Windows Installation on SD Card not booting

[Ragsan]

Hey guys (and girls)

I would love to isntall Windows10/11 on my Steamdeck to be able to play some Destiny 2.

I have the following SD Card where I would like to install it on: Samsung PRO Plus 512GB microSDXC UHS-I U3 160MB/s



Checked some tutorials and guides and did everything exactly like described (MBR, Use Rufus as Bios ID etc) but everytime it gets stuck after the boot drive selection, then telling me that there was an error and automatically rebooting to SteamOS



I tried Windows10 and Windows 11 in Pro and Home, with restriction to the other Harddrives and without, and I even tried it with an USB-C Stick, but always the same Issue.



What am I doing wrong?

[Brohands McSmooth]

I think the deck will only boot the ssd. Pretty sure I've seen that somewhere I have been corrected

[Boblin the Goblin]

Originally posted by Brohands McSmooth:

I think the deck will only boot the ssd. Pretty sure I've seen that somewhere

I can boot from the SD card. Windows does not run well off an SD card though.

[PopinFRESH]

Originally posted by Ragsan:

...
Checked some tutorials and guides and did everything exactly like described (MBR, Use Rufus as Bios ID etc) but everytime it gets stuck after the boot drive selection, then telling me that there was an error and automatically rebooting to SteamOS...

Not sure what guide you're referring to but you should use the Windows Media Creation tool to create a UEFI compatible UFD installer. When running the installer on the Steam Deck it should create a GUID Partition Table and install as a UEFI installation, not legacy BIOS.

I haven't delved into it to be sure, however, I don't believe the Steam Deck has Compatibility Support Module (CSM) support which is required to boot legacy BIOS/MBR systems.

[Mizufluffy]

Originally posted by Brohands McSmooth:

I think the deck will only boot the ssd. Pretty sure I've seen that somewhere

Just to correct you a little, the FAQ section of the Steam Deck website (https://www.steamdeck.com/en/faq) says following:
"Can you boot an OS off the SD card?
Yes, Steam Deck supports boot from microSD."

[Ragsan]

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

Originally posted by Ragsan:

...
Checked some tutorials and guides and did everything exactly like described (MBR, Use Rufus as Bios ID etc) but everytime it gets stuck after the boot drive selection, then telling me that there was an error and automatically rebooting to SteamOS...

Not sure what guide you're referring to but you should use the Windows Media Creation tool to create a UEFI compatible UFD installer. When running the installer on the Steam Deck it should create a GUID Partition Table and install as a UEFI installation, not legacy BIOS.

I haven't delved into it to be sure, however, I don't believe the Steam Deck has Compatibility Support Module (CSM) support which is required to boot legacy BIOS/MBR systems.

I will double check the guides again, but I'm sure all were having the same settings.

[Hiro]

Originally posted by Ragsan:

What am I doing wrong?

Probably trying to use windows...

Jokes aside, like was said here already, windows is not robust enough to run properly from external medium.

The feature used is called "Windows To Go" that is not being supported anymore.
So it is hit or miss, if you do everything again it may just work.

In summary, windows is a pile of crap :)

[Ragsan]

Originally posted by Hiro:

Originally posted by Ragsan:

What am I doing wrong?

Probably trying to use windows...

Jokes aside, like was said here already, windows is not robust enough to run properly from external medium.

The feature used is called "Windows To Go" that is not being supported anymore.
So it is hit or miss, if you do everything again it may just work.

In summary, windows is a pile of crap :)

yeah would love to just use the Steam OS, but it doesnt support the AntiCheat of Destiny2 :/ So there is no other way then to install Windows. And to make a new partition on the internal SSD....i dont know....I only have the 256gb variant, so there would be barely any space left.

[Hiro]

Originally posted by Ragsan:

yeah would love to just use the Steam OS, but it doesnt support the AntiCheat of Destiny2 :/

This is what most people get wrong.
It is not SteamOS 3 that does not support Anti-Cheat.
It is the Anti-Cheat that does not support SteamOS 3.

SteamOS 3 will support anything, it is mostly open source and I assure you, someone will be willing to implement it on the system.

Originally posted by Ragsan:

So there is no other way then to install Windows.

Keep trying windows to go from with configurations until one of them work for you.

Originally posted by Ragsan:

And to make a new partition on the internal SSD....i dont know....I only have the 256gb variant, so there would be barely any space left.

