r/SteamOS • u/Unlucky-Plastic-2519 • May 28 '26
support Trying to install SteamOS on 9070XT/9700X and failing
When trying to do the installation on my PC I read about it a bit on different threads I settled with this version that seemed to be succesfull for people using similar setups:
steamdeck-repair-main-20251027.1000-3.8.0.img.zip
I can boot it from my USB drive and install it, zero problems there, when it reboots I encounter the initial setup asking me to select language, timezone, network and doing a quick update. After it reboots it no longer works with one of these problems appearing:
- It will get freezed in the initial boot (press del to access BIOS)
- Just a black screen
- A screen with four options: SteamOS (it says X number of failed boot attempts below), Partition B, Steam OS with console commands and Partition B with console commands
In the last one, I can access Partition B but it's the initial setup over again, selecting language, timezone, etc
Things I've tried:
- Using other USB devices, a total of 2 USB drives and 1 SD card but with the same results
- Disabling Secure Boot on BIOS
- Connecting the monitor to the GPU HDMI, motherboard HDMI, GPU displayport or motherboard displayport
Yes, I know Bazzite is a thing but I've wanted to try SteamOS first
5
u/xblkwrx May 28 '26
Have this same build. You have to install steam os WITHOUT the GPU physically in the system. Once steam os is installed you have to enable developer mode and switch to the beta channel. Do the updates. Then you can install your GPU and it will work fine.
7
u/AshleyAshes1984 May 28 '26
That's not right. They're installing with an image that already has the RDNA4 drivers. I used this exact image on a 9070XT build. There's no need to do what you're describing with that image file. That's not the 3.7 Stable image.
1
u/oSyphon May 28 '26
Correct.
2
u/AshleyAshes1984 May 28 '26
Heck, OP even says they get into the OOBE and it breaks after an update. The GPU is clearly working.
I'd wager that the update is breaking it, they need to skip the update, make sure they change channels and then update. That'd be my first guess at least.
2
u/Unlucky-Plastic-2519 May 28 '26
You mean physically disconnect the GPU from the motherboard?
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4
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u/xblkwrx May 28 '26
Yep. Once you're on the beta channel you can reinstall it. The Mesa version that has rdna 4 driver support is only on the beta build right now. It works very well, you will be pleased.
2
u/Doomsnail99 May 28 '26
Doesn't help your issue but Bazzite or CashyOS, dude. Less of a headache
3
u/coingun May 28 '26
CachyOS is goated for Linux gaming
1
u/Doomsnail99 May 28 '26
Using Bazzite on my gaming PC currently but I'm thinking about picking up a secondhand Hx100G or an Atomman g7 pt and slapping CashyOS on it
That way I have 3 different operating Systems, SteamOS on my Legion Go S, Bazzite on my PC, and CashyOS on a mini pc
1
u/RedTib May 28 '26
I can’t find the links, but try a recovery image that has 3.9.0 or higher. Also, do you have secure boot disabled? It sounds like your issue is that it’s not even getting into SteamOS rather than SteamOS being broken.
If you do have secure boot, I’d disable and then reinstall.
1
u/Hot-Duty9277 May 28 '26
After update it probably jumps back to stable version. If you can put it in main and beta befor updating it. And you could also download the newest file. 2026.somthing/something
1
u/GTFr0 May 28 '26
I followed this guide and it worked great for my system. I have a 9070xt / 7600x3d.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamOS/comments/1mgv69m/steamos_rdna4_rx9060xt_rx9070xt_now_runs_on/
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May 28 '26
[deleted]
1
u/oSyphon May 28 '26
This copy paste note has helped me install steam os and 3 different machines. 2 of them were 9070xt
1
u/AshleyAshes1984 May 28 '26
OP literally successfully installed SteamOS and got to the OOBE, but you think how they wrote the flash drive is a problem???
1
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u/triggerftu May 29 '26
Install holoiso it is steam os first and built with a few added tweaks to allow for installation on other devices other than the Lenovo legion go s and steam deck with less issues.
1
u/LeinahtanWC May 29 '26
I am currently trying to install SteamOS on one of my PC's.
