Using a Single USB for Windows and Linux Mint: Is it Possible?

This question may have been answered; however, I’d appreciate explicit point-wise answers:

Scenario:
Windows (x86 & x64) all versions iso starting Win7 till now and LM21.3 64-bit Cinnamon

Questions:

1. Is it possible to have single USB for Windows and Linux Mint? (if not – will drop LM)
2. Tested software?
3. Required USB capacity?
4. Will it be possible to bypass W11 restrictions? (if not – will drop W11)?

take a look at win setup from usb

1. Yes
2. yes if you set up an unattended install (work with 11) and slipstream the software in the image using sysprep. Otherwise just name a folder programs on the root of the drive after using win setup from usb and dump your installers in there.
3. I would do a minimum of 32GB and use a fast drive, usb 3.0 or better.
4. yes

Simple - try this: Ventoy

For information:
All Windows systems are UEFI and GPT partitioned – Linux (minimum knowledge) will leave default settings

@andrew129260: Video tutorial was good, I’d look for W11 customization something similar to Rufus 4.4
@docfreed: I’ll give it a shot

@ProgEngi as docfreed mentioned above Ventoy will boot both Windows & Linux plus many other bootable ISO like Partition Wizard, Macrium, Aiomei ect. and is very simple to use as you just copy any created bootable ISO image to the created Ventoy USB stick without having to recreate the USB each time and updated ISO images can be added deleted at any time also Ventoy uses both Legacy and UEFI mode.

IownAmoneyPit said:

@ProgEngi as docfreed mentioned above Ventoy will boot both Windows & Linux plus many other bootable ISO like Partition Wizard, Macrium, Aiomei ect. and is very simple to use as you just copy any created bootable ISO image to the created Ventoy USB stick without having to recreate the USB each time and updated ISO images can be added deleted at any time also Ventoy uses both Legacy and UEFI mode.

Click to expand...

Thanks I'll do it soon and update

Used instructions here and failed with Black Screen, although instructions ask enabling secure boot which I didn’t (unsupported), however, GPT was selected

There’s yet another problem with W8.1 that I’ll post at relevant forum once the main task completes – will revert back later

ProgEngi said:

Used instructions here and failed with Black Screen, although instructions ask enabling secure boot which I didn’t (unsupported), however, GPT was selected

There’s yet another problem with W8.1 that I’ll post at relevant forum once the main task completes – will revert back later

Click to expand...

When you install Ventoy without leaving the Secure Boot Support option enabled (default), you will only be able to boot into it after you have disabled Secure Boot in your UEFI firmware's settings (or unless you have a Legacy BIOS, in which case Ventoy must be installed as MBR).

hdmi said:

When you install Ventoy without leaving the Secure Boot Support option enabled (default), you will only be able to boot into it after you have disabled Secure Boot in your UEFI firmware's settings (or unless you have a Legacy BIOS, in which case Ventoy must be installed as MBR).

Click to expand...

Please advise

@ProgEngi

I assume you are talking about INSTALL disks . If you want actual installations end running systems as per Windows2Go - perfectly possible too - if that's what you want please post back and I'll list the steps down you need to do it. I have a 2TB external NVME attached via a USBC adapter -- on it 3X Window 11, 1X Windows PE, 1X Windows server 2025, 1X Arch Linux, 1X Fedora server (also linux).

(Note though Win2GO systems can't usually be upgraded to new builds so you would have to clone them back to internal drives to upgrade to a new build -- doesn't seem to be a problem though with Windows server 2025 test / trial one free till end sep 2024).

These days with USB sticks of 64GB capacity being around €15 for a pack of 5 I'm not sure whether making a multiboot usb stick is worth the time and trouble. I know not the answer to the thread but unless you want to solve it as a technical problem instead of using a practical alrernative --then ignore the post.

(Another issue BTW - it's 100% possible to create an external USB drive with one or more Windows to go system(s) plus one or more Linux systems on the same drive. External SSD / NVME connect via SATA->USB works very well. --different issue though).

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

@ProgEngi

I assume you are talking about INSTALL disks . If you want actual installations end running systems as per Windows2Go - perfectly possible too - if that's what you want please post back and I'll list the steps down you need to do it. I have a 2TB external NVME attached via a USBC adapter -- on it 3X Window 11, 1X Windows PE, 1X Windows server 2025, 1X Arch Linux, 1X Fedora server (also linux).

(Note though Win2GO systems can't usually be upgraded to new builds so you would have to clone them back to internal drives to upgrade to a new build -- doesn't seem to be a problem though with Windows server 2025 test / trial one free till end sep 2024).

