1. System Requirements

Recommended Requirements

2. Downloading PikaOS

Official website:

PikaOS Official Website

Downloads page:

PikaOS Downloads

PikaOS often provides:

• NVIDIA editions
• Generic editions
• Different desktop environments

Recommended Choices

3. Verifying the ISO

After downloading:

Linux

sha256sum pikaos.iso

Compare with official checksum.

Windows

Use:

• PowerShell

Get-FileHash .\pikaos.iso -Algorithm SHA256

4. Creating a Bootable USB

Windows

• Rufus
• balenaEtcher

Linux

• GNOME Disks
• Etcher
• dd

Using Rufus

1. Insert USB drive
2. Open Rufus
3. Select:
   • USB device
   • PikaOS ISO
4. Partition scheme:
   • GPT for UEFI systems
5. Click Start

5. BIOS/UEFI Preparation

Before installation:

Enter BIOS/UEFI

Common keys:

• F2
• DEL
• ESC
• F12

Recommended Settings

Enable:

• UEFI boot

Disable:

• Fast Boot
• Intel RST/RAID (use AHCI instead)
• Secure Boot (recommended)

6. Booting the Live Environment

Boot from USB.

You will enter:

• Live desktop environment

Before installing:

• Test Wi-Fi
• Test audio
• Verify GPU detection
• Check monitor refresh rates

7. Starting the Installer

Double-click:

• Install PikaOS

PikaOS typically uses the Calamares installer.

8. Language, Region, and Keyboard

Choose:

• Language
• Timezone
• Keyboard layout

Examples:

• English (US)
• Romanian keyboard
• German keyboard

9. Disk Partitioning

You have two choices:

Option A — Automatic Installation 

Installer will:

• Erase disk
• Create partitions
• Configure bootloader automatically

Best for:

• New Linux users
• Single-OS systems

Option B — Manual Partitioning

Recommended layout:

EFI Partition

If using UEFI:

Mount point:

/boot/efi

10. Dual Boot With Windows

Important Preparations

Inside Windows:

Disable:

• Fast Startup
• BitLocker (temporarily recommended)

Shrink Windows Partition

In Windows:

1. Open Disk Management
2. Shrink C: drive
3. Leave unallocated space

Then install PikaOS into that space.

GRUB Bootloader

PikaOS installs:

• GRUB bootloader

It should automatically detect:

• Windows Boot Manager

11. User Creation

Create:

• Username
• Hostname
• Password

You may optionally:

• Enable auto-login
• Require password at login

12. Completing Installation

Installer copies:

• Base system
• Drivers
• Gaming packages
• Bootloader

After completion:

1. Reboot
2. Remove USB drive

13. First Boot

You should now see:

• GRUB menu
• PikaOS desktop

Log in with your account.

14. First System Update

Open terminal:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -y

Reboot afterward.

15. Understanding PikaOS Gaming Features

PikaOS includes:

• Gaming kernels
• Proton support
• Wine support
• GPU drivers
• Steam optimizations
• GameMode
• MangoHud
• Lutris integration

This reduces manual setup dramatically.

16. Installing Steam

Usually preinstalled.

If not:

sudo apt install steam

Official website:

Steam

17. Enabling Proton

Inside Steam:

Steps

1. Open Steam
2. Settings
3. Compatibility
4. Enable:
   • Steam Play for supported titles
   • Steam Play for all titles

Select:

• Proton Experimental

This enables Windows games on Linux.

18. Installing Lutris

Lutris helps install:

• Epic Games
• Battle.net
• GOG
• Ubisoft Connect
• Emulators

Install:

sudo apt install lutris

Official website:

Lutris

19. Installing Heroic Games Launcher

Useful for:

• Epic Games Store
• GOG games

Official website:

Heroic Games Launcher

20. NVIDIA Driver Configuration

PikaOS usually preinstalls NVIDIA drivers on NVIDIA ISOs.

Check:

nvidia-smi

sudo apt install nvidia-driver

Reboot:

sudo reboot

21. AMD GPU Setup

AMD GPUs generally work automatically using:

• Mesa
• RADV Vulkan drivers

Install Vulkan tools:

sudo apt install vulkan-tools

Test Vulkan:

vulkaninfo

22. Installing Gaming Utilities

GameMode

Improves gaming performance:

sudo apt install gamemode

Run games with:

gamemoderun %command%

Inside Steam launch options.

MangoHud

Performance overlay:

sudo apt install mangohud

Launch game:

mangohud %command%

23. Audio Configuration

PikaOS typically uses:

• PipeWire

Install controls:

sudo apt install pavucontrol

Launch:

pavucontrol

24. Installing Codecs

Install multimedia support:

sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Includes:

• MP3
• Video codecs
• Fonts

25. Installing Development Tools

Essentials

sudo apt install build-essential git curl wget

Python

sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-venv

26. Firewall Setup

Install UFW

sudo apt install ufw

Enable firewall:

sudo ufw enable

Check:

sudo ufw status

27. SSD Optimization

Enable TRIM:

sudo systemctl enable fstrim.timer

28. Performance Tweaks

Check CPU Governor

Install tools:

sudo apt install cpufrequtils

Set performance governor:

sudo cpufreq-set -r -g performance

29. Installing OBS Studio

Streaming and recording:

sudo apt install obs-studio

Official site:

OBS Studio

30. Flatpak Support

Install Flatpak:

sudo apt install flatpak

Add Flathub:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub \
https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

31. Installing Discord

Official website:

Discord

Or:

flatpak install flathub com.discordapp.Discord