I'm really enjoying working with CachyOS and would like it as my primary choice :)
I'm really enjoying working with CachyOS and would like it as my primary choice :)
This is my first Linux question so please be gentle. I'll hand over as much info as I can to help you get me the answer. My spec is updated in my Bio I've been playing around with CachyOS for the last few weeks. It's been going well, very well in fact. to a point where I no longer need Windows 11 to play any of my steam games. My storage configuration is thus: A 256GB PCIe SSD - With Windows 11 on it. A 2TB PCIe SSD - for my 'Windows' Games drive A 2TB PCIe SSD - Encrypted, With CachyOS and all my Linux stuff I've accumulated over the last few weeks (including steam games and such) I also have a couple of HDD spinners with some precious Data on them but those will be unplugged during this process. Now I plan on still running Windows 11 as a side chick, just for the three or four online games I play that contain anticheats. But like I said, none of those I play within Steam. So the plan is to rearrange where the OSes are installed. Here's what I want: The 256GB PCIe SSD - Encrypted with CachyOS The 2TB PCIe SSD - For 'Linux' Steam games and any other launchers that I will be inevitably trying to get to run (still not dabbled in getting GOG going as I'd like to be able to play Cyberpunk without hopping out of CachyOS each time [I've heard Hero Launcher???] is good for this very reason]) The 2TB PCIe SSD - Windows 11 plus the four games with Anticheat just as it's own drive (I have a further question about this later in the post) Now I'd like to run btrfs on both the 256GB and the first 2TB and run the 'default' EFI launcher (is it MD system??) The default one in the Cachy installer. and I'd like THAT to stay the default giving me the option to pop in my side bitch from time to time (Windows 11) The question is, Which way round do I install the OSes? Windows first or CachyOS first? When I installed CachyOS originally I had to keep swapping the boot drive in the BIOS to get the install I wanted. I eventually fixed this a rather complicated way by copying the EFI info from the Windows EFI drive to the CachyOS EFI drive and setting that drive as main boot in BIOS. System MD Boot then automatically added the option to boot to Windows 11. I'd rather not have to do this again but if it comes to it, it's not a huge pain. The other question I have is about the Windows 11 install. I know NTFS is default for Windows but is there a more 'linux' friendly file system (as I keep having issues mounting newer NTFS volumes within Cachy) I can install Windows on? Cause I'd like to dabble in running this Windows 11 install as a virtual machine within CachyOS Thanks for taking the time to read my long post
Additionally, you're using an old Vertex 4 SATA SSD with 500GB capacity. You're planning to run it alongside Bazzite with Steam OS/Steam Deck for SteamVR and gaming. I need to know if this setup allows you to keep the 2TB PCIe SSD library without conflicts or needing multiple game versions.
All my isos have been copied. I’ve chosen to begin with Cachy and move forward. Good luck! Expect me back in a few hours.
It's great to hear you're having a good experience! I used CachyOS and found it effective, though I personally favored Omarchy.
Thanks Got the bones of Cachy installed on the 256GB now. Plus all the 'extra' bits from the CachyOS Hello screen. then used GParted Live to clear the partitions on the two 2TB NVMe drives. Created a btrfs partition on one and just left the other blank. then hopped in the Windows 11 installer and installed Windows 11 on the 'blank' NVMe. Currently waiting for those few games that need anticheat to install on that. Then I'll be back in cachyOS to get my Steam library all setup on the 2TB nvme drive. then once that's done I'll be installing Bazzite with the SteamOS gaming mode and hopefully, hoooopefully . I'll be able to set that up to use the library on the 2TB NVMe I'll have setup in CachyOS
Heroic works well with GOG titles. I haven’t played any Epic games, so I haven’t tested it. For other non-Steam titles, Lutris can handle most of them (as long as they don’t lack anticheat support on Linux or Wine). It launches in GOG, EA, Ubisoft, and supports scripts for Star Citizen, CEMU, YUZU, plus many emulators. It requires more adjustments than Heroic or Steam. Windows only boots using NTFS. Running games in a VM can trigger anticheat warnings that won’t work on Linux or Wine. With cloud streaming, things might change. Still, it’s a hassle for little gain. I think sharing a game drive between different Linux distros is possible, but I’m unsure how Steam will handle two instances editing the same files. Why run both CachyOS and Bazzite?
Yeah, I've given up on the VM idea already. It's not too much bother to reboot from time to time. The idea behind having both CachyOS and Bazzite it to give a path to gaming on this PC without having to open the encryption on the cachy drive each time. That way when I've got my sister's kids here they can get on the PC and game without bothering me. Also, I'm building a dedicated 2DOF SIM racing VR rig and the idea is just pop the PC off the desk and pop it next to that. When I want to use it or demo it to friends and family I can just boot into Bazzite with the said lovely Steam Deck gaming mode and not worry about navigating a DTE from the rig. I've gotten both CachyOS and Windows fully set up now. Got the 2TB steam drive formatted in btrfs, mounting from boot, with write permissions (that was a heck of a palava cause ROOT kept taking ownership until I found out about chmod) got Heroic installed too, also putting GOG and Epic games on the steam drive. I've tested Cyberpunk from gog and Kingdom come 1 from Epic. But working well. Steam games are running a treat too. I'm just waiting for Bazzite to finish installing on the vertex now.
Congratulations on your change! You've already started moving forward, but regarding your questions: If you disconnect the other drives before setting up the operating system, it doesn't matter. Generally, Windows will try to boot first unless the Linux bootloader is set to check other systems. Unless the Linux loader is configured otherwise, this is typical. For systemd-boot, GRUB includes this feature if the 'os-prober' package is present. Transferring EFI files between drives isn't advisable, even if it seems possible—it can prevent updates from working and may disrupt the boot process after upgrades. The best setup is separate ESPs for each OS, managed by the installed system. If you move Windows EFI to another drive, you'll miss out on updates and could face boot issues. NTFS is required for Windows; adding mount options like uid/guid/fmask/dmask in /etc/fstab can help Linux recognize it. You should also turn off fast boot if you plan to use the Windows partition later. Sharing game libraries between many Steam accounts isn't linked to a specific installation, so no special handling is needed. The only real concern would be simultaneous access to the same game files by multiple Steam apps, which is rare unless restricted by licensing.