Steam Deck: How to run Windows 11 from an external SSD I SSK SSD enclosure I M.2 NVME I GamePass

[@StarBoy-fo5ig]

Thanks, this is just what I was looking for, I'm doing this to turn my Steam Deck to a working windows PC to run AutoCAD and other apps while keeping it as a gaming device

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Star Boy, that’s awesome. I love when steam deck users turn their deck into a fully functional computer while also playing cool games on it 😎👍

[@bearsj3]

This makes it so simple! Cleary better option + can be cheaper ! Thx gonna do this soon

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Justin, thank you for your feedback! It's handy doing this way and you are not having to modify the original steam OS installation 👍

[@StarBoy-fo5ig]

Btw you could set the steam deck to prioritize booting from an external storage device so that way it'll boot directly to windows when plugged to the usb hub and directly to steam os when not

[@SamDansCouch]

Cool, yes that’s handy when keeping it on a desk. Great idea 👍

[@rohitwasnik]

can you point me to a tutorial?

[@-Crustyboi-]

Yeah I use my spare external SSD for Windows 11 it's sick ✊

[@MATT_bauer]

Thank you for this in-depth tutorial. Wondering though if you've ran into an issue where you're display settings across multiple monitors reset upon booting it up. It's quite the head scratcher.

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Matt 😎 I have not had any issues like that during my tests but I haven’t tried it in a while. I know valve does update their windows display drivers once in a while too. Maybe worth checking out if a newer update might fix it again.

[@y2jRuuj]

Hey sorry its quite a late comment but would appreciate it if you could let me know if your setup works with the dock+monitor using HDMI? I want to have a Samsung T7 connected via USB to my Ugreen 9in1 dock, along with keyboard, mouse, HDMI to a TV/monitor, high power charger and have the dock connected directly to the steam deck. Do you think this would work? Thanks in advance!

[@SamDansCouch]

Hello 👋 yes I usually use a TV but a monitor with HDMI works without a problem too 👍

[@slackerman9758]

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

[@mattecrystal6403]

I was trying this and it works if i just have the ssd pugged into the deck. but using the officials steam dock deck and having the usb plugged into that it can boot but it only lasts a few minutes before the screen suddenly goes black and windows crashes. I have another3rd party usb dock alternative i tried and same issue.

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi mattecrystal 👋 I’ve been using my JSAUX dock in this video but the official dock should work with this just fine. I’m sorry you are having issues. My windows has been working without crashing but there were updates to the drivers in the past months as well. Maybe try to see if you have the lastest ones. Also if you have an OLED SD, this one doesn’t officially support windows yet and new drivers are needed which aren’t available yet.

[@mattecrystal6403]

@@SamDansCouch I got the drivers installed and am using the OG steamdeck. I was able to temporarily fix it via using a different usb cable to connect the ssd to the dock though. Apparently the Samsung T7 can draw too much power or something when using the original cord and cause the power to go out for a ms which in turn causes windows to crash. using a different, (slower cord) can fix this. Still looking at solutions that will let it work with OG cord though.

[@SamDansCouch]

@@mattecrystal6403 thank you for sharing your experience. Good call on the cable. The sudden crash did made me think of a power draw as well. Maybe you can find a better cable on places like Amazon. The cable that came with my ssd adapter worked out of the box. It’s just short as a draw back. I hope you can get you windows installation stable soon 😎

[@MaishYeol]

hi ive just done this except it wont let me connect to wifi and wants me to use an ethernet

[@SamDansCouch]

Hello Maisha! 🙂 I would try to reinstall the wifi drivers from valves website again and remember that Windows is only 100% supported for LCD Steamdecks. OLED is not fully supported yet but it is coming soon: help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6121-ECCD-D643-BAA8

[@-Monty97-]

hey great video! I was just wondering if you can use that ssd for both booting windows from and using it as a storage device to store games in?

[@SamDansCouch]

@@-Monty97- hello 👋 thank you 😊 yes you definitely can use it as a storage device as well and have windows on it installed at the same time as well 👍

[@infurnobrad]

Hey. I was woundering the same thing, did you figure it out? Trying to partition a 2 tb external ssd. Have 500 gigs for windows partitioned and the rest for storage on steam deck games

[@-Monty97-]

@@infurnobrad hey, nah I dropped the idea, steamos already got everything I need

[@FPChris]

I'm trying to do this on a Beelink SRE3. I have a Windows 11 install in the internal M.2 that I moved to the exact SSK enclosure you have. I can't get it to boot. SSK isn't appearing in the BIOS.

