The World According to Mitch

It happens twice every year… Microsoft releases a new version of Windows 10.  For most people, the new version will be installed for them automatically by whatever method they use for patch management… either Windows Update, or any of myriad enterprise deployment tools their organization uses to manage desktop operating systems.

Unfortunately, due to a Windows update limitation that I have never quite understood, for me it means that I will be redeploying my operating system from scratch twice per year.

While Windows works fine when installed on a USB key, you cannot do a major OS upgrade to it.  So, if you have Windows 10 Enterprise version 1903 (Spring 2019) on a USB key, despite newer versions being released (Autumn 2019 and Spring 2020), the USB installation would remain on v1903.

For the last couple of years, because I use a number of different hardware platforms, I have been maintaining a USB key installation of Windows (formerly known as Windows to Go) as my primary personal system.  I run it off a Spyrus Worksafe Pro 128GB, and I have never had an issue with it.  I love the portability of it, in addition to the speed, security, and reliability.  What I do not love is that if I want to stay current, I have to reinstall Windows every six months… from scratch.

I have to admit, the process of reinstalling Windows every six month (along with all of my applications) is a pain in the rear.  It is time consuming, and if I am not careful, it is easy to forget something.  Yes, all of my data is in the cloud… but there is always the possibility that things can get missed; you know, files on the desktop, whatever.

The process is a pain, but it is also cathartic.  It gives me the opportunity to start with a clean slate.  Older application versions will be removed, and the newer ones deployed in its place.  Applications I might have needed for a contract do not have to be reinstalled.  What was old is new again.  It truly feels like a spring cleaning of my desktop environment.

With modern technologies such as Windows Autopilot there are some great tools to make the process easier.  I don’t mind spending a bit of time refreshing the environment.  A couple of hours later, and things are as good as new.  Windows to Go may be gone, but mobile Windows is still the way I am going.  So if we cannot do major updates on Windows USB installations, I’ll go through it.  I’m just glad it’s not more often than every six months!