I’m still an Arch/Cachyos noob. Couldn’t find any specific instructions on my install process, So I worked through it with Claude and got these instructions. So far everything is working “out of the box”!
FIRST
Make sure you have a keyboard and mouse. Much easier.
Install: Claude Artifact
Maintenance: Claude Artifact
Install
ROG Ally CachyOS Installation Guide
Prerequisites
- USB drive or external SSD
- CachyOS Handheld Gaming Edition ISO
- Ventoy for creating bootable drive
Initial Setup
- Install Ventoy on USB/SSD:
sudo pacman -S ventoy # If not installed
sudo ventoy -i /dev/sdX -s -g GPT
Important: Use the entire drive (e.g., /dev/sda, not /dev/sda1)
- Format and mount if needed:
sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdX1
sudo mount -t vfat /dev/sdX1 /mnt/ventoy
- Copy ISO:
sudo cp path/to/cachyos.iso /mnt/ventoy/
sudo umount /mnt/ventoy
BIOS Setup
- Power + Vol Down to enter BIOS
- Disable Secure Boot
- Set boot priority to your USB/SSD
- Save and exit
Installation Process
-
Boot Selection:
- Choose normal mode (not GRUB2)
- Select x86_64 kernel (not Zen)
- Do not select NVIDIA options (ROG Ally uses AMD)
-
Partitioning:
- Select “Erase disk” for clean install
- Use BTRFS filesystem
- System will create:
- /boot (EFI partition)
- / (root partition with BTRFS subvolumes)
-
Time/Region Settings:
- Set appropriate timezone
- Enable NTP for time synchronization
-
User Setup:
- Create user account
- Set passwords
Post-Installation
- Verify Boot Files:
ls /mnt/EFI
# Should show: BOOT, Linux, systemd
-
Initial Boot:
- System will boot into Steam console mode
- Exit to desktop using Steam button + Menu
-
Essential Packages:
paru -S ryzenadj-git handygccs corectrl
Common Issues and Solutions
Time Synchronization Error
If you see GPG key errors about time being in the future:
sudo timedatectl set-ntp true
sudo hwclock --systohc
Boot Issues
- Always verify EFI entries before rebooting
- Keep installation media handy for recovery
- System uses systemd-boot, not GRUB
Installation Failures
Common causes:
- Secure boot not disabled
- Time synchronization issues
- Partition mount failures
Important Notes
- Don’t use NVIDIA drivers (AMD hardware)
- HandyGCCS is preferred over handycon
- CoreCtrl and RyzenAdj can work together
- Steam Deck UI updates are beneficial
Next Steps
- Configure TDP settings with RyzenAdj
- Set up HandyGCCS for controller mapping
- Configure power profiles in CoreCtrl
- Install Steam games
System Maintenance
Follow the maintenance guide for:
- Regular updates
- System snapshots
- Package management
Recovery Options
- Boot from USB if system won’t start
- Access previous snapshots from boot menu
- Use systemd-boot menu for recovery options
Remember:
- Always have a backup bootable drive
- Save working configurations
- Check CachyOS news before updates
ROG Ally CachyOS Maintenance Guide
Custom Packages
- ryzenadj-git: TDP control
- handygccs: Controller and hardware management
- corectrl: Power management GUI
First Time Setup
# Create update history log
touch ~/update-history.txt
# Create initial snapshot
sudo snapper create -d "Initial setup"
Weekly Update Workflow
1. Pre-Update Checks
# Check system status
hello status
# Check CachyOS news for breaking changes
hello news
# Verify custom packages are working
sudo ryzenadj --info
systemctl status handygccs
2. Update Process
If no warnings about ROG Ally/Handheld or custom packages:
# Create dated snapshot
sudo snapper create -d "Pre-update $(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
# Update system
hello update
# Log the update
echo "Update $(date +%Y-%m-%d): [Package versions]" >> ~/update-history.txt
paru -Q ryzenadj-git handygccs corectrl >> ~/update-history.txt
echo "---" >> ~/update-history.txt
3. Post-Update Verification
# Verify custom packages still work
sudo ryzenadj --info
systemctl status handygccs
4. If Something Breaks
# List snapshots
sudo snapper list
