I tried installing NixOS, got further than I did before. It seemed to fail close to the end
The last few lines of the install log were
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: shrinking /nix/store/4a4lqd83jwk34kf2yrsmn4q32948rl88-caja-with-extensions-1.28.0/bin/.caja-file-management-properties-wrapped"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/67pxrlzhsgx5cyzwphn5c1r58yhbarx4-ffmpeg-7.1.2-lib' to 'local'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/w05azlb4dvasnppwrwijlyga0ncfz22k-mate-applets-1.28.1' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/g5vz1nliql9xi7rkb7956mi5sc8qylf3-mate-control-center-1.28.1' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/gy40ni1zq6127198k1mmqflkimakbvv0-mate-netbook-1.26.0' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/yp152lg2ylf7g80pcqlj0nzlrvbd1h6s-mate-media-1.28.1' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/r4ysvwkacgdiv4498qfm4yqvidd778px-mate-indicator-applet-1.28.0' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/qj4xbsairrg88pyhf3lhxxrb3hyh1qw0-mate-notification-daemon-1.28.5' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/zpbvx64ka5f4m2ppiqy5jg0h9ramnczi-mate-power-manager-1.28.1' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/b61zk8pdrf80jap1zpd831sx5c5237zx-mate-screensaver-1.28.0' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/sh1l46gq9vkbfzbzm6vwl2m444zc4mp3-mate-sensors-applet-1.28.0' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/0abdrwbqx3aaqf649sw9cjqjdkvs3jhs-mate-utils-1.28.0' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: copying path '/nix/store/kl6mpksl7bq9dk0v4aq20xca0qi8nmxx-firefox-146.0.1' from 'https://cache.nixos.org'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: shrinking /nix/store/4a4lqd83jwk34kf2yrsmn4q32948rl88-caja-with-extensions-1.28.0/bin/caja"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: checking for references to /build/ in /nix/store/4a4lqd83jwk34kf2yrsmn4q32948rl88-caja-with-extensions-1.28.0..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: patching script interpreter paths in /nix/store/4a4lqd83jwk34kf2yrsmn4q32948rl88-caja-with-extensions-1.28.0"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: stripping (with command strip and flags -S -p) in /nix/store/4a4lqd83jwk34kf2yrsmn4q32948rl88-caja-with-extensions-1.28.0/lib /nix/store/4a4lqd83jwk34kf2yrsmn4q32948rl88-caja-with-extensions-1.28.0/bin"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: Checking that all programs called by relative paths in udev rules exist in /nix/store/2jfxgvg1fqabjp65aqdrk50ljfmkd6pl-systemd-258.2/lib/udev... OK"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:50 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: Checking that all programs called by absolute paths in udev rules exist... OK"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: Verifying udev rules using udevadm verify..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: "
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: 50 udev rules files have been checked."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: Success: 50"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: Fail: 0"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: OK"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: building '/nix/store/d17kj5gy4nx3f674qfx4jnn7h32kn2xj-X-Restart-Triggers-systemd-udevd.drv'..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: shrinking RPATHs of ELF executables and libraries in /nix/store/3nf450gs4f670pyv8gi6sgh67z37ryym-caja-with-extensions-1.28.0-man"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: checking for references to /build/ in /nix/store/3nf450gs4f670pyv8gi6sgh67z37ryym-caja-with-extensions-1.28.0-man..."
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: [PYTHON JOB]: "nixos-install: gzipping man pages under /nix/store/3nf450gs4f670pyv8gi6sgh67z37ryym-caja-with-extensions-1.28.0-man/share/man/"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: virtual void Calamares::JobThread::run()
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: Skipping non-emergency job "Set password for user brett"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: virtual void Calamares::JobThread::run()
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: Skipping non-emergency job "Set password for user root"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: virtual void Calamares::JobThread::run()
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: Skipping non-emergency job "Unmounting file systems…"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [1]: void Calamares::ViewManager::onInstallationFailed(const QString&, const QString&)
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [1]: ERROR: Installation failed: "nixos-install failed"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: .. - message: "nixos-install failed"
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: .. - details: Installation failed to complete
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: void Calamares::ViewManager::onInstallationFailed(const QString&, const QString&)
2026-01-06 - 05:54:51 [6]: Calamares will quit when the dialog closes.
