Ventoy: Multi-OS Possibilities

Hey guys! So, you’ve understood crafting of a live bootable USB for Tails OS from our last blog. But hold on, what if you’re that “explorer” wanting not just one, but two or maybe three operating systems running on a single pen drive? Well, here is the solution!

‘VENTOY’!

In today’s blog, we’re plunging into the universe of VENTOY?—?the fix for your multi-OS dreams. Let's see how to install VENTOY, its pros and cons, and key points you need to ensure a smooth and “effortless” installation. Get ready for some USB enchantment!

Ventoy is an open-source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files. It allows us to use multiple OS, like Linux or windows, on a single Bootable USB drive. It avoids the Hassel of repeatedly formatting and recreating bootable USB drives.

An ISO file, also referred to as an ISO image, serves as an exact duplicate of an optical disc, like a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray, consolidated into a single file format. This file encompasses all the original disc’s data, file system structure, and boot details. ISO files find common use in virtualization, boot processes, and facilitating data distribution.

On the other hand, an OVA (Open Virtual Appliance) file is a compact archive containing all the essential files to operate a virtual machine (VM) on any virtualization platform supporting the OVF standard. OVAs offer a streamlined method for bundling and sharing VMs, eliminating the need for manual transfer of multiple files.

Installation Steps:

1. Obtain a USB drive: You’ll need a USB drive with sufficient storage capacity to hold the ISO files of the operating systems you want to boot from. Ensure you have backed up any important data on the USB drive, as the installation process will erase all existing data.

2. Download Ventoy: Visit the official Ventoy website (https://www.ventoy.net/ ) and navigate to the “Downloads” section. Choose the appropriate version of Ventoy based on your operating system (e.g., Windows, Linux, MacOS). Download the required files.

3. Extract the Ventoy files: Once the download is complete, extract the contents of the Ventoy tool from the downloaded archive to a location on your USB.

4. Run the Ventoy installation script: Navigate to the location where you extracted the Ventoy files and find the installation script or executable for your operating system. Here taking X64.

On Windows: Run the “Ventoy2Disk.exe” file.

5. Confirm the USB drive selection: The Ventoy installation script will prompt you to confirm the selection of the USB drive. Ensure that you have chosen the correct USB drive, as the installation will erase all data on it.

6. Proceed with the installation: Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the Ventoy installation. The script will format the USB drive and install the necessary bootloader and files.

7. Installation complete: Once the installation is done, you will receive a notification indicating the successful installation of Ventoy on the USB drive.

8. Add ISO files: Copy the ISO files of the operating systems or tools you want to boot from into the USB drive. You can place each ISO file in its own folder, and Ventoy will detect and display them as bootable options when you start your computer from the USB drive.?

9. Now bootable USB with Ventoy is ready to use.

Points To Remember while following the?steps:

1. You need to have a compatible USB. The USB drive must be compatible with Ventoy for proper installation.

2. Repeatedly partition and format the pendrive because it was not being recognized. The USB drive may or may not detect sometimes so, it requires to perform partitioning and formatting multiple times.?

3. During installation, other files failed, but clicking on “vllink” generated a file named “ventoy2disk” in the “alttext” folder, allowing successful installation: While installing, certain files failed, but I was able to proceed by clicking on “vllink” and using the “ventoy2disk” file in the “alttext” folder. Follow this step only if you are having an issue with installation in first time.

4. Configuration is crucial, as it should be GPT and NTFS according to my laptop’s requirements: It is important to configure the USB drive with GPT partition style and NTFS file system to match the requirements of laptop.

Advantages:

1. Multi-boot Convenience: Ventoy allows you to create a single USB drive capable of booting multiple operating systems or tools, providing convenience and flexibility.

2. Easy to Use: Ventoy simplifies the process of creating a bootable USB drive, requiring no formatting or partitioning, making it user-friendly.

3. Preserves Existing Data: Ventoy does not require modifying or repartitioning the USB drive, allowing you to preserve existing data on the drive.

4. Compatibility: Ventoy is compatible with both BIOS and UEFI boot modes, making it suitable for a wide range of computers and devices.

5. Time-Saving: With Ventoy, you can save time by having all your preferred operating systems or tools readily available on a single USB drive, eliminating the need for multiple drives or frequent setups.

Disadvantages:

1. Limited Persistence: By default, Ventoy does not provide built-in persistence, meaning any changes made during a session will be lost upon reboot. Enabling persistence requires additional configurations.

2. Potential Compatibility Issues: While Ventoy supports a vast number of ISO files, there is a chance of encountering compatibility issues with certain operating systems or tools.

3. Security Considerations: If persistence is enabled, storing data on the same USB drive used for booting may pose a security risk if the drive is lost or stolen.

4. Lack of Official Support: Ventoy is an open-source project and may not offer official support comparable to commercially supported solutions.?

5. Learning Curve: While Ventoy is relatively easy to use, there might be a slight learning curve for those unfamiliar with the concept of multi-boot USB drives and ISO file management.