Getting Started with Ventoy: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Mastering Ventoy: Your Guide to Creating Bootable USB DrivesCreating a bootable USB drive has become a fundamental skill for both tech enthusiasts and casual users who need to install operating systems, run recovery tools, or troubleshoot software issues. Traditionally, this would require various software for each operating system or tool you want to use. Ventoy revolutionizes this process by allowing multiple bootable ISO files to be stored on a single USB drive, simplifying the workflow immensely. This guide will explore how to master Ventoy, from installation to advanced features.

What is Ventoy?

Ventoy is an open-source tool that enables you to create bootable USB drives without the hassle of formatting or managing multiple partitions. Instead of burning ISO files, you simply copy them to the drive. Ventoy supports various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and several rescue tools, making it a versatile solution for bootable media creation.

Benefits of Using Ventoy

Ventoy makes the process user-friendly, but it does come with limitations, primarily related to the size of the USB drive and compatibility with older ISO files.

System Requirements

Before getting started, ensure you meet these requirements for using Ventoy:

• A USB drive with at least 8 GB of storage (more for larger ISOs).
• A computer running Windows, Linux, or macOS.
• Basic computer knowledge for navigating and executing commands.

Installing Ventoy

Follow these steps to install Ventoy on your USB drive:

Step 1: Download Ventoy

1. Visit the Ventoy GitHub Releases Page.
2. Download the latest version suitable for your operating system (Windows or Linux).

Step 2: Extract the Files

1. Extract the downloaded zip file to a convenient location on your computer.

Step 3: Install Ventoy

1. For Windows:

   • Navigate to the extracted folder and run Ventoy2Disk.exe.
   • Select your USB drive from the device list.
   • Click “Install” to set up Ventoy on the USB. Confirm any prompts that may appear.

2. For Linux:

   • Open a terminal and navigate to the extracted folder.
   • Run the command:

     
     sudo sh ventoy2disk.sh -i /dev/sdX 

   • Replace /dev/sdX with your USB device (be cautious to select the correct drive).

Step 4: Confirmation

Once the installation is complete, you will see a “Successfully Installed” message, confirming that Ventoy has been set up on your USB drive.

Adding ISOs to your Ventoy USB Drive

After installation, you can add bootable ISO files to your USB drive:

1. Mount the USB drive: Connect the USB drive to your computer.
2. Copy ISOs: Simply drag and drop your ISO files into the root directory of the USB drive. There’s no need for folders unless you prefer to organize them.
3. Eject the USB drive safely: After copying, make sure to eject the drive properly to avoid data corruption.

Booting from Ventoy USB Drive

With the USB drive ready, you can boot from it:

1. Insert the USB: Plug the USB drive into the target computer.
2. Access Boot Menu: Reboot the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup (usually done by pressing keys like F2, F10, or ESC during startup).
3. Select Boot Device: Choose the USB drive as the boot device.
4. Select ISO: After booting, Ventoy will present a menu listing all the ISOs on the USB. Simply select the one you wish to boot.

Advanced Features of Ventoy

Customizing the Boot Menu

Ventoy offers customization through the use of configuration files:

• Ventoy JSON Configuration: You can create a ventoy.json file in the root directory of your USB drive to customize settings like appearance, theme, and ISO appearances.
• Plugins: Ventoy supports plugins that can enhance its functionality, such as adding a boot menu image or enabling secure boot for UEFI systems. Consult the official documentation for detailed instructions.

Persistence

If you are using a Linux ISO and need persistence, Ventoy allows you to create a writable partition separate from regular ISOs. This