2026-01-06 - 05:55:16 [2]: void Config::doNotify(bool, bool)
2026-01-06 - 05:55:16 [2]: WARNING: Could not get dbus interface for notifications at end of installation. QDBusError("org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.NoReply", "Did not receive a reply. Possible causes include: the remote application did not send a reply, the message bus security policy blocked the reply, the reply timeout expired, or the network connection was broken.")
2026-01-06 - 05:55:16 [6]: void {anonymous}::PowerManagementInterface::uninhibitSleep()
2026-01-06 - 05:55:16 [6]: Sleep was never inhibited.
and this is the link to the whole thing: http://termbin.com/ncvo
Does anyone know what might be wrong or how to fix it?
It doesn’t seem to have created anything I can boot into
GNU Parted 3.6
Using /dev/sda
Welcome to GNU Parted! Type 'help' to view a list of commands.
(parted) print all
Model: ATA ST3160815AS (scsi)
Disk /dev/sda: 160GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 160GB 160GB primary ntfs
Model: ATA ST8000DM004-2CX1 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdb: 8002GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 17.4kB 16.8MB 16.8MB Microsoft reserved partition msftres
2 16.8MB 8002GB 8002GB ntfs Basic data partition msftdata
Model: ATA WDC WD20EARX-00P (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdc: 2000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/4096B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
2 1049kB 1000GB 1000GB extended
6 2097kB 2150MB 2147MB logical fat32 boot, lba
7 2151MB 846GB 844GB logical ext4
5 846GB 1000GB 154GB logical ext4
3 1000GB 1500GB 500GB primary ext4
Model: ATA HDS725050KLA360 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdd: 500GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 500GB 500GB primary fat32 boot, lba
Model: ATA SAMSUNG HD103UJ (scsi)
Disk /dev/sde: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
1 1049kB 1000GB 1000GB primary linux-swap(v1) swap
Model: Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB (nvme)
Disk /dev/nvme0n1: 1000GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: gpt
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size File system Name Flags
1 1049kB 274MB 273MB fat32 EFI system partition boot, esp, no_automount
2 274MB 408MB 134MB Microsoft reserved partition msftres, no_automount
3 408MB 932MB 524MB ntfs Basic data partition hidden, diag, no_automount
4 932MB 1000GB 999GB ntfs Basic data partition msftdata
5 1000GB 1000GB 674MB ntfs hidden, diag, no_automount
Warning: Unable to open /dev/sr0 read-write (Read-only file system). /dev/sr0 has been opened read-only.
Model: HL-DT-ST BD-RE BH16NS40 (scsi)
Disk /dev/sr0: 7603MB
Sector size (logical/physical): 2048B/2048B
Partition Table: loop
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size File system Flags
1 0.00B 7603MB 7603MB udf
Model: Generic MassStorageClass (scsi)
Disk /dev/sdg: 63.9GB
Sector size (logical/physical): 512B/512B
Partition Table: msdos
Disk Flags:
Number Start End Size Type File system Flags
2 150kB 3295kB 3146kB primary esp
That’s the output of parted, and this is ls -al on /dev/sdc7
total 56
drwxr-xr-x 12 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:59 .
drwxr-x---+ 3 root root 60 Jan 6 07:22 ..
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:52 boot
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:52 dev
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:52 etc
drwx------ 2 root root 16384 Jan 6 05:52 lost+found
drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:52 nix
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:52 proc
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:52 root
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:52 run
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:52 sys
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jan 6 05:59 tmp.wdhEPyT05n
1 Like
I think I messed up arranging the partitions because I didn’t really know what I was doing. This is the drive the computer boots from, I didn’t change anything on there
This is the drive with NixOS on, I created the FAT32 partition. This drive also has EndeavourOS, which I am using to post this
oh wow…I suspect that with that type of hdd setup you aren’t getting anywhere with gui install (calamares in this case).did you make your own configuration.nix? if so, share it here. i honestly never installed nixos via gui it never really worked i don’t remember the error i just gave up as it was broken in that version you know.
btw have you got a whole terabyte of swap?? 
