System Tutorial
Windows Series
How to Boot Multiple Operating Systems From One USB Drive - Make Tech Easier
How to Boot Multiple Operating Systems From One USB Drive - Make Tech Easier
May 23, 2025 am 12:14 AM
When it comes to installing an operating system from scratch, users can choose to burn the operating system to the USB flash drive, then boot and start the installation. However, if you decide to install a different operating system, you have to format the USB drive and then re-burn the new system. This process can be tedious and a waste of time. But if you use Ventoy, an open source solution, you can instantly access multiple installation options without even burning or decompressing them.
Worth knowing : Do I need to check whether the USB flash drive is bootable in Windows? We'll show you how to do it.
Table of contents
- Create a multi-system installation USB drive on Windows
- How to lock a Ventoy file with a password
- Create a multi-system installation USB drive on Android
- FAQ
Create a multi-system installation USB drive on Windows
First, you need to get the ISO file of the operating system you want to start. You can download ISO files from the official supplier website. For example, you can download Windows 11 ISO files from Microsoft website and Ubuntu ISO files from Ubuntu website.
Note : Ventoy also supports WIM, IMG, VHD(x) and EFI files, not just ISO.
- Download the latest version from Ventoy's GitHub page. Make sure to select Windows Installation.
Unzip the ZIP file and start Ventoy from the "Ventoy2Disk.exe" file. Ventoy does not need to be installed because it is a portable application.
Insert the USB drive into your device. The name of the USB flash drive will be displayed in the Ventoy window.
Select it and click Install. Make sure you did not mistakenly select other USB drives.
The confirmation window will tell you that Ventoy will format the USB drive. If it fails, please refer to our USB drive formatting troubleshooting guide.
- The process of installing Ventoy software on a USB drive will begin, which will take about one minute.
- After the installation is complete, the USB drive will be renamed to "Ventoy". At this point, copy your ISO file to the USB flash drive. If the USB drive has enough capacity, you can copy as many ISO files as possible.
Tip : You can use the command prompt to create a Windows USB drive installer. We show how to do it in the guide.
- Now that your multi-OS USB drive is ready to use, restart your computer to access the boot menu. Before the Windows flag appears, quickly press the hardware-specific button to access the boot manager. If you are using a Lenovo, Dell or Toshiba device, you need to press F12 . Press F9 for HP devices, press Del for Asus devices, and press F2 for Acer devices.
- After entering the boot menu, you will see the option to boot to a USB drive with Ventoy. Select it and press Enter .
- You should see the Ventoy screen. Use the arrow buttons to navigate to the ISO file you want to install and press Enter .
Tip : If you want some changes, learn how to install and use Chrome OS Flex on your Windows PC.
How to lock a Ventoy file with a password
You can lock your Ventoy USB drive with your password. This will prevent unauthorized users from accessing your files without permission and installing a new operating system on your PC.
- Start the "VentoyPlugson.exe" file from the Ventoy folder.
- Navigate to Password Plugin.
- You will see different options for adding passwords in Ventoy. For example, you can lock the startup process until the user provides a password. You can also set passwords for installing ISO, IMG, and other types of files.
- To add a password, click the Edit button and select a password. A "TXT" password is enough. Then, click OK.
- The password you set will be required when starting Ventoy.
Tip : Can't find the downloaded file on Android device? Learn how to locate them.
Create a multi-system installation USB drive on Android
You can also use Android devices to create multi-system installation USB disks. This method can be very useful when your computer is out of service due to system failure. This can also be useful if you just bought a new computer or laptop.
- Download ISO files on your Android device using your mobile browser. In this example, we are downloading Windows 11.
- Download the free Ventoy app from the Google Play Store.
- Open the app and plug the USB drive into the charging port of your Android phone. If you have Type-C ports and Type-C USB flash drives, you can connect them seamlessly. However, if you have a regular USB-A USB drive or your Android device is using a micro USB port, you will need a USB-C to USB adapter (or OTG cable). Once you connect to the USB drive, the application will request access.
- Once you allow access, a "Install" button will appear. This button is installed with Ventoy software, not ISO. Click it and agree to confirm.
- Click the "File" icon, and then click " " to locate the ISO file you downloaded.
- Ventoy will copy the ISO file to the USB drive, after which you can plug the USB drive into your computer and start it. It is worth noting that just like the PC method, you can add as many ISO files as you like.
FYI : Do you want to run Android applications on Windows? Learn how to do it.
FAQ
How to remove Ventoy from USB drive?
The correct way to remove Ventoy from a USB flash drive is to launch the Ventoy2Disk application, click "Options" at the top, and select "Clear Ventoy".
Can I use a different theme for Ventoy?
The answer is yes. To do this, you need to go through VentoyPlugson. Once you launch it, click on the "Theme Plugin" on the left and download the theme you like from the list. You need to move the theme folder to the Ventoy USB drive and add the path back to the "theme.txt" file in VentoyPlugson.
