diff --git a/configuration.nix b/configuration.nix
index 15401f1..bc5fc56 100644
--- a/configuration.nix
+++ b/configuration.nix
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@
 
   imports = [
     ./hardware-configuration.nix
-    "${modulesPath}/installer/scan/not-detected.nix"
-
-    # list other modules here
   ];
 
   services.sshd.enable = true;
diff --git a/hardware-configuration.nix b/hardware-configuration.nix
index b070f95..7831e6c 100644
--- a/hardware-configuration.nix
+++ b/hardware-configuration.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,20 @@
-{ ... }:
+# these args are passed into every nixos module (or file that is in included in a nixos module imports=[...])
+{
+    modulesPath, # this variable, in particular, gives us the nixos modules path for our system config
+    ...
+}:
 
 {
+    imports = [
+        # note: this format can't be used with flakes, because it pulls from
+        # NIX_PATH, which is impure, and dis-allowed with flakes.
+        # Use the format shown in the line below it.
+
+        #<nixpkgs/nixos/modules/installer/scan/not-detected.nix>
+
+        "${modulesPath}/installer/scan/not-detected.nix"
+
+    ]
     boot.loader.systemd-boot.enable = true; # (for UEFI systems only)
     fileSystems."/".device = "/dev/disk/by-label/nixos";
 }