Question Is it possible to create Windows 10 installation media on a USB Flash Drive used for Ventoy too ?

[Manuel Jordan]

Hello

As introduction for this post: if I want boot .iso files about Linux through a pendrive I can use in peace so far ventoy. The main and unique important consideration is that only for the first time the pendrive must be formatted. Even more, is possible later can be created custom directories in the same pendrive to store data. Therefore the pendrive can storage and boot iso files and storage custom data. Even when ventoy is upgraded the custom directories remains in peace.

Now the current laptop came with Windows 10 and is used VirtualBox to work with Linux in peace. Because now I use few Windows 10 - I want change the SSD disk to have more space and use Linux as Host and thus use VirtualBox (or QEMU/KVM) to run as Guest Windows 10. According with some research is possible create a .iso file form the current Windows 10 installation. It based on:

• Create Windows 10 installation media

Now according with your own experience

Is it possible to Create Windows 10 installation media on a USB Flash drive used for Ventoy too?

I want have only one pendrive to:

1. Have many .iso files for Linux
2. Have custom directories
3. Have the .iso file for Windows 10 to be reused through VirtualBox (or QEMU/KVM) having Linux as Host.

And remember if ventoy is upgraded keep all the data - including mostly the Windows 10 iso in peace.

Observation: the 3rd point is the scenario where you bought a new laptop with Windows 10/11 and you want use Linux as host but you don't want lost Windows by complete and be able later to use it through Virtualization.

 

[COLGeek]

So you want to have multiple ISOs on one USB flash drive. Correct?

One of those being a Windows ISO (which you can download directly from Microsoft) along with multiple Linux ISOs. Correct?

What is the storage capacity of your current USB drive? Wouldn't it be easier to just have more than one USB drive?

 

[Grobe]

1. Have many .iso files for Linux

Yes, assume you already know how to use Ventoy.

2. Have custom directories

I don't know how Ventoy works for a Windows iso image, but for a Linux Live desktop, the partition where the iso images are located are being locked so it cannot easily be used. I always use a second storage device for file storage.

3. Have the .iso file for Windows 10 to be reused through VirtualBox (or QEMU/KVM) having Linux as Host.

So long the volume/partition is automatically being mounted so that the file path are always the same, I don't se any issue with this. However bear in mind a usb thumb drive are assumed less reliable compared to a hard drive.

And remember if ventoy is upgraded keep all the data - including mostly the Windows 10 iso in peace.

In theory this update of Ventoy should be safe because it should only touch the partition that holds the boot and binary of Ventoy itself, not the storage partition. But, stupid user errors are common, so have a plan for what to do in case of data corruption/loss (i.e. backup)

 

[Manuel Jordan]

Thanks for the reply

So you want to have multiple ISOs on one USB flash drive. Correct?

In general yes,

One of those being a Windows ISO (which you can download directly from Microsoft) along with multiple Linux ISOs. Correct?

If you mean about the Create Windows 10 installation media instructions I don't know what type of content is generated. A .iso file or other type of content - Therefore I never tried yet. . I watched some videos on YouTube and it seems a .iso file is not created.

What is the storage capacity of your current USB drive? Wouldn't it be easier to just have more than one USB drive?

Currently in my city is possible buy since 16GB of RAM to 128/256GB .Therefore the scenario to buy 2 pendrives of 16GB for a not daily task is not very tempative. So I want use 1 pendrive of 16/32GB.

 

[Manuel Jordan]

THanks for the reply

Yes, assume you already know how to use Ventoy.

Yes, about the basic, installation, upgrade ventoy itself. Add, delete ,iso files and finally boot ventoy to select the respective ,iso file to load/boot

2. Have custom directories
I don't know how Ventoy works for a Windows iso image, but for a Linux Live desktop, the partition where the iso images are located are being locked so it cannot easily be used. I always use a second storage device for file storage.

With a custom directory I mean, apart of the .iso files I create a custom directory to storage something. Consider by simplicity some .mp4 files.

So long the volume/partition is automatically being mounted so that the file path are always the same, I don't se any issue with this. However bear in mind a usb thumb drive are assumed less reliable compared to a hard drive.

With the same pendrive I can go to other laptop to copy and paste (not boot from the pendrive itself) the .iso file to be loaded by VirtualBox or QEMU/KVM.
And of course if I use directly the pendrive to boot in a laptop I am able to boot and use/install the .iso file.

In theory this update of Ventoy should be safe because it should only touch the partition that holds the boot and binary of Ventoy itself, not the storage partition

Theoretically yes

But, stupid user errors are common, so have a plan for what to do in case of data corruption/loss (i.e. backup)

Or as human been we are very tired or simply a bug of the software itself did do a disaster

 

[Grobe]

With a custom directory I mean, apart of the .iso files I create a custom directory to storage something. Consider by simplicity some .mp4 files.

I don't know how windows operates when booting of Ventoy, but for a Linux live desktop the volume wouldn't be mounted automatically.
I haven't played around trying to fore it to mount in recent time.

Or as human been we are very tired or simply a bug of the software itself did do a disaster

Either backup or download every iso file again.