These days with USB sticks of 64GB capacity being around €15 for a pack of 5 I'm not sure whether making a multiboot usb stick is worth the time and trouble. I know not the answer to the thread but unless you want to solve it as a technical problem instead of using a practical alrernative --then ignore the post.

(Another issue BTW - it's 100% possible to create an external USB drive with one or more Windows to go system(s) plus one or more Linux systems on the same drive. External SSD / NVME connect via SATA->USB works very well. --different issue though).

Cheers
jimbo

Click to expand...

@jimbo45: Thank you very much

To be honest – I never made multi-boot USB; this is first experience and that too with Ventoy – nothing fancy

I’ve many USBs each with Windows 7 to Windows 11 (Rufus), I can still make a separate USB for Linux (Rufus), purpose of using Ventoy is learning

Detailed pictorial set of instructions if possible will be much appreciated

I have not used any multi-boot recently, but I used to use Easy2Boot (mostly Windows 7 era). Checking the Ventoy site they seem similar. MajorGeeks seems to have the recent versions. And looks like it also includes Ventoy from a comment. Main site has a lot of resources on how to use.

Easy2Boot
Easy2Boot MajorGeeks

E2B includes Ventoy (it has three menu systems). It can also boot to XP, DOS and the winpe, DOS and console versions of Active Boot Disk ISOs.

Click to expand...

GokAy said:

I have not used any multi-boot recently, but I used to use Easy2Boot (mostly Windows 7 era). Checking the Ventoy site they seem similar. MajorGeeks seems to have the recent versions. And looks like it also includes Ventoy from a comment. Main site has a lot of resources on how to use.

Easy2Boot
Easy2Boot MajorGeeks

Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll check and try

ProgEngi said:

Thanks, I'll check and try

Click to expand...

Please don't. The official E2B website is easy2boot.xyz, not easy2boot.com!

There appear to be compatibility issues between some Lenovo laptop models and Ventoy. Until the issues are fixed, you can look for possible wokarounds to try. This looks like it could be a good place to start: [] ventoy usb boot - Lenovo Thinkpad AMD issue - ventoy 1.0.97
Should you decide to post on the Ventoy forum website about your specific problem, then please do it by creating a whole new thread on there (i.e., don't just hijack the one that I linked above).

hdmi said:

Please don't. The official E2B website is easy2boot.xyz, not easy2boot.com!

There appear to be compatibility issues between some Lenovo laptop models and Ventoy. Until the issues are fixed, you can look for possible wokarounds to try. This looks like it could be a good place to start: [] ventoy usb boot - Lenovo Thinkpad AMD issue - ventoy 1.0.97
Should you decide to post on the Ventoy forum website about your specific problem, then please do it by creating a whole new thread on there (i.e., don't just hijack the one that I linked above).

Click to expand...

You nailed – the details of system where tried to install Ventoy 1.0.97 is given below:

Windows 10 Pro Version 10.0.19045 Build 19045
LENOVO B570e x64-based PC
Processor i5-2430M
BIOS Version LENOVO 44CN43WW
SMBIOS Version 2.6
BIOS Mode UEFI
Secure Boot State Unsupported
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 8.00 GB

I’m not in a rush. Please don’t worry, I’d never Troll or Hijack your or anybody’s else post anywhere

hdmi said:

Please don't. The official E2B website is easy2boot.xyz, not easy2boot.com!

Click to expand...

Sorry for that and thanks for the correction. I reported myself so it can be changed to xyz.

Note -- For Running Windows and Linux systems on the same HDD -- (actual running systems - not the install disks) if booting GRUB ist (Linux boot) the boot menu will show Linux and Windows -at boot time via its boot menu (you don't need to go into the computers own boot BIOS menu) -- ensure at at Linux install time you enable "OSPROBER" at the "Install boot loader" part of the Linux install and Windows is installed before Linux.

If booting Windows ist at the standard Blue Windows boot menu select --other options -- use a device and it should have your Linux partition with "GRUB" or whatever you called the partition when you did the "install grub" part of the Linux install.

If you installed Linux without grub but selected systemd instead as the boot manager then the "OSPROBER" function is done automatically and you'll see Linux and Windows in the boot menu.

Again if running Windows and Linux from the same disk ensure Windows is installed ist.

You can set via the computers BIOS menu which partition should boot ist -- then from the boot menu of either the Linux or Windows system choose what you want to boot.

Cheers
jimbo

I have one usb per OS so if one fails I do not have to reinstate everything.