I'm on the hunt for the perfect multi-purpose USB stick, ideally 128 GB or larger, that can hold several bootable images and still have plenty of space for general storage. Here's what I'm looking for:
1. Compatibility with various devices, including Type A, Type C, and Lightning connections.
2. Fast enough for decent performance as a temporary live filesystem.
3. No need for an external power supply.
4. Compact enough to attach to a keychain.
5. Support for multiple partitions, particularly FAT32, for older devices and operating systems.
Currently, I'm considering the Kingston DataTraveler Max 256 GB, which has a Type A port and I'd use adapters for Type C and Lightning to address the first four points. I believe tools like YUMI or Ventoy can help with the partition issue, but I have some concerns:
- How well does the Kingston handle heat? Can it maintain high performance without overheating?
- Is there any real difference in performance between USB 3.2 Type A and Type C? I mostly find Type A ports on devices except for some phones.
- My Google Pixel 1 can only see the first partition of external drives and only recognizes FAT32. Can I set up the USB to have my large data partition come first, followed by the ISO partitions? I'm not sure if YUMI or Ventoy allow that since they seem to reserve space after their partitions.
5 Answers
Honestly, I’ve found multi-ISO solutions like Ventoy a bit hit-or-miss. I personally use an old IODD that lets me load multiple ISOs or VHDs, which works great for me while also keeping my storage separate for other files. Might be useful for your situation too!
Yes, IODD offers both hardware options and some models that support generic SSDs or sticks. This could be a cost-effective route for your needs!
You can skip the USB stick altogether! If you have an M.2 SSD lying around, just get an enclosure for it. It's much faster and more reliable than traditional flash drives.
Agreed! I did this with Ventoy, and it works great.
Have you thought about looking into tools like Ventoy? They let you boot various systems by just dropping the ISOs onto the USB. It's pretty straightforward, actually—you just select what you need when booting up!
I heard Ventoy's compatibility is decent but not perfect. Still worth a shot for general use though!
I’ve had my fair share of issues trying to install Windows from a multi-ISO drive. Some devices are picky and can throw errors about missing drivers. However, if you use a dedicated USB with a single image, it often goes much smoother with tools like Rufus. Now, I keep one USB just for Windows and another for Linux distros.
Same here! It's amazing how picky some machines can be. They can’t even boot from multi-ISO setups without throwing a fit.
If you're using UEFI, the order of your bootable partitions doesn't need to be a concern. You can go ahead and set up your USB as you prefer. Just remember that if you want BIOS-based systems to boot from it, you'll need to keep some things in mind. For your needs, deploying Ventoy and reformatting your partitions appropriately would work fine. Just ensure you go with the GPT partitioning style instead of MBR.
I see your point about UEFI! I’m leaning more towards flexibility in partitioning, so if I can bypass the limitations for older BIOS systems, I might do that.
I’m curious about IODD's current offerings. Are there software-only options that would let me use it with my existing USB sticks without splurging too much?