How to multiboot USB with Windows 11, Windows 10 and Linux

How to multiboot USB? Creating a single multiboot USB that can install Windows 10, Windows 11, and Linux (like Ubuntu) is a common goal, but it does come with some challenges—especially when dealing with Windows ISOs, which often have unique boot requirements.

Key Challenges:

• Different boot mechanisms: Windows ISOs typically use bootmgr, BCD, and WIM files, while Linux ISOs use ISOLINUX, GRUB, or Syslinux.
• ISO compatibility: Some Windows ISOs are "secure boot" and UEFI-only, requiring special handling.
• Partitioning: Properly partitioning and formatting the USB to accommodate multiple ISO images.
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Important Notes for how to Multiboot USB:

1. Windows ISOs aren't multi-boot friendly by default — Ventooy handles them best without extraction.

2. Windows Setup may require tweaks for older hardware (disable Secure Boot if needed for some Linux).

3. Storage space: USB should be at least 64GB (Windows ISOs are ~5-6 GB each, Linux ~2-4 GB each).

4. Persistence for Linux:

• If you want persistent storage for Linux (saves data), use:
• Ventooy with persistence plugin.
• Rufus in "Persistent partition" mode for Linux (but Rufus doesn’t handle multiple Windows easily).

How to "Free" the USB Later:

To return USB to normal:

1. Back up ISO files from USB.

2. Open Disk Management (Windows) or GParted (Linux).

3. Delete all partitions on the USB.

4. Create a single new partition and format as NTFS or FAT32.