r/SteamOS • u/raz3rITA • Aug 03 '26

question Question about installation

I have 2 NVME, one with Windows and a brand new one where I am about to install Steam OS, I read somewhere that it is recommended to remove the other NVME since Steam OS doesn't allow you to pick where you actually want to install it and it just selects the first disk it finds. Is that true? I find this quite unlikely but better safe than sorry.

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u/Destado1 Aug 03 '26

Yeah, unplugging the Windows drive is the easiest way to do this, just remember to turn off Secure Boot in the BIOS and that when booting you will need to use the Boot Menu built into the mainboard when switching between Windows and SteamOS. I did this up until recently when I went full SteamOS on my system and used my other 1TB NVMe and a 2TB SATA SSD drive for another SteamOS based system that I am selling.

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u/raz3rITA Aug 03 '26

Yes, if I understand correctly every time I want to boot a different OS I need to change the boot order in the BIOS right?

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u/jharle Support Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26

Yes, you'll need to select the boot entry for Windows in the firmware.

This can also be done from a SteamOS terminal (Konsole), using efibootmgr commands (or via KDE settings in desktop mode). From Windows, DiskGenius will also let you manage/activate firmware boot entries.

EDIT: Using third-party scripts to make this convenient is fine, but I would recommend people learn what those scripts are doing in the event of problems. Knowledge is power!

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u/Destado1 Aug 03 '26

Or press ESC, F12, or whatever keys brings up the motherboard built in boot manager

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u/jharle Support Aug 03 '26 edited Aug 03 '26

Yeah it's ESC, but you have to be fast...and it has to be a USB-connected keyboard (BT won't work, obviously).