Optional doing a fresh wipe before installing Debian,use Live Boot option: Formatting the SSD/HDD properly before installing Debian or any other Linux distribution or operating system:
sudo cfdisk /dev/sdasudo cfdisk /dev/nvme0n1
Delete everything you see then Write>>Yes
Wiping the partition schemes:
sudo wipefs -a /dev/sdasudo wipefs -a /dev/nvme0n1
Deleting everything properly so no forencisc recovery is possible:
sudo shred -f -v /dev/sdasudo shred -f -v /nvme0n1
Without seeing progress:
sudo shred /dev/sdasudo shred /dev/nvme0n1
Deleting everything the fast way:
sudo blkdiscard -f /dev/sdasudo blkdiscard -f /dev/nvme0n1
https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/
5. Install Debian on the desired partition. Make sure to be connected to the internet via cable, as there can be some firmware issues with Wi-Fi drivers!
Once the installation is complete login into the prefered Desktop Environment"
Remember to go into Software and Updates GUI and check the following options:
- Officially supported (main)
- DFSG-compatible Software with Non-Free Dependencies (contrib)
- Non DFSG-compatible Software (non-free)
Add security updates later in the updates section via GUI or sources list after finishing all these steps:
Go to Terminal and input:
sudo apt updatesudo apt upgrade
Or:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
(Optional)if you typed your password during installation twice as Root and as User:
Open terminal in activities and add your user, for example test to sudoers file and use the following commands:
-
su -
gedit /etc/sudoers
User privilege specification
user
Test if everything works Switch back to test using this command:
su user
Run the following command:
sudo whoami
Answer should be:
- root
NB!If you don’t have the sudo option install sudo under su:
-
su -
apt install sudo -
su -
gedit /etc/sudoers
Or:
nano /etc/sudoers
User privilege specification
- user
Switch back to user:
su user
Run the following command:
sudo whoami
Answer should be:
- root
6. Updating the /etc/apt/sources list with additional non-free repositiories, this changes depending on the Debian version:**
-
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list -
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie main non-free-firmware
-
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie main non-free-firmware
-
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ trixie-security main non-free-firmware
-
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ trixie-security main non-free-firmware
-
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie-updates main non-free-firmware
-
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie-updates main non-free-firmware
-
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie contrib non-free
-
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie contrib non-free
-
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
For testing:
- deb http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/ testing main non-free contrib
- deb-src http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/ testing main non-free contrib
security
- deb http://security.debian.org testing-security main non-free contrib
- deb-src http://security.debian.org testing-security main non-free contrib
updates
- deb http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/ testing-updates main non-free contrib
- deb-src http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/ testing-updates main non-free contrib
(You will need it for AMD and NVIDIA drivers,Vulkan,Steam,Lutris,Heroic and other gaming related things)
-
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 -
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
If not installed (should be on Trixie)
sudo apt install firmware-misc-nonfree
For Intel CPU's:
sudo apt install intel-microcode
For AMD CPU's(if not installed):
-
sudo apt install amd64-microcode -
sudo update-initramfs -c -k all -
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
First do this just in case:
sudo apt install nvidia-detectsudo nvidia-detectsudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Then install linux headers and NVIDIA Drivers or AMD Drivers:
x64 bit
sudo apt install linux-headers-amd64
x32 bit
sudo apt install linux-headers-686
PAE x32bit
sudo apt install linux-headers-686-pae
For NVIDIA Choose one of the two options
(Option 1)Install the proprietary NVIDIA drivers with dependencies like vulkan,etc:
sudo apt install nvidia-kernel-dkms nvidia-driver nvidia-settings libvulkan-dev nvidia-vulkan-icd vulkan-tools vulkan-validationlayerssudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
(Option 2)Install the open NVIDIA drivers for RTX GPU's with dependencies like vulkan
sudo apt install nvidia-open-kernel-dkms nvidia-driver nvidia-settings libvulkan-dev nvidia-vulkan-icd vulkan-tools vulkan-validationlayerssudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Additional stuff For NVIDIA Only:
-
sudo apt install libnvidia-encode1 -
sudo apt install libnvidia-fbc1 -
sudo apt install nvidia-cuda-toolkit
Wayland support for NVIDIA:
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
Find: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash resume"
Change to: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet nvidia-drm.modeset=1 nvidia-drm.fbdev=1 splash resume"
-
sudo update-grub -
sudo update-initramfs -u -
sudo reboot
Check if it worked:
sudo cat /sys/module/nvidia_drm/parameters/modeset
(Optional) Install newer NVIDIA Drivers via backports on stable:
Add distroname-backports to your /etc/apt/sources.list ,for example:
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
Add this line:
-
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian distro_name-backports main contrib non-free
-
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian distro_name-backports main contrib non-free
-
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Install the package nvidia-driver.
