Ventoy/README.md

<h1 align="center">
  <a href=https://www.ventoy.net/>Ventoy</a>
</h1>

<p align="center">
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/release/ventoy/Ventoy.svg?style=for-the-badge">
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/license/ventoy/Ventoy?style=for-the-badge">
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/stars/ventoy/Ventoy?style=for-the-badge">
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/downloads/ventoy/Ventoy/total.svg?style=for-the-badge">
  <img src="https://img.shields.io/github/workflow/status/ventoy/Ventoy/Ventoy%20CI?label=actions&logo=github&style=for-the-badge">
</p>

<h4 align="left">
Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files. <br/>
With ventoy, you don't need to format the disk over and over, you just need to copy the image files to the USB drive and boot it.   
You can copy many image files at a time and ventoy will give you a boot menu to select them. <br/> 
You can also browse ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files in local disk and boot them.<br/>
x86 Legacy BIOS, IA32 UEFI, x86_64 UEFI, ARM64 UEFI and MIPS64EL UEFI are supported in the same way.<br/>
Both MBR and GPT partition style are supported in the same way.<br/>
Most type of OS supported(Windows/WinPE/Linux/Unix/ChromeOS/Vmware/Xen...) <br/>
  1000+ ISO files are tested (<a href="https://www.ventoy.net/en/isolist.html">List</a>). 90%+ distros in <a href="https://distrowatch.com/">distrowatch.com</a> supported (<a href="https://www.ventoy.net/en/distrowatch.html">Details</a>). <br/>
<br/>Official Website: <a href=https://www.ventoy.net>https://www.ventoy.net</a>
</h4>

