Installing Windows 11

[gwiesenekker]

Hi,

I just got my Steam Deck and had some mixed experiences with the support for the games in my Library, so I decided to give Windows 11/the Steam client a try. Please find below the steps to get a working installation:

Get a 16 GB USB key and get a 3-port USB-C hub to connect the bootable Windows 11 USB key to the Steam Deck. Although the on-screen touch keyboard worked during setup, the on-screen keyboard (and mouse, the right track-pad) did not work yet when installation was finished, so I had to use a 3-port USB hub with a USB keyboard and mouse connected to it to complete the installation.

Do not use the Windows 11 22H2 ISO from Microsoft to create a bootable USB key as you will get a blue screen while installing the Steam Deck Windows 11 audio-driver.. Login to a Windows PC, download Rufus from https://rufus.ie. Connect a 16GB USB key to the Windows PC and launch Rufus. Select the USB key under Device. Click on Select and select Download, click on Download and select the Windows 11 21H2 ISO. Wait for the download to finish and click on Start to create the bootable Windows 11 USB key.

Update to the latest version of the Steam OS.

Fully charge your Steam Deck as you have to disconnect the power to connect the USB-C hub.

Shutdown, disconnect the power, connect the USB C-hub with the bootable Windows 11 USB key, a USB keyboard and a USB mouse. Hold down the Volume Down key and press the Power button, you should get the Boot menu. Select the bootable USB key and start the Windows 11 setup. Delete all partitions and install Windows 11. I could connect to Wifi during setup, I did get an 'Update to the latest version' warning but Windows 11 22H2 was not installed right away (otherwise you would get the blue screen). If you want to use a local account enter '[e-mail]' as the username with a random password during setup. The logon will fail and you will be prompted for a local account.

Set the display to landscape after installation by going to Settings->Display->Display Orientation.
Enable the On-screen Keyboard by going to Settings->Accessibility->Keyboard which from that point on is shown in the Taskbar. Somewhere along the way the mouse (the right track-pad) also started to work, but I do not know when.

Download and install the audio and APU drivers from https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6121-ECCD-D643-BAA8. Bluetooth seemed to be working but was not, so you also have to install the Bluetooth driver. Open a terminal as Administrator, cd to the directory where you unzipped the Bluetooth driver and execute the command .\InstallDriver.cmd

Reboot and sound and bluetooth should be working. After a couple of hours you will get the prompt to install Windows 11 22H2. You can install it and sound will still work without getting a blue screen.

Regards,
GW

[adamsweeting]

How are you getting around the lack of Steam Overlay (... button & Steam button)?
I've been using SteamOS for a few weeks now, and whilst I am impressed - I am having to muck around with different Proton versions etc, and like the idea of not having to have a layer (proton) between the game and the OS.
I might give Windows a try, but will try it on an external SSD first.

[Andeddu]

I wouldn’t give up the SteamOS overlay for anything so I’ll be sticking with the default setup as everything runs perfectly for my needs. Good luck to those who decide to switch to Windows though

[pherrera0]

gwiesenekker, what BIOS version are you on?

[gwiesenekker]

I have not used SteamOS that much yet. When I got it I noticed that many games in my Library (although most of them I have played before) were not supported so I decided to give Windows 11 a try. Until now most of the games run very smoothly and the sound is also great. What I notice is that the Steam Deck controller is not recognized as a (USB) controller within Windows 11 and as mentioned above, the Steam Button and the ... button do not seem to trigger an action. Most games still recognize that a controller is present, but some of the games like Battlefield Bad Company 2 do not recognize it. I guess that is also the reason why you cannot use the right joystick as a Windows mouse, but you can use the right trackpad as a Windows mouse instead, also within some games. You can also install Microsoft games such as Gears of War (although that blue-screens) and Battle.net and Origin games not available on Steam.

[gwiesenekker]

Regarding the BIOS version: before installing Windows 11 I upgraded to the latest version of Steam OS (3.3.2 if I remember correctly). The BIOS version is: F7A0107.

[gwiesenekker]

Gears of War no longer blue-screens if you disable VOIP under audio settings, but you then face the problem that the controller is not recognized. If that ever gets fixed: you can increase the amount of VRAM Gears of War detects (and thus the graphics quality) by setting the size of the UMA Frame Buffer Size in the BIOS to 4GB.

[invision2212]

you do know that just because it says unsupported doesnt mean it doesnt work?
every game ive tried that says unsupported worked flawlessly.

[gwiesenekker]

If you want to enable controller support for a game like Battlefield Bad Company 2 you have to connect an external display and a USB mouse through a USB-C hub that supports both HDMI output and USB input, as the Steam Controller Configurator screen is too large for the built-in screen. Launch Steam, select the game in Steam, select Settings->Controller layout. The Steam Controller Configurator window will be shown partially on the external display. Resize it and move it over to the external display. Select Browse Configs, and select a controller layout from the Community or the Templates. Most Community layouts do not seem to work for the Steam controller, I have used the 'Keyboard (WASD) and mouse' to start with.

[gwiesenekker]

You cannot add controller support for Gears of War by adding it to your Steam Library as it is a UWP App. UWPHook (https://github.com/BrianLima/UWPHook) can add UWP Executables to Steam, but it does not recognize Gears of War as an installed App yet.