Windows 10: Windows 10 Retail USB Drive

I modify mine, the ones I make myself. I add OEM info, auto enter the product codes, etc. I do up a custom drive for each of my PC's. I wouldn't mind having one of those read only Microsoft thumb drives for install on other PC's. Ones that may have malware etc on them. I'm not spending $120 to get one though. I have MSDN so I don't need another Windows 10 license.

 

Get a USB to SD card adapter. Write the Windows install files to an SD card and the SD card has a write-protect slide switch. Use the SD card in combination with the USB to SD card adapter and it is write protected.

 

I have one setup like that. It has enterprise on it at the moment. I keep it with my laptop. I may repurpose it at some point.

 

Can you boot from it?

 

you can create a VHD on it

 

Yes, I can. I create the SD card the same way I do my thumb drives, with diskpart. My laptop won't boot from the SD card in it's built in card reader but will boot from it when its in the USB adapter. It's limitation of the laptops BIOS.

 

Where can I purchase a USB flash drive with write protect switch so I can also write protect the Windows 10 Recovery Drive to have the same protection as the original Microsoft Windows 10 USB drive?

 

http://www.amazon.com/Netac-Write-Pr.../dp/B00S83A8UI

 

Why is there a hidden file named 83561421-11f5-4e09-8a59-933aks71366.ini on the root directory of the Retail Windows 10 USB drive with a modified date of Saturday, ‎November ‎20, ‎1982, ‏‎10:30:32 AM with its contents as {"VolumeLabel":"J_CCSA_MULFRER_EN-US_USB","MakeBootable":true,"Signature":"(C)*MICROSOFT CORPORATION, ONE MICROSOFT WAY, REDMOND WA 98052, (425) 882-8080 Microsoft USB Tool 1.0 (01/21/2015 TM)"}? The Retail Windows 10 USB drive contains install.wim file in the source folder but the download version using the Media Creation Tool contains install.esd instead of install.wim. Why does the download version use install.esd even though the boxed version uses install.wim? There is no hidden file on the root directory of the download version, only on the boxed version.

 

Maybe call the phone number and ask them?

 

Does activating the retail purchased Windows 10 product key automatically generate a digital entitlement for that PC and make the product key redundant the next time I reinstall Windows 10 on the same PC?

 

Try doing a clean install and skip entering the product key. See if Windows 10 activates itself. If it doesn't activate itself, then you just enter the retail product key on the activation screen.

 

Windows 10 was activated even when skipping product key but I have already upgraded from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 on that PC while waiting for the Windows 10 USB purchase to arrive through UPS.

 

Then I guess you won't know until you use the retail key.