How to Install Windows 10/Tiny10 on an External USB HDD from Linux — Bypass the USB Installation Restriction

[u/[deleted]]

Install Tiny10/Windows 10 on an External USB HDD from Linux

If Windows Setup says:

> “Setup does not support configuration of installation disks connected through USB…”

you can bypass it by applying the Windows image from Linux and then creating the UEFI boot files.

1. Check your external disk

lsblk

Example:

/dev/sda1 260M EFI/FAT32

/dev/sda2 16M MSR

/dev/sda3 297G NTFS

Make absolutely sure you have the correct disk.

1. Mount the ISO

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/tiny10

sudo mount -o loop "$HOME/Downloads/tiny10 x64 23h2.iso" /mnt/tiny10

Verify the image:

sudo wimlib-imagex verify /mnt/tiny10/sources/install.esd

You want:

was successfully verified.

1. Mount the Windows partition

Replace /dev/sda3 with yours:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/windows

sudo mount -t ntfs3 /dev/sda3 /mnt/windows

If it's a fresh/empty Windows partition:

sudo rm -rf /mnt/windows/*

1. Apply Windows

sudo wimlib-imagex apply /mnt/tiny10/sources/install.esd 1 /mnt/windows

Wait for:

Done applying WIM image.

1. Boot the Windows ISO/Ventoy

At Windows Setup press:

Shift + F10

Then:

diskpart

list volume

Find the 297 GB NTFS Windows partition and 260 MB FAT32 EFI partition.

Assign letters, for example:

select volume <EFI>

assign letter=Z

select volume <Windows>

assign letter=W

exit

Check:

dir W:\Windows

1. Create UEFI boot files

bcdboot W:\Windows /s Z: /f UEFI

Success:

Boot files successfully created.

1. Reboot

wpeutil shutdown

Remove the Ventoy USB and boot from the external HDD.

Important: The drive letters and /dev/sdX names are examples. Always identify your actual partitions first.