Installing StartOS on older desktop, need some advice

General
1

Greetings,

New here, and struggling to boot StartOS (nonfree.iso) on my desktop for a Bitcoin node setup due to a “Reboot and select proper boot device” error or BIOS loop. Below are my hardware specs and a summary of steps taken.

Hardware Specs

  • Motherboard: MSI MAG Z390 Tomahawk (MS-7B18)
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-9600K @ 3.70GHz
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB (NVMe M.2)
  • Additional Storage: 1TB Drive
  • Notes: 2018-era board, integrated graphics, Ethernet for BTC node.

Installation and Troubleshooting Steps

  1. Install:
  • Flashed nonfree.iso to USB, booted, and installed on Samsung SSD (erase confirmed).
  • Install succeeded, removed USB, and rebooted.
  • Result: “Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key” error.
  1. BIOS Adjustments (Round 1):
  • Set Boot Mode Select to LEGACY+UEFI, Boot Option #1 to “Hard Disk: Samsung SSD.”
  • Saved/exited.
  • Result: Same boot error.
  1. BIOS Adjustments (Round 2):
  • Set Boot Mode Select to UEFI, Boot Option #1 to “UEFI Hard Disk.”
  • Confirmed Secure Boot and Fast Boot Disabled.
  • SATA Configuration: AHCI mode, M.2/Optane Genie Disabled.
  • Saved/exited.
  • Result: Boots to BIOS menu (loop).
  1. Other Checks:
  • No standalone CSM option (part of LEGACY+UEFI).
  • Tried reinstalling in both UEFI and LEGACY+UEFI modes, same issues.

My search results have not yielded anything so far.
Tried to be as complete as possible to give an idea of what I’ve tried so far.

Any advice is appreciated!

2

Being a DIY device, this could be caused by any number of small details.

You are on the right track by using the StartOS nonfree iso, this provides the needed firmware for most devices out there.

I would look into your BIOS settings and try seeing if you can disable secure boot, that could very well be what is causing you trouble.

3

Hello Alvaro, and thank you for taking the time to reply.

My first research pointed me towards Secure Boot too, which I already verified to be disabled.

When I did that, it would no longer point me towards the Reboot error, but just put me straight into my BIOS menu.

I’m now looking into spinning up a proxmox VM instead.

4

Try this, How to make StartOS run on Minisforum UN1290. Fixed my problem where it went to the BIOS after 1st reboot from fresh install.