Get Started with Impression: Creating Bootable USB Drives on Linux

Overview
Impression is a user-friendly, modern application designed for Linux enthusiasts looking to create bootable USB drives effortlessly. In this article, we’ll guide you through the installation process of the Impression app and demonstrate how to leverage it to create your own bootable USB drives.

Installing Impression on Linux

Simple Installation via Flatpak

The easiest way to get started with the Impression app on your Linux system is through Flatpak, available in the Flathub app store. Users of Arch Linux can alternatively install it directly from the AUR.

To begin, open a terminal window—simply press Ctrl + Alt + T or search for "Terminal" in the application menu.

Once your terminal is ready, follow the installation instructions based on your preferred method.

Installation with Flatpak

To install the Impression app via Flatpak, you first need to set up the Flatpak runtime. This runtime, available through your Linux package manager, contains everything necessary to run Flatpak applications. Here’s how you can install the Flatpak runtime across various distributions:

For Ubuntu
Use the following command to install:

sudo apt install flatpak

For Debian
You can install Flatpak using either of these commands:

sudo apt-get install flatpak

or

sudo apt install flatpak

For Arch Linux
If you’re using Arch or Manjaro, simply execute:

sudo pacman -S flatpak

For Fedora
Fedora generally has Flatpak pre-installed. If it’s needed, you can install it with:

sudo dnf install flatpak

For OpenSUSE
Like Fedora, OpenSUSE comes with Flatpak enabled by default. If necessary, install it with:

sudo zypper in flatpak

Installing from Arch Linux AUR

If you prefer to install the Impression app through the AUR, start by setting up the Trizen AUR helper, which simplifies the package installation process:

sudo pacman -S git base-devel

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/trizen.git

cd trizen/
makepkg -sri

Once Trizen is installed, run the following command to install the Impression app:

trizen -S impression

Where to Find Linux ISO Files

To create a bootable USB with Impression, you will first need a Linux operating system ISO file. A reliable source for downloading Linux ISO files is DistroWatch, which provides links to various Linux distributions.

Once you’ve downloaded the desired ISO file to your computer, you can proceed to create your bootable USB drive.

Creating Bootable USB Drives with Impression

To create a bootable USB drive using the Impression application, start by launching it—search for "Impression" in your application menu.

Upon opening the app, click on the “Open File…” button. A file dialog will appear, prompting you to browse for the ISO file you downloaded earlier.

Make sure to connect a USB flash drive to your computer that has enough storage space for the ISO file.

Next, select the USB flash drive within the Impression application. Then, hit the “Flash” button to begin the process of creating your bootable USB.

When you click the “Flash” button, the app will prompt you to enter your password. Input your password to start the flashing process, which may take several minutes.

Once the flashing is complete, reboot your computer and access the BIOS to boot from the USB drive you just created.

Final Thoughts

Using the Impression application to create bootable USB drives on Linux is straightforward and efficient. With just a few commands and clicks, you can ready your USB for a new operating system installation or recovery tasks. Stay tuned for more guides on enhancing your Linux experience!