How to Install Ventoy on Manjaro Linux

Ventoy is a free, open-source tool to write media’s ISO image files directly onto storage media to create bootable USB flash drives. The following tutorial will teach you how to install Ventoy USB Bootable Image Creator on Manjaro Linux utilizing the Arch Linux user repository (AUR).

What is Ventoy? How does it work?

Developed to create a more convenient installation process, Ventoy is an excellent tool for anyone looking to create bootable USB flash drives quickly. It is a free and open-source program that enables users to write image files such as .iso, .wim, .img, .vhd(x), and .efi to store media for creating bootable USB flash drives. In contrast to other available programs that require reformatting the disk each time new installation files are added, Ventoy allows users to copy the files onto their USB drive before selecting one from a boot menu it presents.

Recommended Steps Before Installation

First, update your system to ensure all existing packages are up to date. This will ensure no conflicts arise as best as possible during the installation.

sudo pacman -Syu

Sometimes, you may need a complete database download if you have not upgraded your Arch Linux system for a while; use the following command if the above update command does not work.

sudo pacman -Syyu

Lastly, for users that have Pamac installed, which most Manjaro desktops do, I would optionally suggest running an update; this will ensure that your Arch Linux and Manjaro packages are fully up-to-date.

sudo pamac checkupdates -a
sudo pamac upgrade -a

Troubleshooting Updating Manjaro Packages

Manjaro/Arch Linux is a rolling release; occasionally, updating packages with Pacman GPG keys can become invalid or corrupt. If both commands do not work, use the following command.

Note, this is only if you have errors updating with the first two commands above if you can skip these.

sudo pacman -S archlinux-keyring manjaro-keyring
sudo pacman-key --populate archlinux manjaro

The above should work in nearly all cases, but if it does not, use the following steps as a last resort.

sudo rm -r /etc/pacman.d/gnupg
sudo pacman-key --init
sudo pacman-key --populate manjaro
sudo pacman-key --populate archlinux
sudo pacman -Syvv manjaro-keyring

Then repeat the update process.

Install Ventoy

Firstly, you can install Ventoy directly from the default repository; this is often closely up-to-date to the AUR version, but if you find the AUR version to be buggy, often removing it and installing it this way may be more stable.

sudo pacman -S ventoy

For the latest version that is current at all times, you will need to install the AUR version. While having the advantage of being more up-to-date with performance, new features it can be more unstable as it has not been tested as much on Manjaro.

By default, AUR is disabled. You will first need to enable it, which you can do with the following command.

sudo sed -Ei '/EnableAUR/s/^#//' /etc/pamac.conf

Next, run the install command; you can use install or build, given it’s only available from the AUR, but I would stress using the build command for best practice.

pamac build ventoy-bin

How to Launch Ventoy

The best way to use Ventoy is to open the GUI of the application by following the path from your taskbar.

Taskbar > Accessories > Ventoy.

Example:

Once open, insert a USB, and you can begin. The program itself is straightforward, as it should be for a USB creator.

Example:

I would suggest reading up on the “Get started with Ventoy” from the official website for new users.

Additional Commands & Tips

How to Update Ventoy

The best way to check for updates and upgrade Ventoy is to use the following command.

sudo pamac checkupdates -a
sudo pamac upgrade -a

How to Remove (Uninstall) Ventoy

When you no longer want the Ventoy application installed on your system, use the following command to remove it.

For users that installed Ventoy using the standard repository, use the following command.

sudo pacman -Rns ventoy

Lastly, users that installed using pamac package manager and installed the latest version of Ventoy from the AUR, use the following command.

pamac remove ventoy-bin

Lastly, this is optional but good practice, clear up orphans and clear your cache to reduce clutter.

Clear orphan leftovers that are no longer required.

pamac remove -o

Clear packages deleted from the package cache.

pamac clean -uv -k 0

Clear redundant package versions from the package cache (keep the last two versions)

pamac clean -v -k 2

Lastly, for users that enabled pamac and then had second thoughts about using it and instead wanted to use something else, you can easily disable it using the following command.

sudo sed -Ei '/EnableAUR/s/^/#/' /etc/pamac.conf

Conclusion

In the tutorial, you have learned how to install Ventoy on Manjaro Linux utilizing the AUR. This is peraphs the easiest way, the beauty about AUR is that worse case scenario the maintainer abandons the project and someone else takes it place you can remove and re-install the other maintainers package of Ventoy or better yet any package that is installed on AUR which is why in my opinion Arch Linux based distributions are gaining popularity.

How to Install Ventoy on Manjaro Linux