Possible to put multiple iso files on one bootable usb flash drive from windows 11?

Windows does come with such a tool for putting multiple bootable iso files on one usb drive.

Manual Partitioning + GRUB4DOS - Especially for users who are comfortable with Linux. It provides a cost-free, highly customizable way to put multiple ISO files in one bootable USB from Windows 11.

How to put multiple ISO files in one bootable USB from Windows 11:

1. Set up WSL2: Install WSL2 and a Linux distribution.

2. Partition the USB drive:

   Use Linux tools (parted, fdisk) within WSL2 to create partitions.

   One partition can hold ISO files; another can be for boot files.

3. Format the partitions:

   Use mkfs,vfat or mkfs,ext4, depending on your needs.

4. Copy ISO files:

   Mount the USB drive in WSL2.

   Copy ISO files into the designated partition.

5. Install and configure GRUB:

   Install GRUB in the appropriate partition.

   Generate a grub,cfg menu to boot into each ISO, pointing to their locations.

6. Boot from USB:

   Use your system's BIOS/UEFI menu to select and boot from the USB drive.

   The GRUB menu will let you choose which ISO to boot.

To put multiple ISO files in one bootable USB. Using WSL2 to put multiple ISO files on one bootable USB from Windows 11 is a feasible and flexible method, especially for users comfortable with Linux command-line tools. It allows you to manually set up a multi-boot USB drive by leveraging Linux utilities within WSL2.

Basic steps to put multiple ISO files in one bootable USB:

1. Install WSL2 and a Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu) on Windows 11.

2. Prepare your USB drive:

   Use Linux tools to partition the USB drive.

   Create a dedicated partition for storing ISO files.

3. Format the partition:

   Format it with a filesystem like FAT32 or NTFS.

4. Copy ISO files:

   Mount the USB drive within WSL2 and copy your ISO files into the storage partition.

5. Install and configure GRUB:

   Install GRUB bootloader on the USB.

   Create a grub.cfg configuration file that lists all ISO files and defines boot parameters.

6. Boot from the USB:

   Use your system's BIOS/UEFI menu to boot from the USB.

   GRUB will present a menu for selecting the ISO to boot.

If you are comfortable with manual partitioning and editing bootloader configurations, using Manual Partitioning + GRUB4DOS allows you to put multiple ISO files one bootable USB with maximum control. It’s ideal for power users who want a tailored multi-boot environment.

What does the process involve?

• Partition the USB drive using disk management tools (like Disk Management in Windows or GParted), creating separate partitions for files and bootloader.
• Format the partitions appropriately (FAT32 or NTFS).
• Install GRUB4DOS on the drive, which involves copying bootloader files.
• Configure the GRUB4DOS menu (menu.lst or grub.cfg) to include entries for each ISO file, specifying how to boot each.
• Copy your ISO files into the designated partition.
• Boot from the USB, and GRUB4DOS will present a menu to select which ISO to load.

Why consider this method for putting multiple ISO files in one bootable USB?

* Maximum flexibility: You can customize the boot menu extensively.

* Supports a wide range of ISO files, including some that other tools might not handle easily.

* No limitations on ISO types or sizes (beyond partition constraints).

WinSetupFromUSB is a free, Windows-based multi-boot USB creation tool offering native support for both legacy BIOS and UEFI boot modes. Compatible with all Windows versions, mainstream Linux distributions, and various PE maintenance images, its core value lies in enabling users to effortlessly put multiple OS on a flash drive. This eliminates the hassle of frequently swapping boot drives, allowing a single USB device to fulfil diverse requirements such as system installation, fault maintenance, and multi-system testing, making it a classic free tool for such scenarios.

How to put multiple OS on a flash drive

Step 1: After downloading and extracting the latest compressed package from the official website, run the main program as an administrator without needing to install it.

Step 2: Insert a 16GB+ high-speed USB 3.0 or higher flash drive, preferably formatted as NTFS.

Step 3: In the program interface, select the target USB drive from the dropdown menu and check the Use FBinst for Auto-Formatting option below to automatically format and configure the bootloader.

