Forum Discussion
Make multi OS bootable USB drive including windows os and linux
When putting Windows and Linux ISO on a single drive, the most critical factor is the Boot Mode (UEFI vs. Legacy). Modern systems use UEFI, which often requires a GPT partition style, while older machines rely on BIOS (Legacy) and MBR. If you intend to use the drive on various computers, ensure your multi bootable tool supports dual mode or hybrid booting so that both Windows and Linux installers remain visible regardless of the motherboard settings. This is the most important part you should pay attention to when making a multi boot usb drive with windows and linux.
Secure Boot is a common hurdle, particularly for Linux distributions. Many Windows installers require Secure Boot to be enabled, but some Linux distros lack the necessary "shim" or digital signature to pass this check. Multi boot tools offer a "Secure Boot Support" option during installation, but you may still need to manually enroll a "MokKey" (Machine Owner Key) in your BIOS settings the first time you launch the drive.
Pay close attention to File Systems and Partitioning. Windows installers generally require the drive to handle files larger than 4GB (like the install.wim file), making exFAT or NTFS necessary. While Linux is flexible, some older bootloaders prefer FAT32. Using a tool that creates a small FAT32 boot partition while keeping the main ISO storage in exFAT is usually the most compatible "best of both worlds" approach.
Lastly, consider Persistence. Unlike a standard Windows installer which is read-only, you might want your Linux environment to save files or settings between reboots. Not all multiboot usb creator software support this; you’ll need to specifically configure a persistence file or partition. Without this, any changes you make in Linux, like saving a Wi-Fi password or a downloaded document, will vanish the moment you power down the PC.