Kali Linux USB Live Boot with Persistence (in 5 minutes)

Summary

In this video, the process of booting Kali Linux from a USB flash drive and enabling persistence is demonstrated on a Windows 11 laptop. The video walks through downloading and using tools like Rufus to create a bootable USB drive, setting up persistence for surviving reboots, and configuring BIOS settings. The tutorial also covers testing persistence by creating and saving files, ensuring that settings and changes remain intact after rebooting. The presenter emphasizes the flexibility of running Kali Linux off a USB without affecting the laptop's hard drive.

Takeaways

• 😀 Download the Kali Linux live image (not the installer or virtual machine) from kali.org for booting from a USB flash drive.
• 😀 Use Rufus (downloadable from rufus.ie) to write the Kali live image to the USB drive.
• 😀 Set up persistence during the Rufus process by allocating a portion of the USB drive (e.g., 65 GB) for the persistent partition.
• 😀 Ensure to select the correct USB drive and Kali Linux image in Rufus before starting the installation.
• 😀 During the installation, all data on the USB drive will be erased. Be sure to back up anything important before proceeding.
• 😀 After writing the image, reboot the system and access the BIOS by pressing a special key (e.g., F2) during startup.
• 😀 In BIOS, change the boot priority to boot from the USB drive first and disable Secure Boot to allow Kali to boot properly.
• 😀 Upon rebooting, choose the 'live system with USB persistence' option to boot Kali Linux with persistent storage enabled.
• 😀 Changes made during the session, such as file creation or Wi-Fi settings, will persist after reboot due to the persistence feature.
• 😀 To switch between Kali and Windows, simply remove the USB drive to boot into Windows, or reinsert it and adjust BIOS settings to boot back into Kali.
• 😀 This method provides a portable Kali Linux setup that doesn’t affect the laptop's internal storage, allowing for dual use without permanent system changes.

Q & A

What is the purpose of booting Kali Linux off a USB flash drive?

Booting Kali Linux off a USB flash drive allows users to run Kali Linux without modifying the internal hard drive of their laptop. This is useful for users who do not want to dual-boot or make permanent changes to their system.

What is the key benefit of enabling persistence on the USB drive?

Enabling persistence on the USB drive ensures that any changes made during the Kali Linux session, such as saved files or network configurations, survive across reboots.

How do you set up persistence when creating a Kali Linux bootable USB?

To set up persistence, you need to specify a partition size for persistence in Rufus while creating the bootable USB. This partition stores changes made during the Kali session.

What software is required to boot Kali Linux from a USB drive?

You need two pieces of software: the Kali Linux live boot image, which can be downloaded from kali.org, and Rufus, a tool used to write the ISO image to the USB drive.

How large is the Kali Linux live boot image, and where can you download it?

The Kali Linux live boot image is about 3.8 GB in size and can be downloaded from the official Kali Linux website, kali.org.

Why is Rufus used in this process?

Rufus is used to write the Kali Linux live boot image to the USB flash drive and set up persistence. It allows the user to easily create a bootable USB drive for Kali Linux.

What are the steps to boot into the BIOS to change boot priorities?

To enter the BIOS, restart the computer while holding the shift key (or use the special BIOS entry key, such as F2 for Asus laptops). In the BIOS, set the USB drive as the first boot priority and disable secure boot.

How do you ensure Kali Linux boots with persistence from the USB drive?

After booting the computer with the USB drive, select the 'Live system with USB persistence' option from the boot menu. This ensures that changes made during the session are saved and persist across reboots.

Can changes made in Kali Linux, like creating files, be saved permanently on the USB drive?

Yes, with persistence enabled, changes such as created files, settings, and network configurations will be saved to the USB drive and remain after a reboot.

How can you switch back to Windows after using Kali Linux from the USB drive?

To switch back to Windows, simply remove the USB flash drive and restart the computer. If needed, you can manually select the boot option for Windows in the BIOS.