Unfortunately, needed info is missing. Not clear if this is a BIOS or UEFI system, and installation log is needed, see:
https://kaosx.us/docs
ctfolmar Calimares converted the xfs root partition I created to ext4 and then installed.???
XFS is default during the install & automated option, so no way will the installer just use ext4.
ctfolmar but Calimares creates a msdos partition table, even if I set sda as a gpt table beforehand
If you boot in BIOS mode, automated still defaults to msdos (there is work done upstream to at least move the automated - full disk install to GPT for BIOS too).
ctfolmar Could this be a hardware issue?
Probably boot option missed when starting Live mode (before ISO loads), most systems nowadays can boot in legacy BIOS or UEFI, you can select that in the BIOS menu.