Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#1

Post by wilsonfiifi » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 2:23 PM UTC

Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files
github.com

Re: Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#2

Post by steelbrain » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 2:52 PM UTC

Love Ventoy! I never have to flash my USBs anymore. Just keep dropping those ISO files in there. Highly recommended.

Re: Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#3

Post by jonbiggums22 » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 2:54 PM UTC

Is it possible to boot a full windows install from this (probably using a VHD image)? I know it would be slow but it would be nice to have something with all my utilities.

Re: Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#4

Post by daeken » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 2:54 PM UTC

Ventoy is a lifesaver. I dropped a 2TB NVMe drive into a USB-C enclosure and put it on there, along with all the OS installers, distros, and test utilities I commonly use. Probably used it a few dozen times since then and it's well and truly paid for itself!

Re: Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#5

Post by mongrelion » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 2:55 PM UTC

I was going to ask how this would be better than any of the other options out there (like dd, the RPi imager and similar) but after seeing the README I consider this the superior alternative because you don't have to reflash the USB stick over and over again.

It supports multiple images at the same time, unlike the other solutions where one image take over the whole USB stick.

Love it.

Re: Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#6

Post by canistel » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 2:56 PM UTC

steelbrain wrote: post #2

Love Ventoy! I never have to flash my USBs anymore. Just keep dropping those ISO files in there. Highly recommended.

Same here. You can drop as many ISO files as you want and select during boot...

Re: Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#7

Post by fullstop » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 2:59 PM UTC

I really like the idea of this, but I've run into several installers which are just incompatible with it. I don't remember which ones, unfortunately, but they just didn't deal with it well.

Re: Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#8

Post by gunalx » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 2:59 PM UTC

This is real good also wfor installing win11, because it at least did the local user and requirements bypass patches last time i used it.

Re: Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#9

Post by gunalx » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 2:59 PM UTC

jonbiggums22 wrote: post #3

Is it possible to boot a full windows install from this (probably using a VHD image)? I know it would be slow but it would be nice to have something with all my utilities.

Should be doable yes.

Re: Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

#10

Post by finalarbiter » Thu, Oct 30, 2025, 3:02 PM UTC

fullstop wrote: post #7

I really like the idea of this, but I've run into several installers which are just incompatible with it. I don't remember which ones, unfortunately, but they just didn't deal with it well.

Agreed. I have also found that some (dirt cheap) USB drives are incompatible with Ventoy entirely, being that it does not format the drive properly. I can drop ISOs all I like, but if they don't boot once I select them... Unfortunately I have resorted to using my trusty "pile o' flash drives" I've had for a decade.