Ventoy (ventoy.net)

Article summary

Ventoy is a boot loader that allows users to boot and install operating systems from ISO files stored on a USB drive or other storage device. It supports a wide range of operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and others. Ventoy is highly customizable and can be configured to boot from specific folders or files. The tool also has a plugin framework and supports secure boot.

Main themes

• Ventoy features and usage
• Secure Boot and UEFI restrictions
• Boot loader configuration and chainloading
• Linux installation and distro-hopping
• Windows and Linux coexistence
• Boot loader customization and plugins

What commenters say

• Ventoy is a useful tool for booting and installing operating systems from a single USB drive.
• The process of installing Linux on new systems has become increasingly difficult due to Secure Boot and UEFI restrictions.
• Chainloading a Linux kernel from the Windows boot loader is not straightforward and may not be possible in plain UEFI mode.
• Some users prefer to wipe the Windows install entirely and boot Linux directly, while others may need to keep Windows for specific purposes.
• The Windows boot loader can be used to chainload other boot loaders, but this may not work in all cases.
• Ventoy is a great tool for distro-hoppers who want to try out multiple Linux distributions without having to create separate USB drives for each one.
• The tool's ability to boot from ISO files makes it a convenient solution for testing and installing operating systems.
• Secure Boot and UEFI restrictions can make it difficult to boot non-Windows operating systems, but tools like Ventoy can help alleviate these issues.