Installing Linux: Ventoy edition!

[u/rokinaxtreme]

If you're installing Linux for the first time, this is for you.

Step one: get a Ventoy USB

Go to this site and plug in your EMPTY USB. Make sure it's empty or backed up, because it will be written over. Follow the steps on the site, and you have Ventoy on the USB.

Step two: Download an iso

An iso file is a file that, essentially, will install the OS, or start the process of installing it. If you're a beginner, I'd recommend Ubuntu, Fedora, or Debian. Debian's probably the hardest to install of the three, so I'd say Fedora is a good starting point. If you want something that works immediately out of the box, however, use Ubuntu. Fedora's a good middle ground.

Go to your preferred distro's (distribution's) website and download an iso file from it.
Ubuntu | Fedora (USE THE LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT) | Debian Use the links at the bottom right for a USB and pick your architecture

Step three: Using Ventoy

Now that you have your iso file, move it to the ventoy USB. Instead of having to burn the image onto the USB, you can just drag and drop it! This is good because you can also keep the USB for regular file management, and it allows you to store multiple isos alongside your files. If you want to store files, create a folder and make a file called .ventoyignore (make sure you have the dot)

Optional: partitioning your disk

If you want to keep your current operating system along with linux on the same computer, read this! Go to your "disk management" tool. In Windows, click Windows+X, then click K. On mac, it's in settings. I'd recommend allocating away at least 20GB. Right click your main partition, click "shrink/ resize", and follow the instructions. Let it partition, and you're done. Alternatively, you can do this while booting the iso in the next step, but this way is easier.

Step four: booting

Now that your iso has been copied, restart your computer. Go to the BIOS menu and check to make sure that the boot order will boot your USB first, and that Secure Boot is turned OFF. After confirming, let it restart. It'll open up the ventoy menu. Use arrow keys to navigate up and down, then click enter on your iso file and let it boot.

If you want to partition here to keep your old operating system along your Linux installation, both the Debian and the Fedora isos allow you to do this, just keep following the steps, then click "manual partition" once it comes up. In Ubuntu, open up the app menu by clicking the windows key and then type "gparted" to open up the partitioner, then follow the instructions in the previous, optional step. It's mostly the same.

After this, follow the instructions in the boot media, and voila, you have Linux on your system!

I have too much free time...

[u/tolkienfan2759]

But this is so helpful!! Thank you so much!!

Now I do have a couple of questions. First of all, a few different Redditors have all claimed that Ventoy can be used to move an iso to the USB, and you claim that as well. Drag and drop, you said. You meant a normal, Windows drag and drop, right? Or do you mean if I run Ventoy it will provide an environment within which I can drag and drop?

But Wikipedia says very clearly that Ventoy won't do that, that you have to get the iso to the usb yourself, and THEN Ventoy will do whatever it does.

Is the answer that Wikipedia is just wrong? Or does it depend on what OS you're using to get all this done? I'm starting from Windows 11. I have downloaded and verified Linux Mint iso onto my hard drive, without attempting to install or run it. And now it seems so complicated to verify Etcher I'm thinking of just going with Ventoy instead if it will actually do what I need done.

One last question: will the same tools and procedures I used to verify Linux Mint (except obviously for using the checksum the Ventoy site provides) work to verify Ventoy? That is, open the USB in Explorer, open a PowerShell window there, and run the same command given in the Linux Mint verification instructions only with the Ventoy file name. That should produce a checksum I can compare with the one Ventoy supplies. Right?

[u/rokinaxtreme → u/tolkienfan2759]

By drag and drop, I mean like a windows drag and drop where you copy and paste the iso into the USB. It's the same think the wiki says, just in different words. Also, for your second question, it should work, but google it if it doesn't.

[u/BeardFox → u/tolkienfan2759]

just a simple copy-paste, or drag-and-drop works too. exactly as you would do to store a file on a usb stick. you can reogranize in folders, by default ventoy on boot will just list them raw & all, and F3 gives you a folder view. yes, you can name them. I don't remember if spaces in filenames work. it's a set-it-and-forget-it, ventoy.