How to Create a Bootable Pardus 23 Live USB on Windows

Illustrative scenario: Maya wants to try Pardus 23 on a spare laptop before deciding whether to install it. She has a Windows 11 PC, a USB flash drive with files she still needs, and no Linux computer. This example follows the official Pardus USB-writing guidance with Rufus; it is an illustrative walkthrough, not a report of a real test. Creating the installer erases the selected USB drive, so Maya copies its files elsewhere before she starts.

For Pardus 23, use an official 64-bit image from the 23.x archive. As of October 6, 2026, Pardus lists version 23.4 XFCE and GNOME among older releases that continue to be supported, while the main Pardus download page offers a newer version. If your goal is specifically Pardus 23, choose a 23.4 image rather than assuming the current main download is still version 23. Check the release page on the day you download because available versions can change.

What you need before creating the USB

• A Windows PC with internet access and permission to run Rufus.
• A USB flash drive of at least 4 GB, which meets Pardus’s published minimum. An 8 GB or larger drive gives more practical headroom. The writing process will erase all existing data on it.
• The Pardus 23 ISO file and, ideally, the matching checksum listed by Pardus.
• Access to the target computer’s one-time boot menu or UEFI settings.

A bootable live USB starts Pardus from removable media so you can explore or troubleshoot without first installing it to the computer’s internal drive. A normal live session does not automatically save changes after shutdown. Creating this USB does not itself install Pardus or set up persistent storage.

1. Download the right Pardus 23 image

Maya opens the official Pardus Old Releases page and selects either Pardus 23.4 XFCE or Pardus 23.4 GNOME. These are separate desktop editions: choose the one you intend to use. XFCE is the lighter desktop; GNOME provides a different desktop interface. Do not download a weekly image or an education, server, or ETAP image unless that is the edition you specifically need.

Download the ISO directly from the Pardus download server. Keep the filename recognizable, for example Pardus-23.4-XFCE-amd64.iso, and note where Windows saves it. The Pardus archive also publishes an MD5SUMS file for the release. If you use that check, download the checksum list from the same official archive and compare the exact filename and hash value.

On Windows, PowerShell can calculate the ISO’s MD5 value:

Get-FileHash "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\Pardus-23.4-XFCE-amd64.iso" -Algorithm MD5

Compare the output with the value for that exact ISO in Pardus’s MD5SUMS file. This can catch an incomplete or corrupted download. MD5 is not a modern cryptographic signature, so treat it as an integrity check against the published list, not independent proof of the file’s origin. If the values differ, download the ISO again and check the filename carefully.

2. Download and open Rufus

Rufus writes bootable USB media from ISO images on Windows, and Pardus’s own Windows instructions recommend it. Get Rufus from its official website. Use the standard or portable Windows executable from that page; avoid download portals that repackage utilities. Rufus’s official site lists Windows 8 or newer as its requirement, so confirm your Windows version and the current Rufus release information if you are using an older PC.

Insert the USB drive and open Rufus. If Windows asks for permission to let the app make changes, confirm only if you launched the file you downloaded from the official Rufus site. Close File Explorer windows or programs that are using the USB drive. If more than one removable drive is connected, unplug the others to lower the risk of selecting the wrong one.

3. Select the USB drive and Pardus ISO

In Rufus, inspect the Device field and identify the USB drive by its model and capacity. Maya checks this twice; drive letters can change, and choosing an external backup disk by mistake would erase it. The USB should be the only removable storage device connected if there is any doubt.

Under Boot selection, choose the option to select a disk or ISO image, then browse to the Pardus 23.4 file and open it. Rufus fills in options based on the image and detected system. The exact controls can vary between Rufus versions. For a modern UEFI computer, use settings compatible with UEFI; older machines may need legacy BIOS-compatible settings. If you are unsure, keep Rufus’s suggested defaults and consult the computer maker’s boot documentation rather than guessing at partition settings.

4. Write the ISO in DD Image mode

Click Start after confirming the correct device and ISO. Rufus displays a warning that data on the USB drive will be destroyed. Read the selected device name and capacity in the warning. Continue only if they match the flash drive you intended to erase.

When Rufus asks how to write the image, select DD Image mode (the Pardus guide describes this as writing in DD image mode). This copies the disk image in the way Pardus documents for its USB installer. Do not unplug the drive while the progress bar is moving, and do not close Rufus during writing. When the status returns to READY, close Rufus and use Windows’ safely remove/eject control before unplugging the USB.

Windows may later display a message that the drive needs to be formatted or that a partition is unreadable. Do not format it. A Linux boot image can contain partitions or file systems Windows does not recognize. Cancel the prompt and use the USB as boot media.

5. Boot the computer from the live USB

Maya plugs the prepared USB into the target laptop while it is shut down, turns the laptop on, and opens the one-time boot menu. The key differs by manufacturer and model; common keys include F12, F11, Esc, or a dedicated boot button. Use the manufacturer’s instructions. On a UEFI system, choose the USB entry that begins with “UEFI” if more than one entry appears and that matches the installation mode you intend to use.

On some Windows 11 PCs, you can reach firmware options through Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings. This route opens firmware settings; it may not directly start the USB. Some computers also provide a Use a device option in the recovery menu. If these menu items are missing, use the computer manufacturer’s boot-key instructions.

When the Pardus boot menu appears, choose the entry that starts the live environment if one is offered. Avoid any option that begins installation if you only want to try Pardus. If an installer opens, do not select or format internal disks; exit or restart and check the boot-menu choice. The wording and layout can differ by image edition.

6. Confirm that the live session started safely

Once Pardus reaches its desktop, check basic functions such as keyboard, display, network, sound, and USB access. The live environment is useful for a first look, but hardware behavior can differ from an installed system. If you shut down a standard live session, files or settings created during that session may not persist. Persistent storage requires a separately configured USB setup; it is not created merely by writing the installer ISO.

If the USB does not boot

• The USB is missing from the boot menu: Shut down fully, reconnect it directly to another USB port, and check the manufacturer’s settings for external USB boot. A hub can prevent firmware from seeing the drive.
• The PC returns to Windows: Open the one-time boot menu and select the USB explicitly. If the device has both UEFI and legacy entries, select the intended one. Avoid changing Secure Boot settings as a first step; consult the computer maker and Pardus documentation before changing firmware security options.
• Rufus reports an error or the image fails to start: Recheck the ISO checksum, download it again if needed, recreate the media using DD Image mode, and try a different flash drive. A failing USB can be the cause even when Rufus finishes.
• Windows asks to format the USB: Cancel. Do not format a correctly written Linux boot image from Windows.
• The installer appears when you wanted a live session: Restart and select the live or try option if available. Do not proceed through disk partitioning unless you intend to install Pardus.

Illustrative scenario: Maya’s final check

Maya compares the ISO checksum, selects the USB by capacity in Rufus, chooses DD Image mode at the prompt, and waits for READY. She then selects the UEFI USB entry at startup and confirms that the Pardus desktop loads without opening disk partitioning. Her checklist confirms that the bootable Pardus 23 USB was created and that she reached a live session. It does not claim that Pardus was installed or that the session saved changes.

Official references

• Pardus Old Releases: Pardus 23.4 editions and checksums
• Pardus 23 ISO archive
• Pardus instructions for creating a bootable USB on Windows
• Rufus official download and documentation
• Microsoft guidance for Windows 11 UEFI and Secure Boot settings