How to boot multiple operating systems on one usb drive?

No built-in tool is available for booting multiple operating systems on one usb drive.

GRUB2 (GRand Unified Bootloader version 2) is a widely used, open-source bootloader that can load multiple operating systems, kernels, and recovery tools. It's highly configurable and supports a variety of file systems and boot methods. Using GRUB2 as a custom bootloader to boot multiple operating systems on USB is a powerful and flexible approach, especially if you want granular control over the boot process.

Setting up GRUB2 for boot multiple operating systems on USB

1. Prepare the USB drive

Format the drive with a compatible file system (typically FAT32 or NTFS).

Install a minimal Linux system or a dedicated bootloader setup.

2. Install GRUB2

Use a Linux system to install GRUB2 onto the USB drive.

This involves installing the bootloader and creating a grub.cfg configuration file.

3. Organize your OS images

Copy your ISO images (Windows, Linux distros, recovery tools) into the USB drive into a directory, such as /boot/isos/.

4. Configure grub.cfg

Create entries for each OS, specifying kernel, initrd, or ISO files.

For example, for booting Linux ISOs:

menuentry "Ubuntu 20.04" {

set iso_path="/boot/isos/ubuntu-20.04.iso"

loopback loop $iso_path

linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=$iso_path quiet splash

initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz

}

For Windows or other images, additional configuration or tools may be needed.

5. Boot from the USB

Insert the USB into the target PC.

Select the USB as boot device.

GRUB2 presents a menu of OS options based on your configuration.

To successfully boot multiple operating systems on one usb drive, start with a high-quality USB 3.0 or 3.1 drive. Operating systems involve moving massive amounts of data; using an older USB 2.0 stick will result in agonizingly slow boot times and potential timeouts during installation. Aim for at least 32GB of space so you have room for multiple installers and a dedicated partition for personal files.

Before booting, enter your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings and disable Secure Boot. While some tools like Ventooy offer workarounds, Secure Boot is the most common reason a multiboot menu fails to load. Additionally, ensure your "Boot Priority" is set to check USB devices first so you don't bypass your drive and head straight into your primary OS.

Pay close attention to UEFI vs. Legacy (BIOS) modes. Most modern computers use UEFI, but older machines require Legacy support. 

Finally, always test your drive on a secondary machine or a virtual machine before relying on it for an emergency. It is much easier to troubleshoot a "File Not Found" error or a corrupted ISO while you still have a working computer and internet access. Keep a "clean" copy of a Windows installer and a lightweight Linux distro like Lubuntu as your reliable fallbacks.

You can use MultiBootUSB to solve the challenge of how to boot multiple operating systems. It is a free, open-source, cross‑platform utility designed for creating multiboot USB drives. Compatible with both Windows and Linux, it supports storing multiple ISO files on a single USB drive and offers a straightforward graphical interface. Many users rely on it to boot different systems without repeated formatting or complex configuration.

Step 1: Prepare an 8GB USB drive to back up all data.

Step 2: Download and run the software; it will automatically detect your USB drive.

Step 3: Select the target USB drive from the list.

Step 4: Click Browse to add the operating system ISO image file to be included.

Step 5: Click Install to write the bootloader and add the selected ISO file.

Step 6: Wait for the process to complete; do not remove the USB drive during creation.

Step 7: Restart the computer and set the USB drive as the boot device in the BIOS/UEFI.

Cons

• Limited UEFI boot support, with comparatively lower stability than modern tools.

• Potentially slower write speeds when handling large ISO files.

• Secure Boot functionality is not supported by default.

It is a dependable, lightweight and free solution for creating multi-boot USB devices. Despite certain limitations regarding compatibility with UEFI and newer systems, it remains an ideal choice for users wanting a simple, open-source tool that shows how to boot multiple operating systems and manage them all from a single USB drive.

YUMl is an excellent tool for creating a multiboot USB drive that can boot multiple operating systems, tools, or rescue environments. If you're planning to use a USB to boot multiple operating systems on a Windows 11 system, YUMl is a solid choice. Here’s some key information:

How to boot multiple operating systems on USB:

You select the ISO images for each operating system you want to boot.

YUMl formats the USB drive and installs a multiboot bootloader.

When you start your computer, you can choose which operating system to boot directly from the USB.

Why Use YUMl to Boot Multiple Operating Systems on USB?

Supports multiple ISO images: You can add various operating systems to a single USB drive.

Easy to manage: The interface makes it simple to add, remove, or rearrange different OS images.

Boot from a single device: Conveniently select which OS to boot at startup without needing multiple USB drives.

Compatible with Windows 11: Works seamlessly on Windows 11, provided you run it with administrator privileges.

Using YUMl for creating a multiboot USB on Windows 11 is a good approach if you want to boot multiple operating systems or tools from a single USB stick. It is straightforward, supports various ISO images, and is compatible with Windows 11.

How to boot multiple operating systems? I’ve given this considerable thought – and Easy2Boot is the most suitable choice. It is a free, powerful multiboot USB solution that allows you to run Windows, Linux, WinPE, DOS, and other utilities from a single USB drive. Supporting both legacy/MBR and UEFI boot modes, it is widely used by IT technicians and computer maintenance professionals.

How to boot multiple operating systems

1. Prepare a USB drive and back up important files beforehand.

2. Download the official software installation package and extract it to a local English-language path free of special characters.

3. Right-click Make_E2B_USB_Drive.cmd and select Run as administrator to launch the creation script.

4. Select the target USB drive from the list, confirm the formatting operation, and await completion of bootloader and partition structure creation.

5. Once the USB drive is ready, directly copy all Windows/Linux/WinPE-formatted ISO, IMG, VHD, or WIM files to this drive.

6. After restarting the computer, enter the BIOS/UEFI boot menu and select the USB drive named after the software as the boot device.

7. Choose the desired system or tool to boot via the on-screen menu—this constitutes a practical solution for multi-operating system booting from a single drive.

It is a mature, stable, and highly compatible multiboot tool that excels at managing diverse bootable environments from a single USB drive. While it requires basic technical familiarity for setup and troubleshooting, its copy and boot design and strong cross-environment support make it a top choice for users who need reliable multi-system deployment and maintenance.

Vent0y is an excellent open-source tool designed specifically for boot multiple operating systems on USB drives with ease and flexibility. It's highly recommended for users who want to create a multi-boot USB that can host various ISO images, allowing you to select and boot into different OSes directly from a single USB stick.

How to set up Vent0y for boot multiple operating systems on USB:

1. Download Vent0y.

2. Install Vent0y:

• Extract the ZIP file.
• Run the Ventoy2Disk.exe as administrator.
• Select your USB drive.
• Click Install (Warning: this will format the USB drive).

3. Copy ISO files:

• After installation, simply copy your ISO images (Linux, Windows, recovery tools, etc.) directly onto the Vent0y USB drive.

4. Boot from the USB:

• Insert the USB into the target PC.
• Boot into the BIOS/UEFI boot menu.
• Select the Vent0y drive.
• A menu will appear listing all ISO images present.
• Choose the operating system you want to boot.

Benefits:

Seamless management: Add or remove ISO files anytime without re-creating the bootable media.

Supports a large number of OS images.

Works with both UEFI and BIOS systems.