[HOW TO] Make bootable installer ISO image

[Div]

First you need xorriso, if you are running debian-based linux, you can simply type

apt-get install xorriso

Make sure you downloaded and unzip SteamOSInstaller (in my case I unzip it to /tmp/SteamOSInstaller)

cd to

/tmp/SteamOSInstaller

Then run following code

xorriso -as mkisofs -r -checksum_algorithm_iso md5,sha1 -V 'Steam OS' \
-o /tmp/SteamOSInstaller.iso -J -joliet-long -cache-inodes -no-emul-boot \
-boot-load-size 4 -boot-info-table -eltorito-alt-boot --efi-boot boot/grub/efi.img \
-append_partition 2 0x01 /tmp/SteamOSInstaller/boot/grub/efi.img \
-partition_offset 16 /tmp/SteamOSInstaller

It will create an iso named SteamOSInstaller.iso under /tmp folder

(You can change command accordingly so that it will write to a different folder)

Then you can load it into a virtual machine, or burn it to a DVD to boot the installer.

(You need a UEFI system to boot the image)

[Hatebringer]

any instructions for windows users??

[Alex HQuest]

How to Make a Bootable DVD on a Windows system for 97% of the clueless people, Valve included

0. Get a freakin' UEFI computer and trash this PC from the 80's
1. Get a blank DVD media, duh!
2. Get a copy of Microsoft's oscdimg.exe tool. It is part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (or Windows AIK for short). It is a ~1Gb file, but Google around and you shall find the single 120Kb file you need
3. Think twice about what the heck you are doing
4. Download ANY of the SteamOS zip files
5. Extract the file to a folder, let's say C:\Users\Public\SteamOS\
6. Open a Command Prompt
7. Go to the folder you saved the oscdimg.exe at step 1 (probably your downloads folder) on that command prompt (tip: "cd \users\joeuser\downloads")
8. Type in the following command - should be EXACTLY AS IS, but I may allow you to change the path to the one you extracted on step #5:

oscdimg.exe -m -o -j2 -h -pEF -bC:\Users\Public\SteamOS\boot\grub\efi.img -lSteamOS C:\Users\Public\SteamOS\ SteamOS.iso
9. Use your favorite ISO burner to record the just created SteamOS.iso file to a DVD
10. From this point on, get ready to lose your data if you are too lazy to not understand Valve's instructions
11. Boot with the DVD and again follow ALL the instructions as if you were using an USB drive
12. Send me a beer
13. Enjoy your SteamOS

[Div]

Originally posted by Hatebringer:

any instructions for windows users??

Use a VM to install Linux or use cygwin to emulate a unix enironment, maybe?

[Nal]

Originally posted by Alex HQuest:

How to Make a Bootable DVD on a Windows system for 97% of the clueless people, Valve included

0. Get a freakin' UEFI computer and trash this PC from the 80's
1. Get a blank DVD media, duh!
2. Get a copy of Microsoft's oscdimg.exe tool. It is part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (or Windows AIK for short). It is a ~1Gb file, but Google around and you shall find the single 120Kb file you need
3. Think twice about what the heck you are doing
4. Download ANY of the SteamOS zip files
5. Extract the file to a folder, let's say C:\Users\Public\SteamOS\
6. Open a Command Prompt
7. Go to the folder you saved the oscdimg.exe at step 1 (probably your downloads folder) on that command prompt (tip: "cd \users\joeuser\downloads")
8. Type in the following command - should be EXACTLY AS IS, but I may allow you to change the path to the one you extracted on step #5:

oscdimg.exe -m -o -j2 -h -pEF -bC:\Users\Public\SteamOS\boot\grub\efi.img -lSteamOS C:\Users\Public\SteamOS\ SteamOS.iso
9. Use your favorite ISO burner to record the just created SteamOS.iso file to a DVD
10. From this point on, get ready to lose your data if you are too lazy to not understand Valve's instructions
11. Boot with the DVD and again follow ALL the instructions as if you were using an USB drive
12. Send me a beer
13. Enjoy your SteamOS

Doesn't look like the iso appears after using the command.

[Offline]

I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out what the hell the installer was thinking looking for a CD when I copied the files onto a VDI image for Virtualbox. Thanks to this trick to convert the install to an ISO, the installer just plain works with no headaches. Now, Valve, you really ought to just distribute the ISO, and if people complain tell them to use unetbootin or LiLi to make a bootable USB, or burn to disc, and you don't have to worry about UEFI issues or anything else because IT JUST WORKS. There's a reason every Linux distributes ISOs. The nightmare of getting SteamOS installed in a VM or as a dual boot is why.

And seriously, many people are going to convert their old computers to Steam Machines. There's no reason to only support UEFI, unless Valve is in colluding with motherboard manufacturers. Hopefully this will be fixed before the Beta is over.