-
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -
sudo apt install -t distro_name-backports nvidia-driver nvidia-settings libvulkan-dev nvidia-vulkan-icd vulkan-tools vulkan-validationlayers vulkan-validationlayers-dev -
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
(100% Optional) Might cause issues upgrading the kernel via backports:
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
Add this line:
- deb http://deb.debian.org/debian trixie-backports main
Run:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradesudo apt -t trixie-backports install linux-image-amd64sudo apt update && sudo apt upgradesudo reboot
Wait for the installation to finish and reboot, type the following commands after reboot:
-
sudo apt update -
sudo apt upgrade
Or:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
NB! There might be missing firmware errors in the terminal during installtion, usually its Realtek but just to be sure run the following command:
sudo dmesg
Once you are sure use these commands:
-
sudo apt-get install firmware-realtek -
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Go to activities menu and type NVIDIA it should give you a GUI now on both Wayland and X11.
AMD GPU Drivers installation with dependencies for gaming, you will need the x32 bit architecture from one of the previous steps enabled
-
sudo apt install firmware-amd-graphics libgl1-mesa-dri libgl1-mesa-dri:i386 libglx-mesa0 libglx-mesa0:i386 mesa-vulkan-drivers mesa-vulkan-drivers:i386 xserver-xorg-video-all -
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Increase vm.max_map_count to Steam Deck values to prevent games crashing:
-
sudo nano /etc/sysctl.d/99-sysctl.conf -
Add:
vm.max_map_count = 2147483642 -
sudo sysctl --system -
sudo reboot -
cat /proc/sys/vm/max_map_count
8. Gaming section install Steam,Lutris,Wine with the following commands, if you did all the steps before correctly then Steam should install without issues:
sudo apt install steam lutris wine wine32 wine64 libwine libwine:i386 fonts-wine scummvm dosbox
For Steam it's optional to add main user to video and audio groups
sudo usermod -a -G video,audio,adm user
(Optional) Additional dependencies for Wine/Gaming:
-
sudo apt install gvfs:i386 wine32-preloader:i386 wine64-preloader wine-binfmt gstreamer1.0-libav:i386 gstreamer1.0-plugins-bad:i386 gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly winetricks gstreamer1.0-tools:i386 opus-tools:i386 gstreamer1.0-alsa gamemode timidity gstreamer1.0-plugins-ugly:i386 -
sudo apt install fizmo-sdl2 libsdl2-2.0-0 libsdl2-dev libsdl2-gfx-1.0-0 libsdl2-gfx-dev libsdl2-image-2.0-0 libsdl2-mixer-2.0-0 libsdl2-net-2.0-0 -
sudo apt install mingw-w64 flvmeta smpeg-plaympeg lame mjpegtools x265 x264 mpv mpg123 libxvidcore4 fluidsynth
(Optional) Mono package for NET framework support on Linux
sudo apt install mono-complete
Steam package has issues launching on Debian 13 Trixie even after instlaling all of the required dependencies, how to fix
- Install
steampackage and try to launch from GUI - Launch terminal and type
steam - Go into Steam Settings select toggle Interface>Run Steam when my computer starts,see picture:
4. Steam should start automatically another option is to use the terminal to launch the Steam client every time.
Another way to fix Steam not launching from GUI
- Install steam package and try to launch from GUI
- Launch terminal and type steam
- Go into Steam Settings select toggle Enable GPU accelerated rendering in web views, you need to Disable this setting.
- Steam should start automatically another option is to use the terminal to launch the Steam client every time.
