Can I make USB drive bootable and install multiple OSes from it?

Question

Is it possible to have USB drive bootable and place multiple ISOs like

• Windows 7.iso
• WindowXP.iso
• Ubuntu.iso
• RHEL.iso

so that I can choose which OS to install?

Solution 1

You can use MagicISO (Shareware, $30), it features a Multi-Boot Image Editor.

And here's a tutorial.

Solution 2

Free alternative:

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/boot-multiple-iso-from-usb-multiboot-usb/

From the site:

How to Boot Multiple ISO Files from USB

1. Download and run MultiBootISOs.exe following the onscreen instructions
2. Download some ISO Files (listed above) and place them on your Flash Drive
3. Restart your PC setting it to boot from the USB device
4. Select the ISO you want to Boot from the Menu and enjoy!

That's all there is to it. You should now be booting your favorite ISO files from your Multi-Boot USB device!

Limitations: As far as I can see you can only do this for the O.S's on their list:

* Run MemTest86+ ISO from USB (Get ISO from Zip)
* Boot Linux Mint 8 ISO from USB
* Boot Ubuntu 9.10 ISO from USB
* Boot Xubuntu 9.10 ISO from USB
* Boot Kubuntu 9.10 ISO from USB
* Boot Ubuntu 9.10 Netbook Remix from USB
* Boot Ubuntu 9.10 Rescue Remix from USB
* Boot Ubuntu 9.10 Server Install ISO from USB
* Boot Parted Magic 4.8 ISO from USB (get ISO from Zip)
* Boot DSL 4.4.10 initrd ISO from USB
* Boot Ultimate Boot 4.11 CD (UBCD) ISO from USB
* Boot SliTaz Linux 2.0 ISO from USB
* Boot OphCrack XP ISO from USB
* Boot OphCrack Vista ISO from USB
* Boot Offline NT Password + Reg Editor from USB (get ISO from Zip)
* Boot RIPLinux 9.3 ISO from USB
* Boot Ylmf OS (Windows Like OS) ISO from USB
* Boot DBAN 1.0.7 (Hard Drive Nuker) ISO from USB
* Boot xPUD (Simple NetBook Distro) ISO from USB
* Run FreeDOS (Balder Image) from USB (put balder10.img on USB)
* Boot boot.kernel.org (BKO) gpxe.lkrn from USB (put gpxe.lkrn on

USB)

And if you don't like the above solution (I don't), you can try this one:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=18846

It's based on "Syslinux"

Comments

[Mirage]

Thanks for that great tutorial. One thing more, I have 32GB USB . I also want to use that for installing OS and for general purpose use. Is it possible that once i make the bootable image then make some files or portion Read only or hide them so that they can't be seen

[Admin]

@Mirage - i haven't tried to create a multi-boot OS disk, but have a look at UnetBootin. and for your next question: seen from where? there's always a way to view files even if they're hidden in windows.

[Ivo Flipse]

That looks interesting, though 32Gb would be of limited use if you actually install programs

[Admin]

@Ivo - if you can make a bootable pocket HDD from that ISO, i think you get 1 TB now :)

[quack quixote]

note that most linux LiveCDs include an option to install the OS once booted from the iso-on-flash-drive.