SteamOS installing on bootable USB instead of SSD

[Calcifer's Hearth]

I am trying to install SteamOS on a NVMe M.2 SSD but every time I get my usb formatted and prepped per the instructions given by Valve it tries to install on the usb and doesn't even see the SSD

[Elucidator]

The instructions are simple:

Get the SteamOS zip installation file
Get Rufus

Use Rufus to create a bootable USB with the SteamOS img file inside the zip file.

This essentially creates a Live USB.
You use the USB now to install SteamOS basically.

So when you're done making the USB, you restart your PC and make it directly go to the BIOS instead of loading windows. (you will need to press DEL or F12 or something)
There are some things you need to change here, like disabling secure boot and changing boot priority. The goal is to make it look for the USB first.

After that, save, restart, the USB's files are then loaded into memory, from where you can use the installation tool or diskpart to create a new partition (with file system) and install SteamOS on those, etc.

Edit: I quickly read the manual as well, and it seems you need to hit 'expert installation' to be able to select the partition (the SSD, format it, partition it, select which partition, etc.) on which SteamOS installs.

TIP:
Have 1 Boot, partition, 1 Swap partition, and 1 Home partition.
e.e. Home isn't nessecary, but still.
idk how SteamOS installs, but its basically debian linux, so I think automatically it will create these three anyway.

So SteamOS essentially installs into Boot. Swap is reserve (recommended 8GB). Its for uhm... well, what pagefile is in windows.
reserve ram.
you can make it smaller I guess.
Home is for where you put your own installed stuff, documents, downloads, etc. Your user space basically.

edit (13h later): oops

[Calcifer's Hearth]

Originally posted by Elucidator:

It creates a Live USB.
You use the USB to install SteamOS eventually, basically.

So when you're done making the USB, you start up your PC and make it directly to the BIOS instead of loading windows. (you will need to change some bios / uefi settings for this)
(like disabling secure boot and changing boot priority)

After that, the USB's files are loaded into memory, from where you can use diskpart to create the new partition (with file system) and in stall SteamOS on those, etc.

Interesting I got to the point of booting to the usb but it keeps failing to create the partitions it needs on the USB I have tried wit ha 14GB and a 32GB usb

[Elucidator]

yeah I realize my post was terrible so I rewrote it
you need to pick expert mode I guess.
maybe it fails to detect your disk somehow.

edit: maybe someone else knows more.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Steam OS should be on usb flash drive made with Rufus. Boot from USB and it should auto install to whatever ssd/hdd is in the system. I would suggest wipe the ssd clean of all partitions first. Easy to do with any Win OS boot usb such as Win7 or later boot media.

Then ensure only the drive you wish to wipe and install an OS onto is the only drive connected at the time you wish to boot from OS installer usb. To ensure no secondary drives get messed up or wiped.

[Electric Cupcake]

Rufus or Balena Etcher.

[Calcifer's Hearth]

Strange I have Rufus and it doenst like the zip file. Do I have to unzip it and dig out the .img file?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yes, you need to unpack the ZIP if thats what it is so you can go and select ISO within an app like Rufus; which is the Disk Image for USB/DVD

[Omega]

The version of SteamOS which is currently available is terribly outdated, I recommend against installing it.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

True. As they have yet to make the new one available to public yet. For now it's only on the Steam Deck.

Just use a good gaming Linux distro instead.

[1985]

Strange