Installing Raspberry Pi OS on SD Card: A Step-by-Step Guide

Can I install Windows OS to a Raspberry Pi OS on SD Card?

When you're traveling all the time, carrying a lot of heavy electronics attached to it can quickly become obsolete. If you don't have the correct software installed on your device, you may encounter problems while using it. Now there are ways to make your job easier: you can build a compact Windows 10 or 11 system on an SD card or USB flash drive.

With this portable system, using desktop settings on any device is easy. Just plug in an SD card or USB flash drive. You can get back to work quickly without worrying about device compatibility or software installation problems. This way, whether you're in a coffee shop, a library or an airport check-in room, you can keep your personal settings, software, and work files.

When you use a portable operating system, your personal settings and operating details are stored on an SD card or USB flash, which makes your data safer. By not leaving public or secure devices, you not only keep your information safe, but you also lower the chance that your data will get out.

An SD card bootable software can help

You can use AOMEI Partition Assistant to load and run Windows 10 or 11 from an SD card. Windows 10 or 11 can be moved to an SD card and made bootable with this program. You can then use the SD card to install Windows 10 or 11 on other computers, even brand-new ones. Better than some other SD card usable software, it gives you two ways to make a Windows 10 or 11 SD card that you can take with you:

1. Make a bootable SD card with the system disc or ISO: This works great if you have a system installation disc or got the Windows 10 or 11 ISO files.

2. Make a bootable SD card with the present system. This way, you can move the OS partition (usually the C drive) to the SD card without using the system disc or a Windows 10/11 ISO file.

You can now get the Demo version and try it out for free.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

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Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Firstly, move Windows 10 or 11 on SD card/make SD card bootable. Now. Let’s get started. In the first step, please use AOMEI Partition Assistant to make a Windows 10 bootable SD card.

What you will need to do this:

◆Prepare a 32GB or 64GB SD card. Plug it into the proper card slot, located either directly on the PC’s console or via an SD card adapter attached to a USB port.

◆If there are vital files on the card, please back up the SD card beforehand because everything will be deleted during the process.

◆A Windows 10/11 installation disk, or .iso file equivalent (if you decide to create Windows to go with ISO).

◆Verify the motherboard you’re installing Windows 10/11 on supports booting from an SD card/removable storage drive.

1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Right-click “Tools” > “Windows To Go Creator”.

2. Choose “Create Windows ToGo for personal computer” and click “Next”.

PS.: If you want to run Windows 10 from SD card on Mac, you can choose the second option “Create Windows ToGo for Mac computer”.

3. Tick “Create Windows To Go with system disc/ISO”, choose the prepared ISO file and click “Next”.

4. Choose the inserted SD card and click “Proceed”.

If the Windows 10/11 ISO file is not available, you can use the second method to create Windows bootable SD card with current system.

Secondly, boot Windows 10 or 11 from SD card

Once done, you have moved Windows 10/11 operating system onto SD card. Now, take the below steps to load Windows 10 from the bootable SD card.

1. Connect the bootable SD card to the computer from which you want to boot Windows 10/11. Restart the PC and press a certain key or combination of keys when the splash screen with the manufacturer’s logo is displayed to enter BIOS. (The key differs in different brand computers, usually being F1/F2/F10/Delete/Esc.)

2. In the BIOS interface, use your arrow keys to access and enter all menus to go to the Boot Order/Boot Priority tab. It might be hidden under submenus.

3. Once you found the boot order menu, you can see the structure of your boot order, which determines which devices your computer will try to boot from first, second, etc. Use arrow keys to move the bootable SD card to the top to set it as your first boot device.

4. Press "F10" to save and exit BIOS.

To make a Windows 10/11 bootable SD card, you should keep in mind that SD card tends to be slow in data writing and reading speed. So it is more recommended to use a 3.0 USB drive or an SSD drive.

Conclusion

Creating a portable Windows OS on an SD card or USB flash drive offers flexibility and convenience for users who frequently travel or work in various locations. This method ensures that your personal settings, software, and files are always accessible, regardless of the device you use. Tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant facilitate the process, making it easy to create a bootable Windows system on an SD card. However, it’s important to consider the speed limitations of SD cards and opt for faster alternatives like USB 3.0 drives or SSDs when possible.

FAQs

1. Can I install Windows OS on any SD card?

   • No, you should use a 32GB or 64GB SD card. Ensure it’s properly formatted and backed up since the process will erase all existing data.

2. What tools can I use to create a bootable Windows SD card?

   • AOMEI Partition Assistant is a recommended tool. It allows you to create a bootable SD card from a system disc, ISO file, or your current system.

3. How do I boot Windows from an SD card?

   • Insert the bootable SD card, enter the BIOS setup during startup, and adjust the boot order to prioritize the SD card. Save and exit BIOS to boot from the SD card.

4. Are there any limitations to using an SD card for Windows?

   • Yes, SD cards generally have slower read and write speeds compared to USB 3.0 drives or SSDs. This can affect the performance of your portable Windows system.

5. Can I use the same bootable SD card on multiple computers?

   • Yes, as long as the computers support booting from an SD card or removable storage. This makes it a versatile option for working on different devices while maintaining your personalized settings and data.