Ventoy: Create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI Files

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall Reception and Convenience

  • Many commenters describe Ventoy as “essential” and a “lifesaver,” especially for people who frequently install or test multiple OSes.
  • Core benefit: write Ventoy once, then just drag-and-drop ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD/EFI files; a boot menu lets you pick at boot time.
  • Supports many images on a single large drive (e.g., 2TB NVMe in a USB enclosure), reducing the “pile of flash drives” problem.
  • The remaining space can be used like a regular USB drive for other files.

Compared to Other Tools (dd, Rufus, Etcher, Microsoft Tools)

  • dd, Balena Etcher, and Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool: typically one ISO per stick; you reflash for each new image.
  • Ventoy: persistent bootloader + menu; multiple ISOs co‑exist.
  • Several comments criticize Etcher as a heavy Electron app with telemetry.
  • Rufus is seen as more sophisticated than Etcher and good for Windows installs, but still image-per-stick.
  • Windows install media creation (especially on non‑Windows OSes) is described as painful; Ventoy sometimes simplifies this, but not always.

Windows, VHD, and vDisk Use Cases

  • Ventoy can boot Windows VHDs via its VHD/vDisk plugins; some keep a full Windows install with tools this way.
  • Reported success installing Windows 10/11 (including Pro and LTSC) on many machines; others hit errors like missing media/driver messages.
  • Workarounds mentioned: wimboot mode, Rufus+NTFS, or Microsoft’s splitting tools for >4GB files.
  • Ventoy can help bypass some Windows 11 requirements and local-account restrictions.

Compatibility, Reliability, and Secure Boot

  • Several users report certain ISOs not working or even corrupting the Ventoy stick until re-prepared.
  • Problem cases include some Linux installers (Debian/openSUSE reports conflict), obscure OSes (ReactOS, KolibriOS), FreeDOS behavior, and very cheap USB sticks.
  • Suggestions: use GPT, UEFI boot, keep Ventoy updated, properly eject/sync writes, use GRUB2 mode when an ISO misbehaves.
  • Secure Boot: can fail unless users disable it, change firmware mode, or enroll Ventoy’s MOK key; once enrolled, all ISOs benefit.

Binary Blobs and Trust Concerns

  • Ongoing concern about Ventoy’s bundled binary blobs; some refuse to use it for this reason.
  • Others note the blobs come from open-source projects with documented build instructions, arguing the project is fully buildable from source in principle.
  • Debate centers on reproducibility, independent verification, and whether relying on upstream “trusted” binaries is acceptable.

Alternatives and Adjacent Tools

  • Hardware ISO/VHD emulation enclosures (IODD) are mentioned as Ventoy-like but with mixed reliability experiences.
  • Phone-based tools (DriveDroid, USB Mountr, MSD) can emulate USB mass storage/optical drives, though modern Android support is spotty.
  • Network boot companion iVentoy is recommended for PXE-style installs.
  • Some wonder why a simpler GRUB-based multi-ISO SSD solution isn’t more popular, especially for those wary of blobs.