hello guys i am wondering what are some must have iso’s for a ventoy drive? and what size ventoy drive would you recomend (i am considering buying a 512gb, 1tb or 2tb tranced 220s nvme)

Back story: So i recently started my own “business” in computer support and i need a drive to put ventoy on (its currently on a 32gb micro sd card) so i can easily have memtest, ultimatebootcd and some linux distro’s/windows install media and i am wondering if there would be any reason not to go with the cheapest per gb drive(2tb) as i could then also use it for some nice snappy file transfers. I am also looking to compile a list of iso’s to put on it. As i mentioned before i already have a few things but you guys probably have more suggestions for iso’s to put on a drive for repair\troubleshooting.

Thanks in advance for your advice on drive size and ISO recommendations.

  • CoatGhost@lemmy.worldEnglish
    20·
    1 year ago

    So for me (also do IT/Security consulting and repair) I have:

    • Clonezilla (multiple versions for different CPU architecture as well as x86 and x64 boards
    • DBAN (only for HDDs)
    • Hirens Boot CD (for Window OS repair/password resets)
    • GParted (same setup as Clonezilla)
    • Kali Linux (for security auditing and malware analyzation)
    • Puppy Linux (for general stuff/data rescue on old computers/anything I need to boot into RAM for)
    • TAILS (it is intended for heavy privacy and security but I actually don’t really use it, but it’s small so I leave it on there)
    • SystemRescue (Linux distro for all sorts of rescue purposes)
    • Sometimes a Windows install/recovery ISO (per need basis, typically Hirens solves recovery stuff so I rarely go this route for recovery)

    EDIT: Also have two versions (x86 and x64) of AntiX for general purpose stuff. Boots into RAM like puppy but I find it a little more useful.

    I have these running on a 128 (I think, might be bigger) flash drive that I actually have looped on my keychain. I have found that 90% of the things I need to do can be done from that, and having it on my keys means I always have it ready. Unless I lose my keys for a while that is…

    • noja@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      1 year ago

      Thank you very much for this list! I’m just now getting started in this kind of world. I was always a hobbyist but I’ve started doing a little IT on the side now and I love seeing peoples tools.

  • lyoko@lemm.eeEnglish
    13·
    1 year ago

    Not really for ventoy but have you heard about medicat ? I have bookmarked it for sometime now but never had a chance to try.

    Edit: medicat also supports ventoy

      • plotting_homelab@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        Ama

        I am wondering is there any way i can add my own iso’s to a medicat drive? like is it just like the ventoy installer and can i than just use it as a preinstalled ventoy drive to put my own live iso/windows install media on it? or is it 1 drive only for medicat?

        (btw i disabled my add blocker when reading your message about the only way to keep the site running i like this kind of hey i noticed you are running an add blocker kind of message and just wanted to support with adds)

        Edit i found a typo on your site: https://medicatusb.com/docs/installation/supported-drives/ “We SRONGLY suggest” i think you meant STRONGLY

      • FutileRecipe@lemmy.worldEnglish
        31·
        1 year ago

        this is exactly why i posted this. I learned some new tool

        Me, too. I’ve never tried Ventoy. I usually use Rufus or some other app.

    • lps2English
      1·
      1 year ago

      Is it still aimed primarily at HDDs or does it have SSD utilities now? As I understand it, most of its wiping methods are/we’re geared toward HDDs

      • CoatGhost@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        1 year ago

        DBAN is for HDDs and using it for an SSD is not really worth the effort. If the SSD manufacturer does not provide a wiping tool (Samsung does for the EVOs) and you need to make sure the data is wiped, you better crack it open like a clam shell and destroy the board inside. In my opinion you should never sell or give away a used SSD because of that.

  • blackstrat@lemmy.fwgx.ukEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago
    • Clonezilla
    • An Ubuntu live ISO is useful
    • GParted
    • memtest
    • Your favourite Linux distro of choice
    • If you’re running a business for this sort of thing then a few different versions of Windows would probably be useful.
  • dan@upvote.auEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    A build of WinPE, like Sergei Strelec’s one (easily found via Google). Essentially a small version of Windows you can boot into that has a bunch of tools.