[@simpl3lang]

So can u make a video of a fresh install of windows on a nvme (with external enclosure)? 😅

[@shaydesofblue2281]

Very tempting. Proton is not even 70% reliable. I just want to play some Gears 5 on my Deck lol

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Shaydes of blue, yes I was so happy to be able to play some rounds of gears on the deck. I wish MS would bring Gamepass to SteamOS but in the right here and now this is a good way to enjoy both OS worlds 😎👍

[@shaydesofblue2281]

@@SamDansCouch I wish Anti Cheat works in OS. 😭

[@SamDansCouch]

@@shaydesofblue2281 me too. I heard they might fix at least Halo MCC up for multiplayer with anti cheat on Steam OS in a near future update.

[@shaydesofblue2281]

@@SamDansCouch Only thing I want to do is play the Deck without switching to windows. Lol. I might upgrade the ssd to 4tb.

[@SamDansCouch]

@@shaydesofblue2281 I do too 😊 oh 4TB will be nice. You can have never enough space. 👍

[@rodavefelicio8378]

My friend can I install windows OS only in a partition not in whole ssd?I have 2 tb ssd and already partition to different format.Im new to your channel and this video helps a lot.Thank you

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Rodave, thank you for watching 😎 I’m glad my video could help out. As far as I know you can have dual boot on a partitioned SSD. It’s gonna be a little tricky but definitely possible.

[@franciscoochoa6237]

Hello, I am having problems with the blue screen of death. I'm running w10 2go, any ideas?

[@darewinvillanueva496]

hi i hve a questions how am i going to remove the external ssd since the deck was booted to windows

[@SamDansCouch]

Hello 👋 As long as you are using windows on your external ssd it does need to stay connected. Some valcro tape their ssd to the back of the SD to make it portable or just use it on a dock on a tv 👍

[@darewinvillanueva496]

Actualy im planning to use windows for external only . should i boot it to steam os then safely remove it

[@SamDansCouch]

@@darewinvillanueva496yes that would be the best method to be safe 👍

[@henry73351]

Considering doing this to play LoL and lost ark.

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Harry, yes it’s handy to be able to switch. And lost ark is a huge download all by itself 😄

[@boitmecklyn4995]

Oh I do like the idea of having windows in the dock's SSD but it isn't portable and implies you have windows functionality that isn't important.

[@tinabeana7]

Is this a better option vs a microsd with windows on it? I know it will be a lot faster. Also is it better to do it this way? Or order a dock with a m.2 hub? If I order a dock with a m.2 hub am I not able to take windows portably? I just ordered my oled today so I’m researching and oh so excited!

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Tina! Oh you are going to love your OLED SD, great choice! Having Windows on SSD is going to be faster and reliable since microSD cards can get reduced life span when putting windows on it (lots of read and writes on the card, while SSDs are fine with that). You can get a dock with a built in SSD slot but it will be more clunky if you want to go places. Depends how you want to use your windows installation most. I hope you’ll receiver your SteamDeck soon!

[@AA-yc7fk]

Can you use ssd nvme on dock? And if dock has power to steam deck, will passthrough power battery 90% or above on steam deck still work? I worry passthrough power on steam deck will not work anymore if i attach nvme ssd on dock because power consumption of nvme ssd. Or I worry nvme ssd not work anymore if passthrough power connected to steam deck. Help me because I want play deck on docked mode + nvme ssd attached + passthrough power steam deck

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi A A! Yes, you can use the ssd and have the steamdeck charge and stay at full power. Works like a charm 😊👍

[@AA-yc7fk]

Wow that's great. What type of your dock station? I wanna buy JSAUX old dock without nvme port. I think it is cheaper.

[@SamDansCouch]

@@AA-yc7fk I have the standard JSAUX dock and the official valve dock. If you get that cheap ssd case you can just hook it up to one of the USB ports and you are good to go. No need for the expensive ssd jsaux dock😊

[@AA-yc7fk]

Very nice, thanks a lot for your information👍

[@GianmariaFadini]

Do you have USB 3.1/3.2 ports on the docking or only 3.0 ?

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi GianmariaFadini 👋🏻 The Jsaux 603 dock in this video has USB 3.0. If you get the official Steam Deck Dock it has USB 3.1. And the bigger tears of Jsaux docks even have 3.2.