(Optional) Opensource games:
sudo apt install supertux supertuxkart wesnoth 0ad kapman freedroidrpg
(Optional) Opensource games based on scummvm:
sudo apt install beneath-a-steel-sky drascula flight-of-the-amazon-queen lure-of-the-temptress
(Optional) Python and free IDE installation:
sudo apt install python3 python3-pip bpython thony
9. Optional for streaming/recording install OBS Studio(for NVENC support some additional stuff is required)
sudo apt install ffmpeg
Fixing audio issues:
Most gaming audio related issues in Proton/Pipewire happen because Secure Boot is enabled, installing Debian with Secure Boot disabled in BIOS/UEFI will help in these cases, Steam Deck has no Secure Boot.
Install additional alsa and pipewire dependencies and restart pipewire service
sudo apt install libasound2 libasound2-plugins alsa-utils alsa-firmware-loaders pipewire-audio pipewire pipewire-audio-client-libraries pipewire-pulse pipewire-alsa libcanberra-pulse pipewire wireplumbersystemctl --user restart wireplumber pipewire pipewire-pulse
Select Pro Audio,especially for USB headphones instead of Analog Stereo Duplex:
sudo nano /usr/share/pipewire/pipewire.conf
Find this line:
- #default.clock.allowed-rates = [ 48000 ]
Change to:
- #default.clock.allowed-rates = [ 44100 48000 96000 ]
(Desktop Only) Disable hybernate,sleep and other default settings for gaming purposes, do not use on laptops!
sudo systemctl mask sleep.target suspend.target hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target
(Optional)To fix audio crackling remove speech-dispatcher
sudo apt purge speech-dispatchersudo apt autoremove
(Optional) easyeffects package and more audio plugins:
sudo apt install easyeffectssudo apt install lsp-plugins-lv2 calf-plugins x42-plugins zam-plugins
Launch EasyEffects and apply presets that you can download from the repo provided here LoudnessEqualizer.json:
(Optional) Different file system support:
BTRFS
sudo apt install btrfs-progs duperemove
XFS
sudo apt install xfsprogs xfsdump attr quota
(Optional) Install flatpak support
Flatpak with GNOME Software store(for point and click software center application installations)
-
sudo apt install flatpak -
sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak -
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo -
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
Flatpak with KDE Plasma Discover (for point and click software center application installations)
-
sudo apt install flatpak -
flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo -
sudo apt install plasma-discover-backend-flatpak -
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
(Optional) virt manager and QEMU Installation for Virtualization
sudo apt install virt-manager qemu-system
Quick .deb way to install popular applications with debian ports like gzdoom,zoom,teamviewer with dpkg(if you need it):
- https://zdoom.org/downloads
- https://zoom.us/download
- https://www.teamviewer.com/en/download/linux/
- https://github.com/Heroic-Games-Launcher/HeroicGamesLauncher/releases/
sudo dpkg -i gzdoom_4.7.1_amd64.debsudo dpkg -i zoom_amd64.debsudo dpkg -i teamviewer_15.28.8_amd64.debsudo dpkg -i Heroic-2.18.1-linux-amd64.deb
sudo apt install shotcut kdenlive gimp krita
-
sudo apt-get update -
sudo apt-get upgrade -
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Select Download for Linux choose .deb:
Open Terminal in Downloads folder and use the following commands dpending on the .deb file version:
sudo apt install gdebi-coresudo gdebi discord-0.0.10.deb
sudo apt install gnome-disk-utility
Edit mount options
Add this line:
- nosuid,nodev,nofail,x-gvfs-show,auto
Or just move the slider in the app for all of the unmounted disks, this method has less issues
sudo apt install mangohud mangohud:i386
15. Creating a bootable Windows 10 USB using Disks utility (Possible on any linux distro even without GNOME)
sudo apt install gnome-disk-utility- Download a Windows image from MS link below:
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
- Insert USB Drive
- Launch Disks Utility
- Select your USB Drive and in the top right=corner click the menu select Format Disk
- In Partitioning select Compatible with modern systems and hard disks>2TB (GPT)
- Click Format wait for it to finish
- Click Partition>For Use with Windows(NTFS) (in Volume label type Windows or ESD)
- Mount the USB and Open it
- Go to the place where you downloaded Windows 10 ISO and select Open with Disk Image Mounter
- Open Copy everything from the Windows 10 ISO and paste into your USB Drive,wait for it to finish(takes a while)
(Optional) Install Glourious Eggroll Proton GE the easy way:
*Download the latest release here: https://github.com/GloriousEggroll/proton-ge-custom/releases
- Extract,enable hidden files and folders in your file manager Dolphin/Nemo
- Create a folder in your /home/user/steam/root/compatibilitytools.d if it does not exist.