What is the difference between Ventoy and Rufus?
With Ventoy, you can create multi-system installation USB drives using a very simple and easy-to-understand interface. By contrast, Rufus allows you to create a bootable USB drive that contains only one operating system. Please note that Rufus can be a little harder to use for beginners, so browse our detailed guide to learn how to get started.
MBR vs. GPT: Which one should you choose?
Depending on your firmware interface (UEFI or BIOS), you can select MBR and GPT when creating a bootable USB drive. You can do this in Ventoy via "Options -> Partition Style".
Check if your PC uses UEFI or BIOS by opening Run ( Win R ) and entering msinfo32, then check the "BIOS Mode" section. If your device is not on hand, search online for your motherboard model (PC) or device model (laptop).
Image source: Flaticon & Pexels. All screenshots were taken by Mustafa Ashour.
The above is the detailed content of How to Boot Multiple Operating Systems From One USB Drive - Make Tech Easier. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!
Hot AI Tools
Undress AI Tool
Undress images for free
Undresser.AI Undress
AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos
AI Clothes Remover
Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.
Clothoff.io
AI clothes remover
Video Face Swap
Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!
Hot Article
Hot Tools
Notepad++7.3.1
Easy-to-use and free code editor
SublimeText3 Chinese version
Chinese version, very easy to use
Zend Studio 13.0.1
Powerful PHP integrated development environment
Dreamweaver CS6
Visual web development tools
SublimeText3 Mac version
God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)
How to Change Font Color on Desktop Icons (Windows 11)
Jul 07, 2025 pm 12:07 PM
If you're having trouble reading your desktop icons' text or simply want to personalize your desktop look, you may be looking for a way to change the font color on desktop icons in Windows 11. Unfortunately, Windows 11 doesn't offer an easy built-in
Fixed Windows 11 Google Chrome not opening
Jul 08, 2025 pm 02:36 PM
Fixed Windows 11 Google Chrome not opening Google Chrome is the most popular browser right now, but even it sometimes requires help to open on Windows. Then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process. After completing the above steps, launch Google Chrome again to see if it works properly now. 5. Delete Chrome User Profile If you are still having problems, it may be time to delete Chrome User Profile. This will delete all your personal information, so be sure to back up all relevant data. Typically, you delete the Chrome user profile through the browser itself. But given that you can't open it, here's another way: Turn on Windo
How to fix second monitor not detected in Windows?
Jul 12, 2025 am 02:27 AM
When Windows cannot detect a second monitor, first check whether the physical connection is normal, including power supply, cable plug-in and interface compatibility, and try to replace the cable or adapter; secondly, update or reinstall the graphics card driver through the Device Manager, and roll back the driver version if necessary; then manually click "Detection" in the display settings to identify the monitor to confirm whether it is correctly identified by the system; finally check whether the monitor input source is switched to the corresponding interface, and confirm whether the graphics card output port connected to the cable is correct. Following the above steps to check in turn, most dual-screen recognition problems can usually be solved.
Want to Build an Everyday Work Desktop? Get a Mini PC Instead
Jul 08, 2025 am 06:03 AM
Mini PCs have undergone
Fixed the failure to upload files in Windows Google Chrome
Jul 08, 2025 pm 02:33 PM
Have problems uploading files in Google Chrome? This may be annoying, right? Whether you are attaching documents to emails, sharing images on social media, or submitting important files for work or school, a smooth file upload process is crucial. So, it can be frustrating if your file uploads continue to fail in Chrome on Windows PC. If you're not ready to give up your favorite browser, here are some tips for fixes that can't upload files on Windows Google Chrome 1. Start with Universal Repair Before we learn about any advanced troubleshooting tips, it's best to try some of the basic solutions mentioned below. Troubleshooting Internet connection issues: Internet connection
How to clear the print queue in Windows?
Jul 11, 2025 am 02:19 AM
When encountering the problem of printing task stuck, clearing the print queue and restarting the PrintSpooler service is an effective solution. First, open the "Device and Printer" interface to find the corresponding printer, right-click the task and select "Cancel" to clear a single task, or click "Cancel all documents" to clear the queue at one time; if the queue is inaccessible, press Win R to enter services.msc to open the service list, find "PrintSpooler" and stop it before starting the service. If necessary, you can manually delete the residual files under the C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS path to completely solve the problem.
How to show file extensions in Windows 11 File Explorer?
Jul 08, 2025 am 02:40 AM
To display file extensions in Windows 11 File Explorer, you can follow the following steps: 1. Open any folder; 2. Click the "View" tab in the top menu bar; 3. Click the "Options" button in the upper right corner; 4. Switch to the "View" tab; 5. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types"; 6. Click "OK" to save settings. This setting helps identify file types, improve development efficiency, and troubleshoot problems. If you just want to view the extension temporarily, you can right-click the file and select "Rename" and press the Esc key to exit, and the system settings will not be changed.
