Steam Deck newbie questions re: emulators, Windows

[mapeno59]

I just received a gently used Steam Deck yesterday, and have been in the process of learning how it works and what it can do. I have a few questions.

1) I plan to install EmuDeck once my new micrSD card arrives. Does EmuDeck install a DOS emulator, or do I need to install one manually? I have used DosBox with my old 2013 Nexus 7, so I'm somewhat familiar with that. I welcome any recommendations on DOS emulators.

2) I'm thinking of installing Windows 10 or 11 on an external ssd so I can run Windows on my Steam Deck. For those of you who have done so, how has that worked? Is one Windows version better than the other for the Steam Deck?

3) To install any non-Steam Windows game on Steam Deck, do I simply install within Bottles or do I need to do anything else to invoke the Proton gods?

Thanks!

[tfk]

1. Dosbox in Discover store.
2. People have done it. I didn't because I don't have a use for it.
3. Steam games are installed directly from steam. For non steam games you need bottles, herioc or lutris.

[gametaunt]

Originally posted by tfk:

3. Steam games are installed directly from steam. For non steam games you need bottles, herioc or lutris.

nope proton works fine for non steam games.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by tfk:

1. Dosbox in Discover store.
2. People have done it. I didn't because I don't have a use for it.
3. Steam games are installed directly from steam. For non steam games you need bottles, herioc or lutris.

You have to run the installer through proton then switch it to run the actual games once it's done.

[Belaptir]

Originally posted by gametaunt:

Originally posted by tfk:

3. Steam games are installed directly from steam. For non steam games you need bottles, herioc or lutris.

nope proton works fine for non steam games.

Wait, this is new for me. Proton for installing the games? I'm really interested on this, how is it done?

[gametaunt]

well assuming you use the store of said games so battle.net/epic just add that to steam and go under compatibility of your non steam-game to set it to proton-GE. yes i would recommende proton-GE for things non-steam.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Belaptir:

Originally posted by gametaunt:

nope proton works fine for non steam games.

Wait, this is new for me. Proton for installing the games? I'm really interested on this, how is it done?

You have to add the exe as a non Steam game. Run it to install it, then change the source to the installed application file for Game Mode.

[Belaptir]

Originally posted by gametaunt:

well assuming you use the store of said games so battle.net/epic just add that to steam and go under compatibility of your non steam-game to set it to proton-GE. yes i would recommende proton-GE for things non-steam.

I meant installing not running the game. How do you install an EGS game in your steam deck? Do you first install EGS on the deck? If so, how? Do you just run the installer by adding it as a non steam game?

[Belaptir]

Originally posted by KittenGrindr:

Originally posted by Belaptir:

Wait, this is new for me. Proton for installing the games? I'm really interested on this, how is it done?

You have to add the exe as a non Steam game. Run it to install it, then change the source to the installed application file for Game Mode.

Ah, I see. And you'd just install it somewhere in your drive? No special directories or anything?

[invision2212]

Originally posted by Belaptir:

Originally posted by gametaunt:

well assuming you use the store of said games so battle.net/epic just add that to steam and go under compatibility of your non steam-game to set it to proton-GE. yes i would recommende proton-GE for things non-steam.

I meant installing not running the game. How do you install an EGS game in your steam deck? Do you first install EGS on the deck? If so, how? Do you just run the installer by adding it as a non steam game?

For epic game store just install heroic games from discovery store

[mapeno59]

So, I would need Bottles or Lutris only if a non-Steam Windows game failed to install or run with Proton, if I'm following you correctly? That's good to know.

If I connected a USB CD/DVD drive to my Deck, I could install a Windows game off a CD or DVD in the same way? This is looking good!

I went to the Discovery store to get DosBox. Weirdly, when I search for a DOS emulator and then select DosBox, Discovery freezes. If I try again and select anything else, there's no problem. Not sure what's going on here.

[WarnerCK]

Originally posted by Belaptir:

Ah, I see. And you'd just install it somewhere in your drive? No special directories or anything?

Steam creates its own directory for each non-Steam game, which will be a Proton prefix for a non-native non-Steam game. The game's installation process will put the game's files wherever the game puts those files, but within that prefix. Once it's done that, you tell Steam that it should be running the game's executable rather than the game's installer.

[tfk]

Ah. I misread non steam as steam.

[invision2212]

Originally posted by Insignia:

Gently used?

elderly owned low miles

[tfk]

Originally posted by invision2212:

Originally posted by Insignia:

Gently used?

elderly owned low miles

Uhuh...

[Lecuistot]

Seriously ?
Win11 sucks and is slow. You can play, yes it's ok, boot time is ok too.

But damn, it burns too much battery and is just too slow, it's disgusting.
And some basic apps I tried just didn't work.

Please consider this machine as it is, a super practical console.
Not the super portable PC as it was advertised and massively overhyped by youtubers.

It comes to a point, where some ppl are asking if we can run VR on SD lol