- Copy/paste the extracted GE folder into /home/user/config/.steam/root/compatibilitytools.d
- Restart Steam,enjoy the custom GE build
(Optional) comand similar to mkinitcpio,useful sometimes:
sudo update-initramfs -u
(Optional) install better fonts and icon themes:
sudo apt install fonts-hack-ttfsudo apt install papirus-icon-theme
View BIOS/UEFI/SLOT/CPU/Memory Info
sudo dmidecode | lesssudo dmidecode -s bios-versionsudo dmidecode -s bios-release-datesudo dmidecode -t biossudo dmidecode -t baseboardsudo dmidecode -t 2sudo dmidecode -t slotsudo dmidecode -t processorsudo dmidecode -s processor-versionsudo dmidecode -s processor-frequencysudo dmidecode -t memorycat /sys/devices/virtual/dmi/id/board_{vendor,name,version}
View temps, if not installed then install the sensors package
sudo apt install lm-sensorssensors
How to check mesa vulkan driver versions:
glxinfo | grep "Mesa"glxinfo | grep OpenGL
How to check pipewire version
pactl info|grep "Server Name"
(Optional) Adding a secondary SSD/HDD in fstab manually:
If it is an existing SSD/HDD that you already formatted with ext4 or btrfs and automounted in filemanager like Dolphin or Nemo,then you have to check in properties for example "/media/user/Backup" that is your mount point.
-
sudo lsblk -f -
sudo nano /etc/fstab
Contents of FSTAB:
< file system > < mount point > < type > < options > < dump > < pass >
-
/ was on /dev/sda2 during installation -
UUID=362fe9a2-29fc-43fe-824d-09d1d93b1549 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1 -
/boot/efi was on /dev/sda1 during installation -
UUID=64EF-0C84 /boot/efi vfat umask=0077 0 1 -
swap was on /dev/sda3 during installation -
UUID=b36261ad-191e-4cb5-ba0e-f2715e32f82c none swap sw 0 0 -
/dev/sr0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0
Add your SSD/HDD with its mount point here:
/dev/sdb1 /media/user/Backup ext4 defaults,noatime 0 2
Save the changes and exit,reboot,you are good
Firewall install and enable via GUI:
sudo apt install ufw
ClamAV
sudo apt install clamavsudo freshclamclamscan -r --bell -i /home /tmp /var/tmpsudo systemctl start clamav-daemon
Full scan if you have time:
clamdscan --multiscan --fdpass /
Rootkit hunter:
sudo apt install rkhuntersudo rkhunter --updatesudo rkhunter --check
Check manually for malware activity with ls or in your file browser,XDG autostart jobs, bash or zsh (weird entries and services):
-
ls ~/.config/autostart/ -
ls ~/.bashrc / -
ls ~/.zshrc
Systemd user services:
-
ls ~/.config/systemd/user/ -
ls /etc/systemd/system/ -
ls /usr/local/bin/
Checking strage cron jobs
-
crontab -e -
sudo crontab -e
Check suspicious shadow bin entries:
ls /usr/local/bin/
Check process tree for strange activity:
pstree -a -p
Look for anything strange such as:
-
makepkg → gcc → wget → /tmp/a.out → runs as root
-
xdg-open readme.eml → bash → curl → ./payload
History of execution for today
-
journalctl _COMM=exe -S today -
ausearch -m execve --success yes
Fix Wayland iBUS message on KDE Plasma
sudo nano /usr/share/im-config/data/21_ibus.rc- Comment these lines out with # so they look like this:
# GTK_IM_MODULE=ibus# QT_IM_MODULE=ibus# CLUTTER_IM_MODULE=ibus- Go into System Settings>Virual Keyboard and apply iBUS
sudo reboot
(Bonus) Nice network tools to have:
sudo apt install spedtest-cli bind9 bind9-doc bind9-dnsutils resolvconf mmdb-binsudo apt install wireshark john torbrowser-launcher
NB! In case of "A start job is running for update the operating system while offline" on Debian-based systems during updates while dual-booting press E then F10 and wait for the update process to finish. Ok, thank you, happy gaming and streaming on pure Debian. Hopefully same settings will work on the future Debian distros! Enjoy!
silentgameplays https://www.youtube.com/@silentgameplays