SteamOS doesn't boot anymore

[DandeMC]

Hi,

I installed SteamOS new, then refind and then windows 11. After I disabled the windows boot manager from the recovery stick, I can't boot steamos anymore. Not from refind loader or directly. Windows boots.
What can I do?

[jlobue10]

That's a bit out of order that I'd recommend (do rEFInd last in the future). Show me the output of efibootmgr from a SteamOS command line and show me what your refind.conf file looks like. I will need these things if I'm going to be able to help, as they give me most of the information that I'm interested in for troubleshooting something like this.

[DandeMC]

I can't access to the home of the internal ssd and send you the conf file. I will format the hole steam deck now...

[jlobue10]

Try to boot from the SteamOS EFI file directly by powering on with Vol+Up and Power and going to boot from file, /esp/efi/steamos/steamcl.efi, before reimaging. We can likely salvage this another less destructive way (or at least it's worth trying to first).

[DandeMC]

I tested this and my steam deck shows only a black screen. I waited 10 minutes. I think the efi file was broken after the windows 11 installation. But I don't know why.

[jlobue10]

Try the reinstall SteamOS option before reimaging. A lot of situations can be fixed with that option and it leaves installed games, saved games, configurations, and Windows partitions in tact. I go over the steps required to restore the Windows EFI entry and boot files after a SteamOS reinstall here.

[DandeMC]

It's to late. I used the reimaging option. But it's okay. I haven't any games on that. My steam deck arrived today.
Now I will install steamos again, then windows 11. Both on the internal ssd. And after that, I will install refind with your script. I hope that works 😊

[jlobue10]

Oh okay, in that case, if there's nothing that you're worried about deleting, then reimaging should be fine (and possibly preferred). Good guides can be found here and here. This process has worked for many others including myself, so don't worry. I support as necessary too, when I'm available.

[DandeMC]

Thx for your help. After reinstallation it works perfektly!