Multiple Operating Systems or ISO's Bootloader for a USB Stick?

I have no idea how to do this.

I have 7 iso's that I want to be able to easily boot from using a USB Stick and they are:

Windows 7 Ultimate x86
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Windows 8.1 x64
Hirens BootCD
Ultimate BootCD
Windows XP Professional
Ubuntu

Basically, I want to be able to boot my USB stick and instead of it just loading a single OS (like it does at the moment) I want a list of options ^ like above that I can choose and it will load that OS/ISO.

Any ideas how this can be achieved?

Hyflex

Posted 2014-01-19T12:41:17.457

Reputation: 199

1Have you looked into syslinux ? I believe that can boot ISOs – Lawrence – 2014-01-19T12:51:23.430

Have you checked on YUMI? It allows to create bootable programs / ISOs, and you may be able to make it to boot Windows ISO perfectly fine just by editing the grub.

– Darius – 2014-01-19T12:57:01.257

1That looks like a really useful tool that I have not come across before +1. – leinad13 – 2014-01-19T13:47:50.020

Looks like YUMI is just syslinux bundled up nicely. Just an interesting note. – Lawrence – 2014-01-20T07:55:24.597

Answers

Try Easy2Boot (Windows & Linux) - it allows you to plonk the .iso files on the USB key and they will be picked up in a menu dynamically generated at boot time.

As a bonus, to test your USB key, it includes QEMU so you give it a whirl without having to reboot!

http://www.easy2boot.com/download/

I had an issue with their download server, but they have a Google driver mirror listed too.

This requires another tool as a prerequisite: http://www.rmprepusb.com/documents/release-2-0

I found your question when I wanted to do pretty much the same thing myself... I hope this helps!

Tom Hale

Posted 2014-01-19T12:41:17.457

Reputation: 1 348

this util is just amazing! I have been able to create that usb on just minutes, and adding ISOs to it is so simple! Great tip, thank you. – laconbass – 2014-11-09T02:14:39.813

The links are dead.. Now searching for the possible new location. – Luka Bradeško – 2016-03-17T06:55:15.637

Are you two advertising? The answer seemed to imply this is only a matter of dropping iso files into USBs. It is way more complicated than that. – j riv – 2017-06-25T12:56:40.343

Which two? It isn't necessarily easy with the method described above, but it was the only way I knew at the time which was possible. – Tom Hale – 2017-06-29T07:30:33.050

Making from Windows

I have had great success using YUMI, it's nice and easy and it supports custom ISOs (keep it updated for newest distros though).

You can also try SARDU and XBOOT.

Easy2Boot works on both Windows and Linux. I haven't tried it though.

Making from Linux

I've tried many, unfortunately most are not as stable and nice as YUMI.

MultiSystem works alright (although sometimes it's buggy), with MultiSystem having a lot more functionality and customization (including persistent data partition sizes). It is also made by French people, so you may see some tooltips being French, but you can get by with icons and the mostly localized English interface.

I've also used multibootusb simple, works well but you have to type in the *.iso filename to boot into it (perhaps due to an error/by design?).

I've used UNetbootin (available from Ubuntu Universe repo).

Most of these programs are front-ends to Syslinux. You can also do this manually on Linux: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/boot-multiple-iso-from-usb-via-grub2-using-linux/

pd12

Posted 2014-01-19T12:41:17.457

Reputation: 123

Buy an isostick isostick from amazon

I bought one and you put a micro sd or SHXC card in it up to 64gb and it give you a boot menu on every other boot up. Is it perfect no, but it works well enough. The author is working on a patch to fix UEFI bios machines.

Visit isostick

for more details

it is better than what your trying to do I have tried multi-boot loaded a most don't work with one or another ISO. Some like linux, but will hate your windows and vice versa.

I will never go back to doing it the old software way.

cybernard

Posted 2014-01-19T12:41:17.457

Reputation: 11 200

99 $ is a lot. I wonder what special hardware do they have in there that makes it so expensive – infoclogged – 2017-03-18T12:01:51.143

2They're pretty expensive :s – Hyflex – 2014-01-20T18:05:52.380

Agreed they are kind of expensive, but the ease of use makes up for that. You just drag and drop your ISO on to the software and wait for completion and its done. You need the software for ISO >4gb,but for eveything else just copy and paste the ISO on and that is all that is required. – cybernard – 2014-01-20T18:21:00.587

I just managed to put Hirens, Ultimate, FalconFour, Windows XP Pro, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Ubuntu all onto a USB and all of them boot. The only one what doesn't work is "Kon-Boot" but that looks like it's a problem with Kon-Boot's "Dummy Bios detection", all done via WinSetupFromUSB – Hyflex – 2014-01-21T02:08:36.930

I have used only one there may be others: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/ or you could do it by hand but is more tedious work.

Gaurav Joseph

Posted 2014-01-19T12:41:17.457

Reputation: 1 503

There are many tools available to do that, check it and pick right one for you

MultiBootUSB
XBOOT
YUMI – Multiboot USB Creator
RMPrepUSB

Shankar Prakash G

Posted 2014-01-19T12:41:17.457

Reputation: 111

First copy all ISO files to another USB stick or external drive. Sequentially write each windows ISO to the flash drive using rufus and install it on a separate partition. Finally, use universal USB installer to create a bootable Ubuntu iso and install. After the install, each operating systems will be available in the grub bootloader.

user 2608

Posted 2014-01-19T12:41:17.457

Reputation: 11

Have you ever consider a PXE server instead? i.e. you can get your boot menu up and running in very short time with Serva. (I'm related to Serva development).

Pat

Posted 2014-01-19T12:41:17.457

Reputation: 2 593