
Quick Start Instructions & Introduction
- Download E2B here.
- Quick Setup Guide here.
- Introduction to E2B here.
- E2B 'quick reference' Primer page - E2B basics all on one page!
- Guides in other languages (French, Russian, Vietnamese, German, Spanish, etc.) here.
New! E2B 140-page eBook is available (complete course on making a multiboot USB drive).
The instructions below will quickly get you going with E2B. If you have special requirements then read the 'Make E2B' pages.
Note: Most of the pages on this website describe MBR\Legacy booting to the Easy2Boot grub4dos-based menu system. Easy2Boot v2 also allows you to add the a1ive grub2-based File Manager (agFM) menu system which supports both MBR\Legacy and UEFI32/UEFI64 booting. The menu system for agFM is very different from the E2B menu system and is described here.
Note: Most of the pages on this website describe MBR\Legacy booting to the Easy2Boot grub4dos-based menu system. Easy2Boot v2 also allows you to add the a1ive grub2-based File Manager (agFM) menu system which supports both MBR\Legacy and UEFI32/UEFI64 booting. The menu system for agFM is very different from the E2B menu system and is described here.
Contents
- Quick Start
- Introduction
- Easy2Boot basics
Quick Start (for Windows users)
1. Download Easy2Boot and run the .exe file.
Tip: turn off your AntiVirus program first, in case it causes trouble. 1000's of E2B drives are made every day - if E2B contained a virus you would have heard about it!.
Tip: turn off your AntiVirus program first, in case it causes trouble. 1000's of E2B drives are made every day - if E2B contained a virus you would have heard about it!.
Windows 10 + internet access may be required when making a UEFI-bootable USB driveThe Make_E2B.exe program will attempt to create a second UEFI-bootable FAT32 partition which will allow you to UEFI-boot to a grub2 menu system (similar to Ventoy) - Windows 10 is required if you are using a USB Flash drive.For direct UEFI-booting, the agFM UEFI boot files will be downloaded and copied to the second partition. Since only Windows 10 can access the second partition of a USB Flash drive if you are using a USB thumb drive (Removable media) and you want direct UEFI-booting, you will need to prepare the USB drive using a Windows 10 system (or see here for XP/Win7/Win8 instructions).
If you are using a USB HDD/SSD as the E2B USB drive, then any Windows XP/7/8/10 version should work.
The .exe file extracts the E2B files to a new folder on your system Desktop and then automatically runs MAKE_E2B.exe. It does not install any programs onto your Windows system.
If your Anti-Virus program blocks the download of the self-extracting .exe file, you can download the .zip file from the Alternate Download Area, then extract the E2B files to a new folder and run MAKE_E2B.exe (right-click and run as Administrator).
Linux users can use a shell script here to make a bootable E2B USB drive, but if possible use a Windows system to make the E2B drive because it will make a more compatible, two-partition drive for you automatically.
2. USB volumes (C:-Z:) will be displayed in the drive list box (the USB drive must have a drive letter already assigned to it by Windows).
If no USB drive letter is displayed or you have a >128GB USB drive, then use the large Make_E2B_USB_Drive.cmd button at the bottom of the form '(3)'...