# Tested OS
**Windows**  
Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2022, WinPE

**Linux**  
Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS(6/7/8/9), RHEL(6/7/8/9), Deepin, Fedora, EuroLinux(6/7/8/9), Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, openEuler, OpenAnolis, SLES, openSUSE, MX Linux, Manjaro, Linux Mint, Endless OS, Elementary OS, Solus, Linx, Zorin, antiX, PClinuxOS, Arch, ArcoLinux, ArchLabs, BlackArch, Obarun, Artix Linux, Puppy Linux, Tails, Slax, Kali, Mageia, Slackware, Q4OS, Archman, Gentoo, Pentoo, NixOS, Kylin, openKylin, Ubuntu Kylin, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, Kubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Studio, Bluestar, OpenMandriva, ExTiX, Netrunner, ALT Linux, Nitrux, Peppermint, KDE neon, Linux Lite, Parrot OS, Qubes, Pop OS, ROSA, Void Linux, Star Linux, EndeavourOS, MakuluLinux, Voyager, Feren, ArchBang, LXLE, Knoppix, Calculate Linux, Clear Linux, Pure OS, Oracle Linux, Trident, Septor, Porteus, Devuan, GoboLinux, 4MLinux, Simplicity Linux, Zeroshell, Android-x86, netboot.xyz, Slitaz, SuperGrub2Disk, Proxmox VE, Kaspersky Rescue, SystemRescueCD, MemTest86, MemTest86+, MiniTool Partition Wizard, Parted Magic, veket, Sabayon, Scientific, alpine, ClearOS, CloneZilla, Berry Linux, Trisquel, Ataraxia Linux, Minimal Linux Live, BackBox Linux, Emmabuntüs, ESET SysRescue Live,Nova Linux, AV Linux, RoboLinux, NuTyX, IPFire, SELKS, ZStack, Enso Linux, Security Onion, Network Security Toolkit, Absolute Linux, TinyCore, Springdale Linux, Frost Linux, Shark Linux, LinuxFX, Snail Linux, Astra Linux, Namib Linux, Resilient Linux, Virage Linux, Blackweb Security OS, R-DriveImage, O-O.DiskImage, Macrium, ToOpPy LINUX, GNU Guix, YunoHost, foxclone, siduction, Adelie Linux, Elive, Pardus, CDlinux, AcademiX, Austrumi, Zenwalk, Anarchy, DuZeru, BigLinux, OpenMediaVault, Ubuntu DP, Exe GNU/Linux, 3CX Phone System, KANOTIX, Grml, Karoshi, PrimTux, ArchStrike, CAELinux, Cucumber, Fatdog, ForLEx, Hanthana, Kwort, MiniNo, Redcore, Runtu, Asianux, Clu Linux Live, Uruk, OB2D, BlueOnyx, Finnix, HamoniKR, Parabola, LinHES, LinuxConsole, BEE free, Untangle, Pearl, Thinstation, TurnKey, tuxtrans, Neptune, HefftorLinux, GeckoLinux, Mabox Linux, Zentyal, Maui, Reborn OS, SereneLinux , SkyWave Linux, Kaisen Linux, Regata OS, TROM-Jaro, DRBL Linux, Chalet OS, Chapeau, Desa OS, BlankOn, OpenMamba, Frugalware, Kibojoe Linux, Revenge OS, Tsurugi Linux, Drauger OS, Hash Linux, gNewSense, Ikki Boot, SteamOS, Hyperbola, VyOS, EasyNAS, SuperGamer, Live Raizo, Swift Linux, RebeccaBlackOS, Daphile, CRUX, Univention, Ufficio Zero, Rescuezilla, Phoenix OS, Garuda Linux, Mll, NethServer, OSGeoLive, Easy OS, Volumio, FreedomBox, paldo, UBOS, Recalbox, batocera, Lakka, LibreELEC, Pardus Topluluk, Pinguy, KolibriOS, Elastix, Arya, Omoikane, Omarine, Endian Firewall, Hamara, Rocks Cluster, MorpheusArch, Redo, Slackel, SME Server, APODIO, Smoothwall, Dragora, Linspire, Secure-K OS, Peach OSI, Photon, Plamo, SuperX, Bicom, Ploplinux, HP SPP, LliureX, Freespire, DietPi, BOSS, Webconverger, Lunar, TENS, Source Mage, RancherOS, T2, Vine, Pisi, blackPanther, mAid, Acronis, Active.Boot, AOMEI, Boot.Repair, CAINE, DaRT, EasyUEFI, R-Drive, PrimeOS, Avira Rescue System, bitdefender, Checkra1n Linux, Lenovo Diagnostics, Clover, Bliss-OS, Lenovo BIOS Update, Arcabit Rescue Disk, MiyoLinux, TeLOS, Kerio Control, RED OS, OpenWrt, MocaccinoOS, EasyStartup, Pyabr, Refracta, Eset SysRescue, Linpack Xtreme, Archcraft, NHVBOOT, pearOS, SeaTools, Easy Recovery Essentional, iKuai, StorageCraft SCRE, ZFSBootMenu, TROMjaro, BunsenLabs, Todo en Uno, ChallengerOS, Nobara, Holo, ......

**Unix**  
DragonFly FreeBSD pfSense GhostBSD FreeNAS TrueNAS XigmaNAS FuryBSD OPNsense HardenedBSD MidnightBSD ClonOS EmergencyBootKit

**ChromeOS**  
FydeOS, CloudReady, ChromeOS Flex

**Other**  
VMware ESXi, Citrix XenServer, Xen XCP-ng

# Subscription Service
Ventoy is an open source software under GPLv3 license.
But Ventoy project need to pay for the server hosting, domain name, bandwidth, many USB sticks for test, large capacity of HDD (for downloading ISO files) and so on.  
For the better and sustainable development of Ventoy, I provide the [【subscription service】](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_subscription.html).


# Tested Image Report
[【How to report a successfully tested image file】](https://github.com/ventoy/Ventoy/issues/1195)

# Ventoy Browser
With Ventoy, you can also browse ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files in local disk and boot them. [Notes](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_browser.html)
  
# VentoyPlugson
A GUI Ventoy plugin configurator. [VentoyPlugson](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_plugson.html)

