Question

Is there a simple way to create a bootable usb stick that can boot diffrent .iso's?

Asked by: amnhtech

Is there a simple way to create a bootable usb stick that can boot from different .iso's contained within the usb stick.  Ideally it would would have a menu which would give you the option of selecting which iso you want to boot into. Any ideas?

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Asked On
2009-05-30 at 12:50:08ID24450802
Tags

bootable

,

usb stick

,

iso

Topics

Microsoft Operating Systems

,

Linux

,

Hard Drives & Storage

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
5

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Answers

 

by: UberpappaPosted on 2009-05-30 at 13:02:02ID: 24510117

 

by: torimarPosted on 2009-05-31 at 04:46:17ID: 24512253

It depends on what you call a "simple way". There is certainly no 1-click solution.

Unetbootin, as suggested by Uberpappa, will only install one single OS on a pendrive, not multiple all at once.
For what you wish to do, you will need some patience, some knowledge of Linux, and good guidance.

Here are two tutorials (which, however, I never tried out myself):
http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.php/Create_a_multiboot_CD_(or_USB_flash_drive)
http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=6116

Also, check out this subforum of 911cd.net, which is dedicated entirely to USB booting; it may contain more case stories:
http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showforum=37


Lastly, no doubt the easiest way would be to search the internet for a combination of the OS's you wish to have on there. If you are lucky, someone might have already compiled them all in bootable DVD iso - which then you could try to install on the pendrive using Unetbootin.

 

by: UberpappaPosted on 2009-05-31 at 13:28:16ID: 24513802

If I remember correctly, it adds to the usb stick instead of overwriting each time. Please forgive me if I'm wrong on this.

 

by: torimarPosted on 2009-05-31 at 14:26:24ID: 24514017

I am afraid it doesn't - at least it would not work in all the tests I've run.
It's true that it does not erase the USB medium, but it doesn't add anything to the existing menus either. The syslinux or isolinux config files are overwritten, and only the last iso added will actually boot.
In some cases it even happens that the installation of an additional iso will make Unetbootin (for Windows) crash with an unknown software exception.

One could certainly design a way to edit those config files and boot menu lists manually, but there seems to be no HowTo for this around - which will make it quite the opposite of a "simple way".

I admit that I only tested with isos that have a Linux based boot system or Grub4Dos, though. But that is the way most isos are built, even ones with DOS/Windows related contents.

 

by: amnhtechPosted on 2009-06-06 at 10:15:10ID: 31587012

Thank you for the links it has set me in the right direction.  

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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