- 1. Select the E2B menu language (and keyboard type).
- 2. Select the drive letter of the USB drive you want to format (all partitions will be wiped).
- 3 or (3) - Click on the red Make E2B Drive button, or use '(3) Make_E2B_USB_drive.cmd' button for more options, including specifying up to three partition sizes and types.
This automatically makes an NTFS-formatted E2B USB drive (max. partition size 137GB/128GiB).
E2B v2 will make a 2nd FAT32 partition for UEFI boot files (unless you are using Windows 7 or 8 and have a Removable USB Flash drive).
If your USB drive is >128GB, you will be asked for partition sizes.
Ignore (or cancel) any Windows pop-up box that wants to format the new volume (if you see any).
If you get an error message about 'CLEAN' or 'MBR' or 'Write errors' , etc. it is because one of your Windows Anti-Malware apps is blocking writes to the USB drive - look in Task Manager and kill them (e.g. Acronis Active Protection Service may be installed even though you did not know it!).
How to use any unused space
E2B USB drives can have a maximum of three Primary partitions. The first NTFS partition should be 128GB or less in size for best BIOS compatibilty - it is mainly used to store ISO and other payload files. You can store your own files, portable apps, backup images, etc. on any partition (just create a new folder).
Recommended for >128GB drives:Ptn1: 127GiB NTFSPtn2: 1GiB FAT32Ptn3: remaining space (999) NTFS
You can test the new E2B USB drive after it has been made by clicking on the 'Test with QEMU' button to run a 32-bit emulator and check your menu appears.
You will not need this utility again, so click Exit to quit.
3. Now copy over your ISO/VHD/IMG/IMA/WIM, etc. files to the USB drive. These can be downloaded from the internet.
Just Drag-and-Drop your payload (.ISO) files into one of the E2B menu folders under \_ISO on the USB drive.
All the menu folders are in uppercase letters - except for the \_ISO\WINDOWS and \_ISO\AUTO folders, all the other folders behave in the same way - the menu heading will just be different. For instance, you can put FreeDOS ISO files in the LINUX folder if you really want to!.
All the menu folders are in uppercase letters - except for the \_ISO\WINDOWS and \_ISO\AUTO folders, all the other folders behave in the same way - the menu heading will just be different. For instance, you can put FreeDOS ISO files in the LINUX folder if you really want to!.
Except for Windows Install ISOs, any of the other 9 menu folders can be used for any type of ISO (menu folders are in uppercase letters) .
- Copy Win10 Installer ISOs to the USB drive's \_ISO\WINDOWS\WIN10 folder to add them to the Windows Install menu.
Windows Installer ISOs will work better if they are in the correct \_ISO\WINDOWS\XXXX folder. - Copy any files that you want to be listed in the Main menu, to the \_ISO\MAINMENU folder.
- Copy linux ISOs to the \_ISO\LINUX folder to add them to the Linux menu.
- Copy antivirus ISOs to the \_ISO\ANTIVIRUS folder to add them to the AntiVirus menu.
- Copy backup and other utilities (e.g. flash utilities) to the \_ISO\BACKUP menu folder...
Do you get the idea now :-) - The menu folder that you use just determines which menu heading it will be listed under.
Note: if you have a USB Hard Disk, Windows Vista/7/8/10 Install ISOs may not work unless you also connect a WinHelper USB flash drive or convert the ISO file to a .imgPTN file.
If you are using E2B v1.A8 or later, a WinHelper USB drive is usually not be required because E2B will use WIMBOOT.

Note: For UEFI-booting - boot to Partition 2
If agFM is present on the 2nd partition you can immediately UEFI-boot - otherwise, to UEFI-boot you must switch-in a UEFI .imgPTN file.
You can convert the ISO file to a .imgPTN file before adding it to the E2B USB drive.
See here for more details about the Easy2Boot folders - you can add your own menu folders too if you wish..
Note: Always check the 'List of tested payload files' for special instructions for each type of payload file. For instance, a Hirens ISO may need to be renamed as .isowinvh for it to boot to Mini XP correctly. When you run an ISO file, E2B will give you suggestions about what file extension you can use.
Tip: If you have any problems, remove spaces or special characters such as <>()&% and non-ASCII symbols, etc. from the file name.
Linux ISOs that boot using CONTIG.ISO when they are not contiguous should not have spaces in the filename (most don't anyway).I use the _ symbol instead of a space in filenames.Once the ISO file is booting correctly, you can change it's filename and see if it still works OK. For example, start with a name of 'Win10_x64_Eng.iso' and once it is working correctly, rename it to 'Windows 10 64-bit English.iso' or you can add a .txt file to display a different E2B menu entry including any special characters and spaces that you want, and in any language that you want.
E2B Launcher.exe (v2.07+)
The E2B Launcher.exe application provides useful information. Each entry is a hot-link to various E2B web pages, files or utilities.
There are four TABs - E2B, agFM, Ventoy and Tools. You will need to have installed agFM and Ventoy for some links to work.

This Windows 32-bit utility can be used when adding payload files to your E2B USB drive.
It contains help text and active links which will help you understand and use your E2B USB drive.
It contains help text and active links which will help you understand and use your E2B USB drive.
The \E2B Launcher.exe file can be moved or copied to any folder on the E2B USB drive.
You can use 'Tools' tab - 'Copy E2B Launcher to Desktop' active link to copy a .cmd file to your Desktop which finds and runs the E2B Launcher from your E2B USB drive.
You can use 'Tools' tab - 'Copy E2B Launcher to Desktop' active link to copy a .cmd file to your Desktop which finds and runs the E2B Launcher from your E2B USB drive.
Tip: If you have any problems, remove spaces or special characters such as <>()&% and non-ASCII symbols, etc. from the file name.
Linux ISOs that boot using CONTIG.ISO when they are not contiguous should not have spaces in the filename (most don't anyway).I use the _ symbol instead of a space in filenames.Once the ISO file is booting correctly, you can change it's filename and see if it still works OK. For example, start with a name of 'Win10_x64_Eng.iso' and once it is working correctly, rename it to 'Windows 10 64-bit English.iso' or you can add a .txt file to display a different E2B menu entry including any special characters and spaces that you want, and in any language that you want.