Choose SSD for quicker setup compared to USB thumb drive.
Choose SSD for quicker setup compared to USB thumb drive.
You can use an SSD as a bootable media with Windows installation files to speed up the process compared to a USB drive. Since you already have a compatible adapter cable, you won’t need extra storage cases. Yes, it’s possible to create a bootable SSD and install Windows on it just like using the free Windows download tool for USB/DVDs. The main differences are the slower NAND flash and controller, but many users have successfully done this. No one has mentioned it in popular forums or stores yet. Let me know if you need help with the setup steps!
I set up Windows on various machines using a USB 3.0 external HDD. I don’t rely on any software to create a bootable image; I just use the Windows command prompt. Instructions – Move the Windows ISO to root. x: cd/boot bootsect x: The external HDD is now ready to boot. This should work with your external SSD as well.
I set up a 64-bit Windows 8.1 on a 60GB Mushkin Chronos deluxe SSD connected via Gen 3 SATA SSD to a Samsung 850 EVO 500GB SATA SSD. The process ran smoothly, taking about three and a half minutes including the reboot. The performance during setup matched the speed of the same SSD doing the job.
This task seems pointless. Connecting via USB 3.0 to a SATA III SSD feels unnecessarily fast. In reality, it probably takes more time than everyday activities like shaving, brushing teeth, making toast, tying shoes, or checking tire pressure.
The point is a faster Windows installation. I"ve literally sat down and hand-timed it. the ssd WAS around twice as fast as my 32GB usb 3.0 sandisk ultra thumb drive. I'm thinking this is due to the much faster 4k read speeds from the callisto deluxe that comes closer to matching the 4k write speeds of my sata gen III samsung 850 evo 500GB ssd. Think about it and see it real time for yourself. ANY time you're transferring/copying a ( do this test using a big file like a bluray movie for example) big file from one storage drive to another, quickly open up Task Manager in Windows and carefully look at the drive's WRITE speed, the one that is is RECEIVING the file, and the READ speed of the drive from which the file is coming FROM. You'll see what I mean. Yes, system image backups have saved my bacon many times and save me tons of time, but it's nice to know IF I must nuke the o.s. installed storage drive and start all over fresh, I can do it MUCH faster than before. So there is plenty of point to this exercise. Until you find yourself needing to get your pc back up and a system image restoration ISN'T an option, you'll then realize how valuable it can be. Cheers