Disk /dev/sde: 1000GB 1000GB primary linux-swap(v1) swap ?
where are you booting from? dvd drive? 
what are your pc specs?
if you really want to install nixos on your triple-boot 2TB drive, you sadly might need to go through nixos manual figuring out things just like I did my first time… and install throuugh cli
you’ve got that manual in ur live environment or at NixOS Manual
sorry i’m not giving an exact answer but really there isn’t one here 
i’ma try to navigate you to the right direction at least
OK, I tried the manual installation NixOS Manual , I think I got the partitions right this time, I did what it told me to. This is the last bit of output from nixos-install:
x8zygkhnph7z1xhbbkbcpjyfp-mate-utils-1.28.0/bin/mate-disk-image-mounter'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/mate-dictionary' and `/nix/store/hv9bj6wx8zygkhnph7z1xhbbkbcpjyfp-mate-utils-1.28.0/bin/mate-dictionary'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/.mate-power-manager-wrapped' and `/nix/store/x34xv8gm1ygsbpsk6a74wryh1r38qd8g-mate-power-manager-1.28.1/bin/.mate-power-manager-wrapped'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/.mate-disk-image-mounter-wrapped' and `/nix/store/hv9bj6wx8zygkhnph7z1xhbbkbcpjyfp-mate-utils-1.28.0/bin/.mate-disk-image-mounter-wrapped'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/.mate-search-tool-wrapped' and `/nix/store/hv9bj6wx8zygkhnph7z1xhbbkbcpjyfp-mate-utils-1.28.0/bin/.mate-search-tool-wrapped'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/mate-maximus' and `/nix/store/0z4k0j6qay0ra1fmlavhw0bl9kis2jig-mate-netbook-1.26.0/bin/mate-maximus'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/.mate-maximus-wrapped' and `/nix/store/0z4k0j6qay0ra1fmlavhw0bl9kis2jig-mate-netbook-1.26.0/bin/.mate-maximus-wrapped'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/.mate-volume-control-status-icon-wrapped' and `/nix/store/m3rnwg0g9z60hp1j388rfhfvq6v528ri-mate-media-1.28.1/bin/.mate-volume-control-status-icon-wrapped'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/mate-notification-properties' and `/nix/store/dlyam366byav0mksp7yrbh56f1lb21x8-mate-notification-daemon-1.28.3/bin/mate-notification-properties'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/mate-system-log' and `/nix/store/hv9bj6wx8zygkhnph7z1xhbbkbcpjyfp-mate-utils-1.28.0/bin/mate-system-log'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/.mate-notification-properties-wrapped' and `/nix/store/dlyam366byav0mksp7yrbh56f1lb21x8-mate-notification-daemon-1.28.3/bin/.mate-notification-properties-wrapped'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/mate-search-tool' and `/nix/store/hv9bj6wx8zygkhnph7z1xhbbkbcpjyfp-mate-utils-1.28.0/bin/mate-search-tool'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/ca6lrljjiwxpj9whcy4lwamr2xid7462-mate-panel-with-applets-1.28.5/bin/.mate-dictionary-wrapped' and `/nix/store/hv9bj6wx8zygkhnph7z1xhbbkbcpjyfp-mate-utils-1.28.0/bin/.mate-dictionary-wrapped'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/1nywlz8pz0cp13y7ksqb8nchrmvlzvwf-xwayland-24.1.8/share/man/man1/Xserver.1.gz' and `/nix/store/rxgvr94a0miw948x9crxw9j9aj723hcs-xorg-server-21.1.18/share/man/man1/Xserver.1.gz'
pkgs.buildEnv warning: colliding subpath (ignored): `/nix/store/1nywlz8pz0cp13y7ksqb8nchrmvlzvwf-xwayland-24.1.8/lib/xorg/protocol.txt' and `/nix/store/rxgvr94a0miw948x9crxw9j9aj723hcs-xorg-server-21.1.18/lib/xorg/protocol.txt'
created 63934 symlinks in user environment
gtk-update-icon-cache: Cache file created successfully.