[@GianmariaFadini]

@@SamDansCouch I was wondering if it is worth spending extra money for the JSAUX dock with USB 3.2 and M2 connector built-in (HB0604) or the cheaper version with only USB 3.2 and DP (HB0702). I am in doubt about this.

[@SamDansCouch]

@@GianmariaFadini In my opinion you can go with the cheaper option. I myself saw no speed difference between my different docks I have either. 👍

[@breaking_back]

I am planning to upgrade steam deck ssd to 1tb, can i use the 64gb one into the enclosure to install windows. Also can i run windows and download windows game into microsd card on deck?

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Russellyan92, yes you can use the original steam deck ssd externally too and slap windows on it 😄 and you are able to use the sd card under windows as well. Good times 😎

[@breaking_back]

@@SamDansCouch amazing, i"ll definitely try it out. Thanks for the tutorial

[@MrRebrahim]

Are you able to sleep and resume in windows? My installation crashes with bsod and 'BOOT DEVICE NOT FOUND' error

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi ri4z! I'm sorry windows crashes for you. Mine works but I had to assign the power button in the power saving settings as a trigger to go to sleep. Auto timer didn't work.

[@MrRebrahim]

@@SamDansCouch Thanks for getting back to me.. I figured it out thankfully. I'm using a cheap orico nvme enclosure and the usb cable that came with it appears to be a duff. Switching to a better usb c cable seems to have fixed the issue.

[@SamDansCouch]

@@MrRebrahim Thank you for the update! Yes a cheap USB cable can be a pain. I had the same problem with an external drive on my main computer. Wiggles out easily without me even touching it and it ruins the day. Glad you figured it out!

[@louisbanens]

Hi thanks for your good explanation. I have a question. I have installed windows 10 without activating and now I got the windows watermark and a question to activate it. Do you have that also and how do you get rid of it? Thnx!

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Louis, yes when putting windows on the steam deck, even when activated before, counts as a new “PC” and requires activation. As far as I know you’ll only lose wallpaper functionality and the watermark. So for games you could just ignore it if activation is a no go.

[@BlobBlobkins]

You buy Windows license for a device only, you can't buy a copy of Windows.

[@blackrat6042]

4 tb, not 4 gb

[@smanas109]

How did you got Windows 11 running without using the 2Go. I tried the same and getting the blank screen and going to steam OS instead. I guess we can't boot windows directly from USB.

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi outsideGaming, I used the full version of windows 11 (since it was already installed on the ssd from being in my old laptop). It boots up without a problem from usb for me. Just got to do the bios select every time you start the deck. I’m sorry your windows is acting up. If everything fails I’d try to fresh install windows 11 again. You shouldn’t need to do a special “to go” installation. Keeping my fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻

[@wayneconn8997]

Did you have to change any settings before doing this process? I took the NVME SSD from my PC with fully functioning Windows 10 already installed, but the drive doesn't appear in the steam deck's boot manager. I've tried connecting the drive directly to the deck's USB port, connecting through a powered dock, and multiple cable types. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated

[@SamDansCouch]

@@wayneconn8997 Hello! I did not change any settings. I plopped my windows ssd straight from my old laptop into the ssd case for the steam deck. Make sure your ssd is formatted as NTFS. Besides that the ssd should show up in the boot manager. I have my ssd running on a powered hdmi/hub. Other than that there is nothing else to really set. I hope you get it working. 🤞🏻

[@FunkeymonkeyTTR]

@@wayneconn8997 did you ever solve this?

[@JamieReynolds89]

so I can put my m.2 ssd with windows already installed into rog strix arion enclosure for example, plug it into my steam deck and be able to boot into windows 11?

[@SamDansCouch]

Hi Jamie! That’s right. And once windows is booted up just install the steam deck drivers for graphics and audio etc. and you are done. It’s a handy and easy way to get windows on your deck. 😎👍

[@JamieReynolds89]

@@SamDansCouch ok that’s brilliant then saves me installing windows form scratch again. what’s the website to get the drivers please?

[@SamDansCouch]

@@JamieReynolds89 You can get the drivers directly from valve: URL: help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6121-ECCD-D643-BAA8

[@JamieReynolds89]

@@SamDansCouch Thank you very much. Just ordered my Steam Deck so will save this link. 😀

[@SamDansCouch]

@@JamieReynolds89 Great 👍🏻 I hope you’ll get your Deck soon. You’ll love it 😊