---
title: Boot system software — first boot check | Meridian
description: Confirm Meridian's first boot: reach system-menu idle, read the log for firmware errors, and isolate boot failures.
canonical: https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/protocol/boot-system-software
updated: 2026-10-13
---

# Boot system software

Reach menu idle with firmware installed. The log names the failing stage on any stop.

## Facts (2026-10-13)

- **Precondition:** Firmware installed; version in About
- **Pass:** System menu reaches idle, no error dialog
- **Evidence:** Boot log names the failing stage
- **Next:** Index your library

## Procedure

Precondition: firmware installed per [Install firmware](/protocol/install-firmware).

1. Launch Meridian and choose Boot → System Software. Wait — first boot builds caches and is slower than later boots.

2. Confirm the system menu reaches idle with no error dialog. That is the pass condition; anything else is a diagnosed stop, not a flake.

3. If it stops, read the last 30 lines of the log before changing anything. The log names firmware, Vulkan, or runtime as the stage — each maps to one fix page.

## Failure map

- Firmware stage: About shows no version. Repeat [Install firmware](/protocol/install-firmware) with a fresh official PUP.

- Vulkan stage: update GPU drivers and re-run [Vulkan check](/reference/vulkan-check).

- Runtime stage: install Microsoft's official Visual C++ 2015–2022 x64 runtime per [Missing runtime](/protocol/missing-runtime).

Report only after one clean retry per fix. Include build number, firmware version, and GPU driver — see [Compatibility methodology](/log/compatibility-methodology).

## After first boot

Continue to [Index your library](/protocol/index-your-library) with one owned Stable title. New install? Begin at [Download Meridian](/download) and work forward.

## FAQ

### First boot is slow — is that normal?

Yes. First boot builds caches. Measure from the second boot onward.

### Black screen after boot — what failed?

Read the log tail. Firmware, Vulkan, and runtime failures each name their stage; fix only the named one.

### Should I change settings before first boot?

No. Boot at defaults so the log reflects a known configuration.

## Related

- [Protocol](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/protocol)
- [Install firmware](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/protocol/install-firmware)
- [Vulkan check](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/reference/vulkan-check)
- [Missing runtime](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/protocol/missing-runtime)
- [Index your library](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/protocol/index-your-library)

## Download

Free Windows app: [Download Meridian](https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/download)

Markdown mirror: https://ps5emulatorwindows.com/protocol/boot-system-software.md