[Frigid]

Try Unetbootin for windows if you want to make a bootable thumb drive. I tried quite a few USB boot utilities when i was trying to build my server and it was the only one worked for me.

[borg_7_of_9]

I think THE UEFI IS BULL...
Gigabyte are too dam lazy to upgrade their top tier Z68 -UD7 board to UEFI but some of the lower end models from the same era got it WTH..

Hell you don't need a modern CPU to play a lot of games or to stream from your main Windows rig..

I'm sure an Old Intel X9650 with a pair of 4890's would do well as a Steam Machine while my main I7 2600K/2x HD7970 rig churns through the windows crap..

Valve made a huge mistake here IMO given the age of UEFI, but I have my own work around..

[UnkendTech]

Originally posted by borg_7_of_9:

I think THE UEFI IS BULL...
Gigabyte are too dam lazy to upgrade their top tier Z68 -UD7 board to UEFI but some of the lower end models from the same era got it WTH..

Hell you don't need a modern CPU to play a lot of games or to stream from your main Windows rig..

I'm sure an Old Intel X9650 with a pair of 4890's would do well as a Steam Machine while my main I7 2600K/2x HD7970 rig churns through the windows crap..

Valve made a huge mistake here IMO given the age of UEFI, but I have my own work around..

they're walk arounds for it

[Mat]

Nice, working, but once started, I got the grub without menu and it asks me to enter commands. What to do ? Thanks.

[Amatune]

Originally posted by daymaN:

Originally posted by Alex HQuest:

How to Make a Bootable DVD on a Windows system for 97% of the clueless people, Valve included

0. Get a freakin' UEFI computer and trash this PC from the 80's
1. Get a blank DVD media, duh!
2. Get a copy of Microsoft's oscdimg.exe tool. It is part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (or Windows AIK for short). It is a ~1Gb file, but Google around and you shall find the single 120Kb file you need
3. Think twice about what the heck you are doing
4. Download ANY of the SteamOS zip files
5. Extract the file to a folder, let's say C:\Users\Public\SteamOS\
6. Open a Command Prompt
7. Go to the folder you saved the oscdimg.exe at step 1 (probably your downloads folder) on that command prompt (tip: "cd \users\joeuser\downloads")
8. Type in the following command - should be EXACTLY AS IS, but I may allow you to change the path to the one you extracted on step #5:

oscdimg.exe -m -o -j2 -h -pEF -bC:\Users\Public\SteamOS\boot\grub\efi.img -lSteamOS C:\Users\Public\SteamOS\ SteamOS.iso
9. Use your favorite ISO burner to record the just created SteamOS.iso file to a DVD
10. From this point on, get ready to lose your data if you are too lazy to not understand Valve's instructions
11. Boot with the DVD and again follow ALL the instructions as if you were using an USB drive
12. Send me a beer
13. Enjoy your SteamOS

Doesn't look like the iso appears after using the command.

should be available at the folder you placed the oscdimg.exe

[some goofy idiot]

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up for the Windows way.

If you want the oscdimg.exe from a safe place get the kit here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30652
Run the installer and only choose the option for imaging/deployment. It's only 39MB. Then you can copy the oscdimg.exe file from the installation directory to anywhere you want.

[Tux_Dorko]

Fixed it. After looking over parameters I realized he was missing source directory. Here is the correct syntax copied from my command prompt, adjust path as necessary:
oscdimg.exe -m -o -j2 -h -pEF -b C:\Temp\SteamOS\boot\grub\efi.img -lSteamOS C:\Temp\SteamOS C:\Temp\ SteamOS.iso

[borg_7_of_9]

after a long day trying to get it going on my old rig I came to the conclusion the new rig may be easier even with no UEFI and now im up n running woot.. Will get a newer video card for the old rig and it will get the SteamOS treatment...

[furiannn]

For windows rename SYSRESTORE.ZIP to SYSRESTORE.ISO and run it through unetbootin.

[capran]

So I followed the instructions for oscdimg.exe and created SteamOS.iso. I'm on Windows 8 Pro, so I figured I'd try Hyper-V. I created the VM and chose the ISO as the DVD image, but nothing happens. Just get a black DOS window with blinking cursor. I mounted the ISO in the Windows Explorer (right-click it, open with Windows Explorer) and all the files and folders are there.

Here's the exact command I used to make the image:

B:\HyperV\SteamOS>oscdimg.exe -m -o -j2 -h -pEF -bB:\HyperV\SteamOS\SteamOS\boot\grub\efi.img -l SteamOS SteamOS.iso

Does it not work in Hyper-V?

UPDATE:

After a lot of futzing, I got it to boot the installer finally. It turns out that when you create the VM, you need to specify "Generation 2", which I guess enables booting from EFI. BUT, none of the Grub menu options work. :/

Guess I'll give VirtualBox a try.

UPDATE 2:

No go. Now I just get an "FSW ERROR" that flashes briefly then a GRUB shell. Oh well.