Try alternative installation methods

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 61 views

Introduction

The Steam Deck is a powerful handheld gaming console developed by Valve Corporation. It runs on SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system designed specifically for gaming. However, some users have reported issues with installing Determinate Nix on their Steam Deck. In this article, we will explore the errors encountered by a user who tried both the latest stable and latest beta versions of SteamOS, and provide additional context to help resolve the issue.

Background Information

The user in question had previously installed Nix on their Steam Deck, but was experiencing trouble updating it. As a result, they uninstalled an older version of Nix (0.25.1) using the /nix/nix-installer uninstall command. Now, they are attempting to install the newer version of Nix.

Error 1: Standard Determinate Nix Install on SteamOS

When attempting to install Determinate Nix on SteamOS using the standard method, the user encountered the following error:

Error: 
   0: Install failure
   1: Error executing action
   2: Action `provision_determinate_nixd` errored
   3: Write path `/usr/local/bin/determinate-nixd`
   4: Read-only file system (os error 30)

This error suggests that the installation process is unable to write to the /usr/local/bin directory, which is a read-only file system.

Error 2: Determinate Nix Installer on SteamOS with "No" to Determinate Nix Install

When attempting to install Determinate Nix using the Determinate Nix Installer on SteamOS, but responding "No" to the Determinate Nix install prompt (i.e., choosing to install Nix from NixOS instead), the user encountered the following error:

ERROR Error saving receipt: RecordingReceipt("/nix/receipt.tmp", Os { code: 2, kind: NotFound, message: "No such file or directory" })
ERROR 
   0: Install failure
   1: Error executing action
   2: Action `provision_nix` errored
   3: Action `create_nix_tree` errored
   4: Action `create_directory` errored
   5: Creating directory `/nix/var`
   6: No such file or directory (os error 2)

This error suggests that the installation process is unable to create the /nix/var directory, which is required for the Nix installation.

Error 3: Running Determinate Nix Installer from "su" Shell

When throwing caution to the wind and running the Determinate Nix installer from a "su" shell, the user encountered the same error as in Error 1:

ERROR Error saving receipt: RecordingReceipt("/nix/receipt.tmp", Os { code: 2, kind: NotFound, message: "No such file or directory" })
ERROR 
   0: Install failure
   1: Error executing action
   2: Action `provision_determinate_nixd` errored
   3: Write path `/usr/local/bin/determinate-nixd`
   4: Read-only file system (os error 30)

This error suggests that the installation process is still unable to write to the /usr/local/bin directory, even when running the installer from a "su" shell.

Metadata

key	value
version	3.0.0
os	linux
arch	x86_64

Conclusion

In conclusion, the user in question encountered three different errors when attempting to install Determinate Nix on their Steam Deck. These errors suggest that the installation process is unable to write to the /usr/local/bin directory, create the /nix/var directory, or run the Determinate Nix installer from a "su" shell. To resolve these issues, the user may need to try alternative installation methods or seek further assistance from the Determinate Nix community.

Recommendations

Based on the errors encountered by the user, the following recommendations can be made:

Try alternative installation methods: The user may want to try alternative installation methods, such as using the NixOS installer or manually installing Nix from source.
Seek further assistance: The user may want to seek further assistance from the Determinate Nix community, such as posting on the Determinate Nix forums or seeking help from a Nix expert.
Check file system permissions: The user may want to check the file system permissions to ensure that the /usr/local/bin directory is writable.
Check for conflicts with other packages: The user may want to check for conflicts with other packages that may be preventing the installation of Determinate Nix.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the errors encountered by a user who tried to install Determinate Nix on their Steam Deck. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to help answer some of the most common questions related to Determinate Nix installation on Steam Deck.

Q: What is Determinate Nix?

A: Determinate Nix is a package manager for Linux that allows users to easily install and manage software packages on their system.

Q: Why am I getting errors when trying to install Determinate Nix on my Steam Deck?

A: There are several reasons why you may be getting errors when trying to install Determinate Nix on your Steam Deck. Some common causes include:

File system permissions: The /usr/local/bin directory may be read-only, preventing Determinate Nix from writing to it.
Conflicts with other packages: Other packages on your system may be conflicting with Determinate Nix, preventing it from installing correctly.
Installation method: The installation method you are using may not be compatible with your Steam Deck.

Q: How do I resolve the "Read-only file system" error?

A: To resolve the "Read-only file system" error, you can try the following:

Check file system permissions: Ensure that the /usr/local/bin directory is writable.
Use a different installation method: Try using a different installation method, such as the NixOS installer or manually installing Nix from source.
Seek further assistance: Post on the Determinate Nix forums or seek help from a Nix expert.

Q: How do I resolve the "No such file or directory" error?

A: To resolve the "No such file or directory" error, you can try the following:

Check for conflicts with other packages: Ensure that there are no conflicts with other packages on your system.
Use a different installation method: Try using a different installation method, such as the NixOS installer or manually installing Nix from source.
Seek further assistance: Post on the Determinate Nix forums or seek help from a Nix expert.

Q: Can I install Determinate Nix on my Steam Deck using a "su" shell?

A: Yes, you can install Determinate Nix on your Steam Deck using a "su" shell. However, this may not resolve the installation issues, and you may still encounter errors.

Q: What are some alternative installation methods for Determinate Nix?

A: Some alternative installation methods for Determinate Nix include:

NixOS installer: The NixOS installer is a graphical interface for installing Nix on your system.
Manual installation: You can manually install Nix from source by downloading the Nix source code and following the installation instructions.
Other package managers: You can also try using other package managers, such as Homebrew or apt-get, to install Determinate Nix.

Q: Where can I find further assistance with Determinate Nix installation on Steam Deck?

A: You can find further assistance with Determinate Nix installation on Steam Deck by:

Posting on the Determinate Nix forums: The Determinate Nix forums are a great resource for getting help with installation issues.
Seeking help from a Nix expert: You can also seek help from a Nix expert, such as a developer or a system administrator.
Checking the Determinate Nix documentation: The Determinate Nix documentation is a great resource for learning more about Determinate Nix and how to install it on your Steam Deck.

By following these Q&A answers, you should be able to resolve the installation issues and successfully install Determinate Nix on your Steam Deck.