How to flash and boot Pulsar OS.
Everything you need to put Pulsar OS on a USB drive and start using it — no technical knowledge required.
What you need
A USB drive of at least 8 GB (the contents will be erased), the Pulsar OS file you downloaded, and one of the apps below depending on your operating system.
Pick your operating system
Windows Rufus
Rufus is a free, lightweight app for Windows that creates bootable USB drives in a few clicks.
Download and open Rufus
Get it from rufus.ie — no installation needed, just run the file.
Plug in your USB drive
Rufus will detect it automatically. Make sure the right device is selected under "Device".
Select your Pulsar OS file
Click "SELECT" and find the ISO or recovery file you downloaded.
Start flashing
Leave all other settings as they are and click "START". Wait for it to finish — this may take a few minutes.
Linux GNOME Disks
GNOME Disks comes pre-installed on most Linux distributions with a graphical desktop.
Open GNOME Disks
Search for "Disks" in your app launcher, or type gnome-disks in a terminal.
Select your USB drive
Click on the USB drive in the left sidebar. Be careful to pick the right one.
Restore the image
Click the menu button (three dots) in the top-right corner and choose "Restore Disk Image…". Select your Pulsar OS file and confirm.
Wait for it to finish
The process takes a few minutes. Once done, safely eject the USB drive.
macOS balenaEtcher
balenaEtcher is a free app for macOS that makes flashing USB drives simple and safe.
Download and open balenaEtcher
Get it from etcher.balena.io. On macOS you may need to right-click → Open the first time to bypass Gatekeeper.
Select your Pulsar OS file
Click "Flash from file" and choose the ISO or recovery file you downloaded.
Pick your USB drive
Click "Select target" and choose your USB drive. Confirm the selection.
Flash!
Click "Flash!" and wait. You may be asked for your Mac password. Once done, close the app and eject the USB.
Boot from the USB
Now that your USB is ready, here's how to start your computer from it.
Plug in the USB drive
Keep it plugged in and restart your computer.
Open the boot menu
As soon as your computer starts (before the operating system loads), press the key that opens the boot menu. This is usually F12, F2, Esc, or F10 — it depends on your computer brand. See the section below to find the right key for your model.
Select your USB drive
In the boot menu, use the arrow keys to highlight your USB drive and press Enter. It may appear as the brand name of your USB (like "SanDisk" or "Kingston") or as "USB HDD".
Start Pulsar OS in live mode
Pulsar OS will load from the USB. You'll see a welcome screen — choose "Try Pulsar OS" or "Live mode" to explore without changing anything on your computer. If you like it, you can install it later from within the live session.
Live mode lets you run Pulsar OS directly from the USB drive without installing anything. Your files and settings stay on the USB, and your computer's hard drive is not touched. It's a safe way to try Pulsar OS before deciding.
Find your boot menu key
Not sure which key to press? Type your computer model below and we'll look it up for you.
Opens a Google search with the answer for your specific model.