The USB Boot Drive and Best Boot Utility

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will explore how to create a USB boot drive using Ventoy and Parted Magic, two powerful tools for multibooting and computer repair. This guide will help you set up a bootable USB drive, making it easier to install Linux or use various utilities for troubleshooting your system.

Step 1: Create a USB Boot Drive with Ventoy

Ventoy is a user-friendly tool that allows you to create a bootable USB drive where you can simply copy ISO files.

1. Download Ventoy

   • Visit the Ventoy GitHub page and download the latest release suitable for your operating system.

2. Install Ventoy

   • Extract the downloaded files.

   Run the Ventoy2Disk executable

   • For Windows, use Ventoy2Disk.exe.
   • For Linux, use ventoy command in terminal.
   • Select your USB drive from the list.
   • Click on "Install" to set up Ventoy on the USB drive. Caution: This will erase all data on the selected USB drive.

3. Add ISO Files

   • After installation, simply drag and drop your ISO files (e.g., Linux distributions) onto the USB drive.

Step 2: Booting from the USB Drive

Once you have created your bootable USB with Ventoy, you can boot from it.

1. Access Boot Menu

   • Restart your computer and enter the boot menu. The key to access this varies by manufacturer (commonly F2, F12, ESC, or DEL).

2. Select the USB Drive

   • Choose your USB drive from the boot options.

3. Choose an ISO to Boot

   • After selecting the USB drive, the Ventoy menu will display all the ISO files you added. Use the arrow keys to select the desired ISO and press Enter to boot.

Step 3: Using Parted Magic for Repair and Maintenance

Parted Magic is a versatile tool for disk management and system repair.

1. Download Parted Magic

   • Go to the Parted Magic website and purchase/download the ISO file.

2. Add Parted Magic to USB Drive

   • Place the downloaded Parted Magic ISO file on the USB drive that has Ventoy installed.

3. Boot into Parted Magic

   • Follow the same booting process as in Step 2 to select the Parted Magic ISO from the Ventoy menu.

4. Utilize Parted Magic Tools

   • Once in Parted Magic, you can access various tools for disk cloning, partition management, and data recovery.

Conclusion

Creating a USB boot drive with Ventoy and using Parted Magic can greatly enhance your ability to troubleshoot and repair computers. This guide provided a step-by-step process for setup and usage. For further exploration, consider trying different Linux distributions or utilizing other tools available within Parted Magic. Happy booting!