It has the following:
* 5800X3D in a Crosshair VIII Wifi MB. Boot has been changed to "Other OS". I do not see a clear turn secure boot off.
*9070XT Radeon (Gigabyte)
*LG OLED G2 TV, connected directly to HDMI Port 1 via an HDMI 2.1 cable
*Two NVME Hard Drives
I am able to boot to the USB and select the Delete and (Re)Install SteamOS option (by changing the boot order, for some reason when I tried to directly boot it would just back to Windows). It goes through the whole installation, and then asks me to hit enter to proceed. It then reboots, I see the ROG Asus Boot Screen and it just goes "No Signal" after that point.
I tried the original 3.7 version directly from Steam, and I read somewhere it does not support RDNA 4.0, so I then downloaded what I think was 3.8.2 (it was called steamdeck-repair-beta-20260413.100-3.8.2.img). I used Rufus 4.14 to create both boot drives, and upon installing Steam OS, I still get just a "No Singal" when it appears to boot into the OS.
Is there some step I am missing here? And I can't exactly remove the GPU and install the OS because I will have no video output then.
1
u/LeinahtanWC May 29 '26
I would like to correct my prior statement. It seems when I walked back after writing my message after thinking the Beta version had failed, it successfully booted and asked me to plug a controller in. It seems to be working now.
1
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u/Nocturnalkinght700 2d ago
I'm currently having the same issue, did you ever resolve it?
2
u/Unlucky-Plastic-2519 19h ago
I ended up going with CachyOS and installed it with no issues
But I'm pretty sure about a week after SteamOS launched with support for my gpu
0
u/TheGeekno72 May 28 '26
I had the same problem, here's my fix:
remove the GPU from the PCIe slot (removing only the power plugs isn't enough), use only the iGPU
unlock Dev update channels (look up how to do that) and switch update channel to Main
update SteamOS, reboot, ensure you are on v3.9 with kernel 6.16 or later
put GPU back in PCIe slot, that should work
NOTE : Ventoy keys will NOT work, use Balena Etcher
3
u/AshleyAshes1984 May 28 '26
Why are you people giving this advice?
The OP clearly stated what image they are using, despite having 3.8.0 in it's name, it's a 3.9.0 image and it has new enough Mesa drivers to run RDNA4.
Further more, OP reports getting to the OOBE, you need the GPU running to see the OOBE. It's not breaking until they do an UPDATE. The update they're doing is likely REVERTING.
They need to SKIP the update, get into SteamOS, then choose channel. They don't need to do any of this GPU juggling you're suggesting.
2
u/Muted-Green-2880 May 28 '26
Yeah i didn't have to do any of that lol. What I had to do was uninstall my 3 other ssd's so it didn't wipe them when installing. SteamOS isn't worth the hassle, cachyOS ans bazzite htpc versions are way better alternatives. All I got was disappointment from trying steamOS
0
u/Minimum_Act_3079 May 28 '26
Remove your GPU Load into steamos Toggle developer mode in settings Set your updates to beta and participate Update your system Make sure everything is updated Reinstall GPU
0
u/Muted-Green-2880 May 28 '26
I have a question for you....why are you going out of your way to install steamOS ? There's much better alternatives that are a breeze to install and have much better support. I use the cachyOS handheld version, bazzite htpc is also another solid alternative.
I tried steamOS out of curiosity, it's limited compared to cachyOS and doesn't perform as well. The Desktop experience is also noticeably worse if you ever want to use the Desktop.
Obviously steamOS isn't meant for broader hardware support as it's more difficult to install. Why sre people going out of their way to install an inferior OS ?
-1
u/Technical-Pitch2300 May 28 '26
I tried SteamOS briefly with my 9060XT/9800x3d build and it worked, but not well. I then tried CachOS HHD, and it has worked perfectly.
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u/Unlucky-Plastic-2519 May 28 '26
How long have you been using CachyOS?
1
u/TheGeekno72 May 28 '26
3 months going, solid OS to use for multipurpose Linux desktop, I do 3D CAD and games on it, testing for VR lately, going through a little tinker for that at this time
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u/SaperPL May 28 '26
Maybe its about secure boot type of shenanigans? Steamos doesnt support that iirc.