How to Create a Windows Bootable USB Using Ventoy on Linux Mint

Creating a bootable USB for Windows installation is straightforward with Ventoy on Linux Mint. Ventoy is a versatile, open-source tool that allows you to create a multi-boot USB drive with ease. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step process to help you set up a Windows bootable USB using Ventoy on Linux Mint, perfect for beginners and advanced users alike.

What is Ventoy?

Ventoy is a free tool that simplifies creating bootable USB drives. Unlike traditional methods, Ventoy allows you to copy multiple ISO files to a single USB drive, making it ideal for installing Windows, Linux, or other operating systems. It supports both UEFI and Legacy BIOS, ensuring compatibility with modern and older systems.

Prerequisites

[note]Before you begin, ensure you have:

A USB drive (8GB or larger recommended).
A Windows ISO file (download from Microsoft’s official website).
A computer running Linux Mint.
Administrative (sudo) access in the terminal. [/note]

Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Windows Bootable USB with Ventoy

✅ Step 1: Download and Install Ventoy on Linux Mint

Open the Terminal:
- Press [inline_code type=”warning”]Ctrl + Alt + T[/inline_code] to open the terminal in Linux Mint.
Download Ventoy:
- Visit the official Ventoy GitHub page ( [inline_code type=”warning”]https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy/releases[/inline_code]) to find the latest release.
- Use [inline_code type=”warning”]wget[/inline_code] to download the Linux version. For example:
  Bash
```
wget https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy/releases/download/v1.0.99/ventoy-1.0.99-linux.tar.gz
```
Extract the Downloaded File:
- Extract the tarball using:
  Bash
```
tar -xvf ventoy-1.0.99-linux.tar.gz
```
Navigate to the Ventoy Directory:
- Move to the extracted folder:
  Bash
```
cd ventoy-1.0.99
```

✅ Step 2: Prepare Your USB Drive

Insert the USB Drive:
- Plug in your USB drive. Ensure it has no critical data, as it will be formatted.
Identify the USB Device:
- Run the following command to list connected drives:
  Bash
```
lsblk
```
- Identify your USB drive (e.g., [inline_code type=”warning”]/dev/sdb[/inline_code]). [inline_code type=”error”]Double-check the device name[/inline_code] to avoid erasing the wrong drive.
Unmount the USB Drive:
- If the USB is auto-mounted, unmount it:
  Bash
```
sudo umount /media/your_linux_username/your_usb_devicename
```
  Replace [inline_code type=”warning”]your_linux_username[/inline_code] with your linux user name, Replace [inline_code type=”warning”]your_usb_devicename[/inline_code] with your USB’s device name.

✅ Step 3: Install Ventoy on the USB Drive

Run the Ventoy Installation Script:
- Execute the following command to install Ventoy:
  Bash
```
sudo ./Ventoy2Disk.sh -i /dev/sdX
```
  Replace [inline_code type=”warning”]sdX[/inline_code] with your USB’s device name in the text line that is shown in Step 2.2. This command formats the USB and installs Ventoy, creating two partitions: one for the bootloader and one for ISO storage.
Confirm Installation:
- Ventoy will display a success message once installed. The USB is now ready to store ISO files.

Note: This process erases all data on the USB. Back up any important files beforehand.

✅ Step 4: Copy the Windows ISO to the USB

Download a Windows ISO:
- Obtain a legitimate Windows ISO from Microsoft’s official website ([inline_code type=”success”]https://www.microsoft.com/software-download[/inline_code]).
Mount the USB’s Data Partition:
- After installing Ventoy, the USB’s data partition (often labeled [inline_code type=”warning”]Ventoy[/inline_code]) will be accessible.
- Open your file manager or mount it manually.
Copy the ISO File:
- Copy the Windows ISO to the USB’s data partition:
  Bash
```
cp /path/to/windows.iso /media/your_linux_username/Ventoy/
```
  Replace [inline_code type=”warning”]/path/to/windows.iso[/inline_code] with the ISO’s location and [inline_code type=”warning”]/media/your_linux_username/Ventoy/[/inline_code] with the USB’s mount point.

✅ Step 5: Boot from the USB Drive

Eject the USB Safely:
- Unmount and eject the USB:
  Bash
```
sudo eject /dev/sdX
```
Configure BIOS/UEFI:
- Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing [inline_code type=”success”]F2[/inline_code], [inline_code type=”success”]F12[/inline_code], [inline_code type=”success”]Del[/inline_code], or [inline_code type=”success”]Esc[/inline_code] during boot).
- Set the USB as the first boot device.
- Enable UEFI mode for modern Windows versions or Legacy mode for older systems, depending on your ISO.
Boot and Install Windows:
- Save BIOS/UEFI settings and reboot.
- Ventoy’s boot menu will display the Windows ISO. Select it to start the Windows installation process.

Troubleshooting Tips

USB Not Booting?
- Verify the ISO file’s integrity using a checksum tool.
- Ensure Secure Boot is disabled in BIOS/UEFI if needed.
- Confirm the correct boot mode (UEFI or Legacy).
Ventoy Installation Fails?
- Check that you’re using the correct device name (/dev/sdX).
- Ensure you have sudo privileges.
Multiple ISOs:
- Ventoy supports multiple ISOs on one USB. Simply copy additional ISOs to the data partition.

Why Use Ventoy?

Multi-Boot Capability: Store multiple ISOs (Windows, Linux, etc.) on a single USB.
No Reformatting Required: Add or remove ISOs without reformatting the USB.
Cross-Platform: Works on Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Windows, and more.
Supports UEFI and Legacy: Compatible with most systems.

Conclusion

Creating a Windows bootable USB with Ventoy on Linux Mint is a fast and flexible process. By following this guide, you can set up a reliable bootable drive in minutes, ready to install Windows or other operating systems. For more details, visit Ventoy’s official documentation at Ventoy.

Call to Action: Try Ventoy today for a hassle-free bootable USB experience! Share this guide with others or leave a comment if you need further assistance.

Windows Bootable USB Using Ventoy 2025: A Comprehensive Guide on Linux Mint