# Rollback to previous snapshot
sudo snapper rollback XX # Replace XX with snapshot number
Monthly Maintenance
# Clean old snapshots (keep last 5)
sudo snapper cleanup number
# System health check
hello check
# Check update history
tail -n 20 ~/update-history.txt
# Verify all custom services
systemctl --user status corectrl
systemctl status handygccs
Emergency Recovery
If unable to boot:
- Hold power + vol down on startup
- Select previous snapshot from boot menu
- After booting, check logs:
journalctl -b -1 -p 3
Update History Format
The update history file (~/update-history.txt) will contain entries like:
Update 2025-01-22:
ryzenadj-git 0.13.0-1
handygccs 1.1.2-1
corectrl 1.3.1-1
---
Remember:
- Always check news before updates
- Create snapshots before major changes
- Keep track of working package versions
- If in doubt, wait a few days before updating
ROG Ally CachyOS Installation: Troubleshooting Log
Initial USB/SSD Setup Issues
Ventoy Device Detection
Problem: Confusion about which device path to use
- Listed options showed both sda and sda1
- Solution: Used /dev/sda (whole drive) instead of /dev/sda1 (partition)
File System Mounting Issues
# Initial error
bad superblock on /dev/sda1
# Resolution steps
sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sda1
sudo mount -t vfat /dev/sda1 /mnt/ventoy
ISO Detection Problems
- Ventoy reported “No ISO or supported IMG files found”
- Required proper copying of ISO to mounted Ventoy partition
- Verified ISO was completely copied
Installation Process Challenges
Boot Selection Considerations
Had to specifically choose:
- Normal mode (not GRUB2)
- x86_64 kernel specifically
- Avoided NVIDIA options
Time Synchronization Issues
Installation failed due to GPG key time errors:
gpg: key 760DA9AD81E7892F was created 28489 seconds in the future
Required system time synchronization during installation process
EFI Verification Challenges
- Initial EFI path check failed:
cannot access '/boot/efi/EFI' no such file or directory
- Required checking alternative paths:
- /boot/EFI
- Used mount command to locate actual EFI location
Steam Mode Issues
Initial Boot State
- System booted directly to Steam console mode
- Required knowing how to exit to desktop mode
- Steam Deck Beta Client Update was recommended during first boot
System-Specific Notes
Hardware Recognition
- System properly recognized ROG Ally X Extreme hardware
- No need for additional GPU drivers (AMD)
- Built-in controller initially recognized by Steam
Storage Configuration
- Successfully used entire drive after Windows removal
- BTRFS setup completed without issues
- Proper subvolume structure verified
Lessons Learned
- SSD/USB Setup
- Always use whole device for Ventoy
- Verify mount points before copying ISO
- Double-check ISO copy completion
- Installation Process
- Time synchronization is critical
- Check EFI setup before rebooting
- Verify boot entries exist
- Post-Install
- Know how to exit Steam mode
- Be prepared for immediate system updates
- Verify all hardware functions
Unexpected Behaviors
- Steam Console Mode
- Default boot to Steam console was unexpected
- Required additional steps to reach desktop
- Time Synchronization
- Installation blocked by time sync issues
- Required manual intervention
- EFI Path Variations
- Standard EFI paths weren’t applicable
- Required flexible troubleshooting approach
Additional Notes
What Worked Well
- Ventoy setup after initial confusion
- BTRFS installation
- Hardware recognition
- Steam integration
What Required Extra Steps
- Time synchronization
- EFI verification
- Exiting Steam mode
What to Watch For
- GPG key time errors
- Correct boot mode selection
- Proper partition setup
- EFI entry verification
This troubleshooting log represents specific issues encountered during one installation session. Your experience may vary, but these solutions provide a reference for common issues.