gtk-update-icon-cache: Cache file created successfully.
gtk-update-icon-cache: Cache file created successfully.
gtk-update-icon-cache: Cache file created successfully.
gtk-update-icon-cache: Cache file created successfully.
gtk-update-icon-cache: Cache file created successfully.
building '/nix/store/1sbgg352dfgf2h340pmm7gk7cnbvddkj-etc-pam-environment.drv'...
building '/nix/store/69kca4b6i3z5jxlhf3pxx30028f8v2q8-X-Restart-Triggers-polkit.drv'...
building '/nix/store/3918nss4gcixhgg8vlfd0cp0f3y2vyq2-dbus-1.drv'...
building '/nix/store/fq048g2ybgdrgcl9lsdl4kjccc3m531v-sddm.conf.drv'...
building '/nix/store/gwa4k02z09k6ivljbfr2c1aq3ffy6yc9-X-Restart-Triggers-dbus.drv'...
building '/nix/store/h97bg26ijz5riwv3mhz8g6w3ynhzi4pi-set-environment.drv'...
building '/nix/store/hdxfvbvhkmjsc37q1zvjz5hxrm5b8mw7-unit-accounts-daemon.service.drv'...
building '/nix/store/1wkply0kva87rzndli3jlvi41w3i7d19-etc-profile.drv'...
building '/nix/store/3qaan79lqd7mihc9zv5h5kmv4jwz8zvr-unit-dbus.service.drv'...
building '/nix/store/i57mhk6q38818qciy3s38ngh3mdr6l4z-unit-dbus.service.drv'...
building '/nix/store/rrcsm2ffwrv57sb8mbmgw4xay8ppapli-unit-polkit.service.drv'...
building '/nix/store/afr441zw9a0r02pn8syfkw3hgffjbw8y-user-units.drv'...
building '/nix/store/pikii0g1103kd4kf7qybj075cm404kwf-system-units.drv'...
building '/nix/store/7zfag7cw8lzd85i1nhqzn55ck6d2di7r-etc.drv'...
building '/nix/store/i1ibhlfiwp2z4fz83k6ji8z4v3g81mzp-nixos-system-nixos-25.11pre854010.a918bb3594dd.drv'...
/nix/store/bnplksagkf3dd4f9v8dyxhc3iphm8gan-nixos-system-nixos-25.11pre854010.a918bb3594dd
installing the boot loader...
setting up /etc...
/nix/var/nix/profiles/system/sw/bin/bash: line 10: mount: command not found
I can’t even check /nix/var/nix/profiles/system/sw/bin/bash because it’s not there. Not sure how that can be, but I don’t know what to try next
the output is kinda misleading tbh. did you explicitly tell nixos in configuration.nix to install grub instead of systemd-boot? because how do you boot, for example, into endeavour? you get some type of boot manager where u choose the os or whatever?
also, you got rid of thar NIXOS_BOOT fat32 part you created? it’s created during the grub installation, no need to do it manually:
## somewhere in the beginning of configuration.nix ##
# Use the GRUB 2 boot loader.
boot.loader.grub.enable = true;
boot.loader.grub.efiSupport = true;
# boot.loader.grub.efiInstallAsRemovable = true; # prolly not needed
boot.loader.efi.efiSysMountPoint = "/boot/efi";
# Define on which hard drive you want to install Grub.
boot.loader.grub.device = "/dev/sdc"; # check if still dev sdc - drives tend to move around sometimes
i still don’t know your pc specs but i assume it’s uefi+legacy…
of course backup important data from your drive before this one
