Luckily I saved the first iso image I ever downloaded. I then thought maybe the new download I got from the website was somehow corrupted. I copied them from my first USB to the new one in hopes that it would fix the missing pieces - but still nothing.

I noticed that in the new USB, some files were missing. I plugged in both my first Kali bootable USB and the new one I tried to make and compared the files side-by-side on Windows File Explorer. Since I'm new to this, I thought it was the USB and used another USB that was the same exact model as the one that works, just for the sake of limiting the variables. 'No DEFAULT or UI configuration directive found!' I did the SAME EXACT STEPS -including downloading another copy off the website - and when I plugged my USB into my laptop, I got the following error: I wanted to install Kali on a SanDisk USB for a friend.

Changed the boot priority in BIOS on my laptop Used Mini Partition Wizard Free to partition the USB because I wanted to install persistence Installed the iso into the USB using Universal USB Installer Downloaded Kali off the official website I successfully installed Kali on a PNY 3.0 16GB USB.

Kali linux universal usb installer