Creation of MultiBoot USB Disk

How To Put Multiple ISO Files In One Bootable USB Disk?

Creating a bootable multibootusb disk comes handy when we have to reinstall our operating system in the case of a system failure. It’s effortless to put ISO files on a portable flash drive by using various tools – like as Windows USB/DVD tool and the Startup Disk Creator in Ubuntu.

There are many OS’s are available in the market either free or paid. Each OS is having different versions and features with Bits like 32-bit or 64-bit. You can’t say which one might be corrupted or will not support your computer. If you have a computer shop then it is very difficult to keep all the versions with different Memory devices which is a waste of space, Pendrive, money, time, etc. It would be great if you put all the ISO files on a flash drive and make a multi-boot USB.

So let’s go discuss how to make a multi-boot USB disk drive. Actually to create a multi-boot USB is quite simple. For Windows OS, these multi-boot USB disks can be created using a popular tool known as WinSetupFromUSB. It allows you to put multiple ISO’s in one installation disk.

You can also put Windows and Linux OS in the same bootable disk or create a master installation disk of Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10. The choice is up to you. Moreover, making multiboot USBs can be very helpful for Linux users who have to deal with various distributions each having its own set of features and configurations. So it will help you to make this as a boot center where multi OS’s are in one place. And if you are going somewhere for OS problem then you can just take a flash drive with multi-OS and complete your work as which one will support in this PC if you don’t know the System details.

Now you have to arrange all the resources for multiboot. Then you must have to arrange a USB flash drive having at least a minimum of 16 GB to put 3 OS.

If you are searching for software to make a bootable pen drive, there are so many tools but I have used very easy software, Rufus.

How to create Multiboot USB Disk in Windows?

Download WinSetupFromUSB. Extract this file.
Connect the flash drive to your computer.
Open WinSetupFromUSB. Open the 32-bit and 64-bit version according to your OS. It will work without any installation.
Make sure your flash drive is listed and selected in the drop-down menu. Click Refresh, if it is not on the list.
Tick Auto format it with FBinst.
Note: You have to tick this option only for the first ISO installation. Choose FAT32 if your computer is set to boot using UEFI mode or if UEFI sounds strange to your ears. Else, go with the NTFS option.

• Download the WinSetupFromUSB. Extract this file.
• Connect the flash drive to your computer.
• Open the WinSetupFromUSB software. Open the 32-bit and 64-bit version according to your OS. It will also work without any installation.
• Make sure that your flash drive is listed and selected in the drop-down menu. Click Refresh, if it is not on the list.
• Tick Auto format it with FBinst.

NOTE: You have to tick this option only for the first ISO installation. Choose FAT32 if your computer is set to boot using UEFI mode or if UEFI sounds strange to your ears. Else, go with the NTFS option.

• Click the Advanced Option.
• Tick the Custom menu names for Vista/7/8/Server Source checkbox. Click the Cross (X) button to exit Advanced Options.

• To add the ISO file for your multi-boot USB, tick the checkbox corresponding to OS under Add to USB disk subheading.

For Ex: I am using the Windows 8.1 ISO.
Note: If the size of your ISO is larger than 4 Gb, it will show a message to split the file into parts. This is because you’ve chosen the FAT32 option. Click OK.

Note: WinSetupFromUSB doesn’t support dual ISOs i.e. it can’t have 32-bit and 64bit version in a single ISO. It will show an error message as:

Click GO. A data deletion warning message will be displayed. This is because you’ve chosen to format the flash drive. Click Yes.
Note: Do remember to check the flash drive name before clicking Yes. Else, you’ll end up formatting some other connected storage media.

• You will get another warning message will be displayed telling you that all the partitions will be erased. Click Yes.

• Next, it will ask for the folder name. Type the desired one in 30 seconds or it’ll auto select. Click Ok.

• It will ask for the boot menu name. This will appear when you run the multiboot USB on some PC and choose an operating system. Type your desired name like Windows 8.1 64-bit. Then Click Ok.

• This process will take few minutes to finish.

• Click Exit to Finish.

How to add the second ISO file in the Multi-boot USB Disk?

1) Start the tool again.
2) Select your flash drive in the drop-down menu.
3) Click Advanced Options and look for Custom menu names for                   Vista/7/8/10/Server Source.
4) Don’t Click Autoformat with FBinst. That’s because it will remove your previous ISO file.
5) Add the second ISO file for your multiboot USB.
6) Click GO and repeat the steps mentioned earlier.

Follow the same process to add more ISO files into the USB Flash Drive.