Step 4: Click Browse for the corresponding system, select the local Windows/Linux/PE ISO image. Multiple image files may be added simultaneously.

Step 5: After confirming settings, click Go. Await completion of image writing and boot configuration. Proceed upon success notification.

Step 6: Safely eject the USB drive. Insert into the target computer, enter BIOS/UEFI settings, set USB as the first boot device. Upon startup, select the corresponding system to boot.

This classic tool, though not without its minor flaws, excels in being both practical and free, making it a highly cost-effective choice for installing multiple operating systems from a single USB drive.

Easy2Boot is a free, versatile multi-boot USB creation tool with seamless compatibility for both Legacy BIOS and UEFI systems. Its core strength lies in enabling users to effortlessly put multiple OS on a flash drive without the need for repeated formatting—simply copy the image files, and a single USB drive can support booting into Windows, various Linux distributions, and other operating systems. Ideal for both system installation and maintenance scenarios, it stands as an excellent free solution for this exact need.

User Guide

1. Download and extract: Obtain the latest software version from the official website. Extract the files; no installation is required. Proceed directly to use.

2. Prepare USB drive: Insert a 16GB+ USB drive (minimum requirement is 8GB; data will be erased, so back up beforehand). Formatting to NTFS is recommended.

3. Create bootable drive: On Windows, run Make_E2B_USB.cmd from the extracted folder as an administrator. Select the target USB drive as prompted; the tool will automatically install the boot files.

4. Add system images: Copy downloaded Windows, Linux, or other system ISO/IMG/VHD images directly to the corresponding folder in the USB drive's root directory. The tool will automatically recognise them.

5. Final steps: Safely eject the USB drive. Insert it into the target computer, enter BIOS/UEFI settings, set USB as the first boot device, and boot to select your desired system.

Pros

• It fully fulfils the core requirement to put multiple OS on a flash drive, supporting dozens of system images and compatible with multiple formats including ISO, IMG and VHD.

• Dual-boot mode compatibility seamlessly supports both Legacy BIOS and UEFI, adapting to the vast majority of computers.

• Eliminates the need for repeated formatting; adding new systems subsequently requires only copying the image, offering convenient operation and saving time.

Cons

• Higher learning curve than single-system tools, less user-friendly for computer novices; certain configurations require basic command-line operations.

• Primarily designed for Windows-based creation; operations under Linux/macOS are complex, requiring scripting with generally limited compatibility.

• Some niche Linux distribution images may not be automatically recognised, requiring manual addition of boot configurations.

Using Hybrid MBR/GPT + GRUB2 to put multiple ISO files in one bootable USB from Windows 11 is a more advanced and technical approach. It involves manually configuring the bootloader (GRUB2) to recognize and boot multiple ISO images stored on the USB drive.

Overview of this method:

Hybrid MBR/GPT: Allows the USB to be bootable on both BIOS (Legacy) and UEFI systems.

GRUB2: A flexible bootloader that can be configured to boot multiple ISO files by editing its configuration files.

This approach is more complex than using tools, but it offers greater control over the boot process.

How to put multiple ISO files in one bootable USB from Windows 11 PC:

1. Partition the USB drive with a hybrid MBR/GPT scheme.

Use a tool to create a hybrid MBR/GPT partition scheme.

Format the drive with a FAT32 or NTFS filesystem.

2. Install GRUB2 on the USB.

You can use GnuGRUB or Boot-Repair from Linux live environments.

3. Copy ISO files to the USB.

Place all your ISO images into a directory on the USB.

4. Configure GRUB2 with a menu that points to each ISO file.

Create or edit the grub.cfg file with entries for each ISO.

Example entry:

menuentry "Windows 11" {

set iso_path="/isos/windows11.iso"

loopback loop (hd0,1)$iso_path

linux (loop)/boot/grub/bootx64.efi

initrd (loop)/boot/grub/initrd.img

}

5. When you boot from the USB, GRUB2 presents a menu allowing you to select which ISO to boot.

Set your BIOS/UEFI to boot from the USB.

The GRUB menu should appear, letting you select the desired ISO.