12-16-2020, 09:39 PM
Please Correct me if I am wrong, BUT, but there may be a way to convert the bootable Ventoy image to a bootable ISO.
I have not tried it, but, I googled "How to convert a bootable disk to a bootable ISO" and got many hits. Doing so would mean that the hybrid ISO file that would result could be written to CD/DVD and booted from that device (CD/DVD/KVM) on UEFI/BIOS PCs.
But I foresee a problem: Externally, it appears that Ventoy is hard-coded to ENSURE that the catalog of ISO files is in a folder on Partition #1 of its booting device. If that is the case, the ability for to boot a Ventoy ISO may require some minor change to allow it to search other units for a folder of bootable distro's ISO/IMG files.
If that single hurdle could be overcome where Ventoy would look at attached devices for the folder of distro ISOs, then a bootable Ventoy CD/DVD would find them and present them for boot selection.
There are reasons, although personally I cannot think of one at the moment, for Ventoy's hard-code for distro search.
That is the ONLY drawback that I can envision from having Ventoy be a FULL function boot manager utility capable of initially booting from any media (ie. USB/DVD/HDD/SSD/CD/MMC) presenting a Menu of distro ISOs it sees. Today, as we all know, that ability has been invalidated.
I have tested the Ventoy ISO which will create a Ventoy USB. But, it is going in the wrong direction. The original Ventoy looks like it could address both an hybrid ISO and an expanded search giving it a more universal appeal. This expansion would allow greater user Ventoy use on a MS/Apple PC.
I am sure someone will come along and take this idea for their product if Ventoy doesn't do it.
FYI
I have not tried it, but, I googled "How to convert a bootable disk to a bootable ISO" and got many hits. Doing so would mean that the hybrid ISO file that would result could be written to CD/DVD and booted from that device (CD/DVD/KVM) on UEFI/BIOS PCs.
But I foresee a problem: Externally, it appears that Ventoy is hard-coded to ENSURE that the catalog of ISO files is in a folder on Partition #1 of its booting device. If that is the case, the ability for to boot a Ventoy ISO may require some minor change to allow it to search other units for a folder of bootable distro's ISO/IMG files.
If that single hurdle could be overcome where Ventoy would look at attached devices for the folder of distro ISOs, then a bootable Ventoy CD/DVD would find them and present them for boot selection.
There are reasons, although personally I cannot think of one at the moment, for Ventoy's hard-code for distro search.
That is the ONLY drawback that I can envision from having Ventoy be a FULL function boot manager utility capable of initially booting from any media (ie. USB/DVD/HDD/SSD/CD/MMC) presenting a Menu of distro ISOs it sees. Today, as we all know, that ability has been invalidated.
I have tested the Ventoy ISO which will create a Ventoy USB. But, it is going in the wrong direction. The original Ventoy looks like it could address both an hybrid ISO and an expanded search giving it a more universal appeal. This expansion would allow greater user Ventoy use on a MS/Apple PC.
I am sure someone will come along and take this idea for their product if Ventoy doesn't do it.
FYI
Happy to learn how to ...