diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index f4c6ed4..e177006 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -74,6 +74,18 @@
       ];
     };
 
+    # Live USB ISO configuration
+    nixosConfigurations.live-usb = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem rec {
+      system = "x86_64-linux";
+      modules = baseModules ++ [
+        ./machines/live-usb/configuration.nix
+        {
+          home-manager.users.johno = import ./home/home.nix;
+          home-manager.extraSpecialArgs = { inherit system; };
+        }
+      ];
+    };
+
     homeConfigurations."johno" = inputs.home-manager.lib.homeManagerConfiguration {
       pkgs = inputs.nixpkgs.legacyPackages."x86_64-linux";
       modules = [
diff --git a/machines/live-usb/configuration.nix b/machines/live-usb/configuration.nix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29c0adc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/machines/live-usb/configuration.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+# Live USB ISO configuration for recovery and installation
+{ pkgs, modulesPath, ... }:
+
+{
+  imports = [
+    # Use minimal installation CD as base
+    (modulesPath + "/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-minimal.nix")
+  ];
+
+  # Use roles structure for consistent configuration
+  roles = {
+    audio.enable = true;
+    bluetooth.enable = true;
+    users = {
+      enable = true;
+      extraGroups = [ "video" "wheel" "networkmanager" ];
+    };
+  };
+
+  # Allow unfree packages for broader hardware support
+  nixpkgs.config.allowUnfree = true;
+
+  # Essential packages for system recovery and installation
+  environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [
+    # Text editors
+    neovim
+    nano
+    
+    # System tools
+    git
+    curl
+    wget
+    htop
+    tree
+    lsof
+    strace
+    
+    # Filesystem tools
+    btrfs-progs
+    e2fsprogs
+    xfsprogs
+    ntfs3g
+    dosfstools
+    
+    # Network tools
+    networkmanager
+    wirelesstools
+    
+    # Hardware tools
+    pciutils
+    usbutils
+    smartmontools
+    
+    # Archive tools
+    unzip
+    p7zip
+    
+    # Development tools (for quick fixes)
+    gcc
+    binutils
+  ];
+
+  # Enable NetworkManager for easy wifi setup
+  networking.networkmanager.enable = true;
+  
+  # Enable SSH daemon for remote access
+  services.openssh = {
+    enable = true;
+    settings = {
+      PermitRootLogin = "yes";
+      PasswordAuthentication = true;
+    };
+  };
+
+  # Override default nixos user, set johno as the main user with password
+  users.users.nixos.enable = false;
+  users.users.johno = {
+    isNormalUser = true;
+    description = "John Ogle";  
+    extraGroups = [ "wheel" "networkmanager" "audio" "video" ];
+    password = "nixos";  # Simple password for live environment
+  };
+  users.users.root.password = "nixos";
+
+  # Enable flakes and new nix command in live environment
+  nix.settings.experimental-features = [ "nix-command" "flakes" ];
+  
+  # Copy this flake to the live system for easy access
+  system.extraDependencies = [ pkgs.git ];
+  
+  # ISO customization
+  isoImage = {
+    compressImage = true;
+    volumeID = "NIXOS-LIVE";
+  };
+
+  # Helpful aliases and environment
+  environment.shellAliases = {
+    ll = "ls -la";
+    la = "ls -la";
+    rebuild = "sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake";
+    install-nixos = "sudo nixos-install --flake";
+  };
+
+  # Enable some useful services
+  services.udisks2.enable = true; # For mounting USB drives
+  programs.fish.enable = true;
+  
+  # Hardware support
+  hardware.enableAllFirmware = true;
+  hardware.enableRedistributableFirmware = true;
+}