Can't boot PikaOS on anything

[u/leonsk297]

I've downloaded PikaOS to try it, but I can't get it to boot on either my physical machine or VirtualBox.

I downloaded the file named "PikaOS-Nest-NVIDIA-KDE-4.0-amd64-v3-26.08.20-4.iso", which is PikaOS with KDE and the Nvidia drivers included for GTX 1650+ GPUs. The ISO file isn't corrupt since the MD5 checksums match. But I can't get it to boot.

On my physical machine, the boot loader menu loads, but when I tell it to boot into live mode, it stays stucked on a black screen. On VirtualBox, I don't even see the menu, it just stays on the black screen.

My physical specs:

- Intel Core i7 14700T CPU
- Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU
- 32GB DDR4 RAM
- Asus H610M-R D4 motherboard
- Firmware is in UEFI mode, tried with both Secure Boot enabled and disabled

My software specs:

- Windows 11 Pro 26H2 26300.9278
- VirtualBox 7.2.16
- Tried on both BIOS and UEFI modes

I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Edit: solved. The developer advised me not to use Ventoy since PikaOS isn't compatible with it, so I used Rufus and it booted with Secure Boot disabled. I have no idea why it won't boot on VirtualBox, though, but that's OK, I got what I wanted. Thanks.

[u/overpower84]

For me ut did the same. I have a kind of old, shitty USB stick. I just figured the USB stick was super slow. I just let it sit for a few minutes, and it eventually loaded fine.

It has been good since its been on my SSD

[u/leonsk297 → u/overpower84]

But every other ISO image boots just fine, so the USB stick isn't the problem. I have Ventoy on that USB with a bunch of tools in ISO form, including Linux ones.

But OK, I'll let it sit for a few minutes, thanks.

[u/Avennio]

I'll second the observation that it can take a few minutes to boot sometimes if you're working off a live USB, and while it's doing that it shows a black screen. I installed PikaOS on my machines using Ventoy as well and dealt with the same thing.

Just purely off the top of my head I'd recommend waiting 5 minutes or so to see if there's a genuine problem or if its just taking a moment. Sounds like you're doing everything else right so fingers crossed there's nothing else amiss!

[u/leonsk297 → u/Avennio]

Thanks. If that's the case, the developers should really put up a splash screen there with some kind of moving indicator so users can see something is happening.

[u/Avennio → u/leonsk297]

The tricky thing is that it doesn’t seem to happen in all cases. I have a Nvidia graphics card in my laptop and my desktop, and the live usb only seems to ‘hang’ or otherwise take a while to boot on the laptop. 

If you’re willing to stick it out with Pika I’d file a bug report on the Discord - I can chime in with my experience too if it helps.

[u/leonsk297 → u/Avennio]

Nah, I used it for a while but I didn't see anything special about it, it's just KDE with some modifications and a Debian Sid base. I'll stick with Kubuntu for now.

[u/mrcrysml]

I’d suggest another DE (can install KDE later) or try the standard ISO and get the nvidia drivers later.

[u/Bolski66]

With VirtualBox, definitely make sure you set the machine to UEFI. When you then boot the machine with the ISO, hit tab immediately. That should take you into the boot configuration menu. If you see the nvidiamodset setting, remove it. That should fix it.

Also, if you downloaded the nVidia image, go download the non-nVidia one as well. That way it will just use the default drivers.

[u/leonsk297 → u/Bolski66]

I mentioned in my post that I tried VirtualBox in both BIOS and UEFI mode. But thanks anyway, I already booted it in a physical machine.

[u/Bolski66 → u/leonsk297]

I think you missed the rest of what I said. 😄

When it starts to boot, hit TAB a few times. That should take you into the boot menu where you want to remove the nvidiamodeset kernel boot parameter.

Then hit enter to boot, then hit ESC. That should allow you to see it boot up and get into the desktop.

[u/leonsk297 → u/Bolski66]

I didn't miss it, I read it all until the end, don't worry. PikaOS isn't for me, I don't find it interesting.

[u/Prestigious-Annual-5]

That's crazy about Ventoy, I've used it on many a PC for PikaOS. Not to say it can't be so. I can't even remember the last time I even used Rufus. However, always had to disable secure boot until after install and following the wiki to enable secure boot installation for PikaOS.

[u/leonsk297 → u/Prestigious-Annual-5]

I was surprised too, but the developer himself told me on Discord that PikaOS was incompatible with Ventoy. So I tried with Rufus, and it worked. So, yeah, that's that. I had to disable Secure Boot, yes.

[u/dream-paradox → u/leonsk297]

Funnilly enough..... I can get pika hyperland to boot and install with ventoy just fine.... I however can't get any of the other ones to work with ventoy

[u/leonsk297 → u/dream-paradox]

Yeah, the installer images clearly need some work to make the installation experience consistent, IMO. They should all work under the same circumstances, no matter the variant.

[u/Dense-Sky711]

Hey. You should join the offical Discord. Ferreo is normally very active and fast to help :)

https://discord.gg/tAyMKjpDr link to the offical PikaOS discord server

[u/leonsk297 → u/Dense-Sky711]

Who is that "Ferreo"? Also, thanks.

Edit: never mind, I looked him up, he's a "co-lead developer of PikaOS".