As a tech enthusiast and troubleshooter, I’ve encountered countless situations where a reliable USB rescue disk saved the day. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of creating a powerful USB rescue disk using Ventoy, a versatile and user-friendly tool that allows you to boot multiple ISO files from a single drive.
Key Takeaways:
- Ventoy allows you to create a bootable USB drive with multiple ISO files.
- The rescue disk can boot in both legacy and UEFI systems, making it versatile for various computers.
- Essential ISO files for the rescue disk include Hiren’s Boot CD, Windows 10, and Windows 11 installation media.
What You’ll Need
Before we begin, make sure you have the following:
- A blank USB flash drive (at least 16GB in size)
- A computer with an internet connection
- Administrator access to your computer
Creating Your Ventoy USB Rescue Disk
Step 1: Download and Install Ventoy
- Go to the Ventoy GitHub page and download the latest release for Windows.
- Extract the downloaded zip file to a folder on your computer.
- Open the extracted folder and run the “Ventoy2Disk” application.

Step 2: Prepare Your USB Drive
- Insert your blank USB drive into your computer.
- In the Ventoy2Disk application, select your USB drive from the device list.
- Click “Install” and confirm the prompts to format and install Ventoy on your USB drive.

Step 3: Download Essential ISO Files
Hiren’s BootCD PE
- Visit the Hiren’s BootCD PE website and navigate to the download section.
- Download the latest Hiren’s BootCD PE ISO file.

Windows 10 ISO
- Go to the Microsoft Windows 10 download page.
- Download and run the Media Creation Tool.
- Choose “Create installation media” and select “ISO file” as the media type.
- Save the Windows 10 ISO file to your computer.
If you need detailed instructions, check out my other guides:
- How to Download the Windows 10 ISO Without Media Creation Tool
- How to Download Windows 10 ISO File from Microsoft

Windows 11 ISO
- Visit the Microsoft Windows 11 download page.
- Scroll down to find the “Download Windows 11 Disk Image” section.
- Select your preferred language and download the 64-bit version.
If you need detailed instructions, check out my other guides:

Step 4: Copy ISO Files to Your Ventoy USB Drive
- Open File Explorer and navigate to your Ventoy USB drive.
- Copy all the downloaded ISO files (Hiren’s Boot CD PE, Windows 10, and Windows 11) to the Ventoy drive.

Using Your Ventoy USB Rescue Disk
Now that you’ve created your Ventoy USB rescue disk, here’s how to use it:
- Restart your computer and enter the boot menu (usually by pressing F12 or a similar key during startup).
- Select your Ventoy USB drive as the boot device.
- Choose the ISO file you want to boot from the Ventoy menu.

Troubleshooting Secure Boot Issues
If you encounter a secure boot error when trying to boot from the Ventoy drive:
- Press Enter when you see the error message.
- Select “Enroll key from disk” and choose the Ventoy EFI option.
- Follow the prompts to enroll the key and reboot your system.

Conclusion
Creating a USB rescue disk with Ventoy is an invaluable skill for any computer user. This versatile tool allows you to carry multiple bootable environments on a single drive, making it easier to troubleshoot and repair various system issues. By following this guide, you’ve not only created a powerful rescue disk but also gained the knowledge to update and customize it for your specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Ventoy, and how does it differ from other bootable USB creators?
Ventoy is an open-source tool that allows you to create a bootable USB drive capable of hosting multiple ISO files. Unlike traditional methods that require reformatting for each new ISO, Ventoy lets you simply copy ISO files to the drive, making it easier to manage and update your rescue disk.
Can I add more ISO files to my Ventoy USB drive later?
Yes, you can easily add more ISO files to your Ventoy USB drive at any time. Simply copy the new ISO files to the drive, and they will appear in the Ventoy boot menu the next time you use it.
Is it safe to use Ventoy with secure boot enabled?
Ventoy is compatible with secure boot, but you may need to enroll its key the first time you use it on a system with secure boot enabled. The process is straightforward and only needs to be done once per system.
What types of system repair and recovery tasks can I perform with this rescue disk?
With the ISO files mentioned in this guide, you can perform a wide range of tasks, including:
- Running diagnostic tools and antivirus scans (Hiren’s Boot CD PE)
- Recovering lost data
- Repairing or reinstalling Windows (Windows 10 and 11 ISOs)
- Resetting passwords
- Partitioning and formatting drives
How often should I update the ISO files on my Ventoy USB rescue disk?
It’s a good practice to update your ISO files every few months or whenever major updates are released. This ensures you have the latest tools and security patches available when you need to use your rescue disk.