a dynamic .vhdx image file stored on an exFAT formatted USB device. This enables you to also store and boot other distributions and system tools while continuing to use your removable drive for traditional storage purposes.
Note that the process of running Windows 11 from USB is done completely for experimental, educational, and entertainment purposes only. You should not expect to be able to depend on this for your daily operating system... heck, one should be using Linux for that anyhow ;)
How to Make a Windows 11 Bootable USB
To make a Windows 10 or 11 bootable USB we will be using a streamlined, minimal and optimized build offered by Phoenix LiteOS Aka: Windows X-Lite. YUMI exFAT Windows media creation tool is used to automate the VHD file creation and ultimately make the Windows Bootable USB.
In the same fashion, you can also use this process to "Boot Windows 10 from USB" by using the appropriate LitOS or X-Lite ISO file. In fact you can have both on the same multiboot drive. Here are the steps to get started:
- First, download and run YUMI exFAT to make a Windows Bootable USB.
- (1.) Choose your USB flash drive from the list, and prepare the drive.
(2.) Select Phoenix LiteOS or X-Lite from the distribution drop list.
(download an X-Lite ISO).
(3.) Browse to and select your downloaded Phoenix LiteOS Windows 11 ISO file. - Optional: use the slider to set a larger VHDx file size (default is 30GB). Click Create.
- Once finished reboot your PC and Access BIOS to set your system to boot from USB.
- From the YUMI menu, navigate to the Windows On VHD option.
Next, select your Phoenix LiteOS Windows 11 vhdx file.
- If all goes well, your computer should now be preparing Windows for its first boot from the applied image. This can take some time, and your PC will restart once or twice before finally booting into Windows from the USB drive. When this happens, you'll be dropped back to the boot menu, so be prepared to select and boot from the file a couple of times.
There you have it, just one easy way to install and boot Windows 11 from USB or create a Windows 10 bootable USB. Enabling you to try out and use the Operating System while portably running it from a self contained VHDx (Dynamic Virtual Hard Disk) file on your removable drive. Fun to play with or could be useful during times when you need to use Microsoft Windows temporarily!
Note: You can use YUMI to add more ISO files to boot from your removable device. Or use it with an older Phoenix LiteOS version and USB Boot Windows 10, instead. It is a MultiSystem tool, so you aren't limited or stuck with just one bootable Windows USB. Check out the rest of the YUMI page to learn more.