Yes, windows is indeed heavy and bloated...

[Ragsan]

Originally posted by Hiro:

Originally posted by Ragsan:

yeah would love to just use the Steam OS, but it doesnt support the AntiCheat of Destiny2 :/

This is what most people get wrong.
It is not SteamOS 3 that does not support Anti-Cheat.
It is the Anti-Cheat that does not support SteamOS 3.

SteamOS 3 will support anything, it is mostly open source and I assure you, someone will be willing to implement it on the system.

Originally posted by Ragsan:

So there is no other way then to install Windows.

Keep trying windows to go from with configurations until one of them work for you.

Originally posted by Ragsan:

And to make a new partition on the internal SSD....i dont know....I only have the 256gb variant, so there would be barely any space left.

Yes, windows is indeed heavy and bloated...

yeah or like that, but in the end for the consumer it doesnt matter which "fault" it is :)

Originally posted by Hiro:

Originally posted by Ragsan:

yeah would love to just use the Steam OS, but it doesnt support the AntiCheat of Destiny2 :/

This is what most people get wrong.
It is not SteamOS 3 that does not support Anti-Cheat.
It is the Anti-Cheat that does not support SteamOS 3.

SteamOS 3 will support anything, it is mostly open source and I assure you, someone will be willing to implement it on the system.

Originally posted by Ragsan:

So there is no other way then to install Windows.

Keep trying windows to go from with configurations until one of them work for you.

Originally posted by Ragsan:

And to make a new partition on the internal SSD....i dont know....I only have the 256gb variant, so there would be barely any space left.

Yes, windows is indeed heavy and bloated...

would love to, but after the boot selection screen it always gets hung up, so I dont even get into the Windows "installation/setup" process....

[Hiro]

Originally posted by Ragsan:

yeah or like that, but in the end for the consumer it doesnt matter which "fault" it is :)

Maybe if your voice your frustration with Destiny 2 team (or BattlEye team) they can do something about that :)

Originally posted by Ragsan:

would love to, but after the boot selection screen it always gets hung up, so I dont even get into the Windows "installation/setup" process....

I suggest reading a little bit about Windows to Go.
Windows is already Installed when you use Windows to Go, so to change it you need to redo the process using Rufus (or any other tool).

[WarnerCK]

Originally posted by Ragsan:

yeah would love to just use the Steam OS, but it doesnt support the AntiCheat of Destiny2 :/ So there is no other way then to install Windows.

Destiny 2 is free on Stadia.
https://stadia.google.com/games/destiny-2

(and yes, Bungie did make a Linux-native version for that, even though they're refusing to allow installed versions to work on Linux now)

[Ragsan]

Originally posted by psi onix:

Originally posted by KittenGrindr:

I can boot from the SD card. Windows does not run well off an SD card though.

what doesn't run well about it? it's been going fine for me although i'm not doing a whole lot with it beside playing GTA Online. the performance is good for that particular game, at least.

i'm using same Samsung Pro Plus U3 A2 SD as OP. hard to know what the problem could be but it seems like something wrong with the Windows media SD boot setup. i followed this guide and had no problems:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnpZboy_VQE

Doesnt even boot up, when i select the SD card in the bootup menu I just get a loading circle for like 10min followed by a blue screen saying that an error occured.

[Ragsan]

Originally posted by psi onix:

Originally posted by Ragsan:

Doesnt even boot up, when i select the SD card in the bootup menu I just get a loading circle for like 10min followed by a blue screen saying that an error occured.

yea to clarify what i mean. is that something might be wrong with the way you set up the boot disc (the windows media iso on the SD card.)

Yeah I really hope thats the problem and there is nothing wrong with my Steamdeck :)

[Ragsan]

Originally posted by psi onix:

Originally posted by Ragsan:

Yeah I really hope thats the problem and there is nothing wrong with my Steamdeck :)

did you try again to format the samsung SD card and follow the guide i linked? i don't know what guide you followed and if there's any differences in the technique or not.

Yeah that guide suggest using GPT Partition System while all the others suggest MBR. Currently trying to boot, but its already loading since 5min so I dont think that'll work either :(
Also tried the same with a USBC Stick, so I think its not caused by the SD Card

[Ragsan]

Just saw that the Bluescreen I always get after the very long loading gives me an error code: Driver PNP Watchdog, anyone know what that could mean?