What is SteamOS?
SteamOS is a Linux distribution developed by Valve. It is open source with some closed source components and is the primary operating system for Steam Machines and the Steam Deck. -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteamOS
DISCLAIMER
You cannot game in this VM as it lacks graphics acceleration. It is, however, very handy for developers in need of a test version of SteamOS and for testing things in the desktop environment.
Things You Will Need
Preparing for Installation
Open a web browser and navigate to https://store.steampowered.com/steamos/download/?ver=steamdeck&snr=
Check the license agreement checkbox and click the Download SteamOS Deck Image button
Open File Explorer and navigate to the download location
Right click on the downloaded SteamOS recovery .bz2 archive > 7-Zip > Extract Here
Rename the extracted file steamos-recovery.img
While holding Shift, right click in the white space and select Open PowerShell window here
Execute the following commands in the PowerShell window
# rename steamdeck recovery image mv .\steamdeck-recovery*.img .\steamdeck-recovery.img # convert the recovery .img to .vdi & "$ENV:ProgramFiles\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" convertfromraw --format VDI .\steamdeck-recovery.img .\steamdeck-recovery.vdi
Creating the SteamOS VM
Launch the VirtualBox VM Manager
Create a New VM by selecting Machine > New
Name: SteamOS
Machine Folder: C:\VMs
Type: Linux
Version: Arch (64-bit)
Memory Size: 4096 MB or more
Hard disk:
File size: 40 GB
Hard disk file type: VDI
Storage on physical hard disk: Dynamically Allocated
Click Create
Select the VM and Click Settings
Select System
Check the Enable EFI checkbox
On the Processor tab, give the VM at least 2 processors
Select Display
Slide the Video Memory to 128 MB
Select Network
Set the attached to dropdown to Bridged Adapter
Select Storage
Click on the Add Hard Disk button across from the SATA controller
Click Add > Browse to and select the steamdeck-recovery .vdi file created earlier > Click Choose
Click OK
Make sure the SteamOS VM is selected and click Start > Normal
Installing SteamOS
Wait for the desktop environment to boot
Double click Terminal with repair tools on the desktop
Run the following commands in the terminal
# list disks # note the device id for VBOX HARDDISK # should be /dev/sda sudo fdisk -l # edit the recovery installation script nano ./tools/repair_device.sh
Locate the DISK= line and edit the value to match the device ID of the VBOX HARDDISK noted earlier (ie /dev/sda)
Locate the DISKSUFFIX= line and delete the p to leave a blank value
Press CTRL+O, Enter, CTRL+X to write the changes
Continue with the following commands in the terminal
sudo ./tools/repair_device.sh all
When prompted, click Proceed to confirm destroying data on /dev/sda
Once the installation completes, click Cancel
Continue with the following commands in the terminal
# chroot to steamos install sudo steamos-chroot --disk /dev/sda --partset A # allow writing to steamos partition steamos-readonly disable # set a password passwd # enter and confirm a password # set steamos default to boot to desktop mode echo -e '[Autologin]\nSession=plasma.desktop' > /etc/sddm.conf.d/zz-steamos-desktopmode.conf # set steamos partition back to readonly steamos-readonly enable # exit chroot exit # chroot to steamos install sudo steamos-chroot --disk /dev/sda --partset B # allow writing to steamos partition steamos-readonly disable # set a password passwd # enter and confirm a password # set steamos default to boot to desktop mode echo -e '[Autologin]\nSession=plasma.desktop' > /etc/sddm.conf.d/zz-steamos-desktopmode.conf # set steamos partition back to readonly steamos-readonly enable # exit chroot exit # shutdown the VM sudo shutdown now
Make sure the SteamOS VM is selected and click Settings
Select Storage
Right click the steamdeck-recovery.img device > Remove attachment
Click OK
Make sure the SteamOS VM is selected and click Start > Normal
Welcome to SteamOS
Install VirtualBox Guest Additions (Optional, but recommended)
Continue with the following commands in the terminal
# verify password is set passwd # enter and confirm a password # allow writing to steamos partition steamos-readonly disable # remove pacman keys sudo rm /etc/pacman.d/gnupg -R # reinitialize pacman keys sudo pacman-key --init # add arch linux pacman keys sudo pacman-key --populate archlinux # edit the pacman config file sudo nano /etc/pacman.conf
Edit each repository name, adding -rel inside the square brackets
[jupiter] => [jupiter-rel]
[holo] => [holo-rel]
[core] => [core-rel]
[extra] => [extra-rel]
[community] => [community-rel]
[multilib] => [multilib-rel]
Press CTRL+O, Enter, CTRL+X to write the changes
Continue with the following steps in the terminal
# update packages sudo pacman -Syu
From the VirtualBox menu, select Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image...
Open the Dolphin file browser application > Select the Guest Additions Disc > Right click in the white space > Open Terminal
In the Terminal window run the following commands
# install guest additions sudo ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run # start guest additions sudo /sbin/rcvboxadd quicksetup all # reboot sudo reboot now
The VM will reboot
Upon rebooting, you can now full screen the VM and the internal resolution will automatically change to match the window size
Log back into SteamOS