# Features
* 100% open source
* Simple to use
* Fast (limited only by the speed of copying iso file)
* Can be installed in USB/Local Disk/SSD/NVMe/SD Card
* Directly boot from ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files, no extraction needed
* Support to browse and boot ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files in local disk
* No need to be continuous in disk for ISO/WIM/IMG/VHD(x)/EFI files
* MBR and GPT partition style supported (1.0.15+)
* x86 Legacy BIOS, IA32 UEFI, x86_64 UEFI, ARM64 UEFI, MIPS64EL UEFI supported
* IA32/x86_64 UEFI Secure Boot supported (1.0.07+)
* Linux Persistence supported (1.0.11+)
* Windows auto installation supported (1.0.09+)
* Linux auto installation supported (1.0.09+)
* Variables Expansion supported for Windows/Linux auto installation script
* FAT32/exFAT/NTFS/UDF/XFS/Ext2(3)(4) supported for main partition
* ISO files larger than 4GB supported
* Menu alias, Menu tip message supported
* Password protect supported
* Native boot menu style for Legacy & UEFI
* Most types of OS supported, 1000+ iso files tested
* Linux vDisk boot supported
* Not only boot but also complete installation process
* Menu dynamically switchable between List/TreeView mode
* "Ventoy Compatible" concept
* Plugin Framework and GUI plugin configurator
* Injection files to runtime environment
* Boot configuration file dynamically replacement
* Highly customizable theme and menu
* USB drive write-protected support
* USB normal use unaffected
* Data nondestructive during version upgrade
* No need to update Ventoy when a new distro is released

![avatar](https://www.ventoy.net/static/img/screen/screen_uefi.png)


# Installation Instructions
See [https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_start.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_start.html) for detailed instructions. 

# Compile Instructions
Please refer to [BuildVentoyFromSource.txt](DOC/BuildVentoyFromSource.txt)

# Document
Title | Link
-|-
**Install & Update** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_start.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_start.html)
**Browse/Boot Files In Local Disk** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_browser.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_browser.html)
**Secure Boot** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_secure.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_secure.html)
**Customize Theme** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_theme.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_theme.html)  
**Global Control** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_control.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_control.html)  
**Image List** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_imagelist.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_imagelist.html)  
**Auto Installation** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_autoinstall.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_autoinstall.html)  
**Injection Plugin** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_injection.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_injection.html)  
**Persistence Support** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_persistence.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_persistence.html)  
**Boot WIM file** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_wimboot.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_wimboot.html)  
**Windows VHD Boot** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_vhdboot.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_vhdboot.html)  
**Linux vDisk Boot** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_vtoyboot.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_vtoyboot.html)  
**DUD Plugin** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_dud.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_dud.html)  
**Password Plugin** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_password.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_password.html)  
**Conf Replace Plugin** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_bootconf_replace.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_bootconf_replace.html)  
**Menu Class** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_menuclass.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_menuclass.html)  
**Menu Alias** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_menualias.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_menualias.html)  
**Menu Extension** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_grubmenu.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/plugin_grubmenu.html)  
**Memdisk Mode** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_memdisk.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_memdisk.html)  
**TreeView Mode** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_treeview.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_treeview.html)  
**Disk Layout MBR** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_disk_layout.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_disk_layout.html)  
**Disk Layout GPT** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_disk_layout_gpt.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_disk_layout_gpt.html)  
**Search Configuration** | [https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_search_path.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/doc_search_path.html)


# FAQ
See [https://www.ventoy.net/en/faq.html](https://www.ventoy.net/en/faq.html) for detail


# Forum
[https://forums.ventoy.net](https://forums.ventoy.net)

# Donation
It would be much appreciated if you want to make a small donation to support my work!  
Alipay, WeChat Pay, PayPal and Bitcoin are available for donation. You can choose any of them.  

Alipay | WeChat Pay
-|-
<img src="https://www.ventoy.net/static/img/AliPay.png" width="250" height="250">|<img src="https://www.ventoy.net/static/img/WeChatPay.png" width="250" height="250">

**PayPal**  
You can transfer to my paypal account `admin@ventoy.net` or just click [https://www.paypal.me/ventoy](https://www.paypal.me/ventoy)  

**Bitcoin**  
Bitcoin Address `19mZDWzZgzkHCi9YX9H3fYCUuCHq3W6wfT`