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Easy Install With Arch Install

If you have some struggles with Arch Linux installation, this guide might be for you.

Quick Way: Use archinstall Script

1. Download & Boot Arch ISO

  • Download from: https://archlinux.org/download/

  • Create bootable USB:

    # Linux/macOS
sudo dd if=archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress

    or you can use rufus -> if you’re windows user

  • Boot from USB, select “Arch Linux install medium”

2. Run the Guided Installer

Once booted into live environment:

# 1. Connect to internet (if wireless)
iwctl                           # For WiFi
station wlan0 connect SSID

# 2. Update system clock
timedatectl set-ntp true

# 3. Start the installer
archinstall

3. archinstall Guided Setup

Follow these steps in the interactive menu:

  1. Disk configuration:

    • Choose: “Use a best-effort default partition layout”
    • Select your disk (usually /dev/sda or /dev/nvme0n1)
    • Filesystem: Choose ext4 (simplest) or btrfs

  2. System configuration:

    • Hostname: Choose a name (e.g., myarch)
    • Root password: Set a secure password
    • User account: Create your user (e.g., yourname)

  3. Window Manager (real linux user):

    • Select: Sway (most based nowadays) or hyprland (neo-experimental one) or i3? (x11)

  4. Desktop environment (optional):

    • Select: KDE Plasma (most complete) or GNOME or XFCE (lightweight)
    • Graphics driver: Choose based on your GPU:
      • Intel: intel
      • NVIDIA: nvidia or nvidia-dkms
      • AMD: amd

  5. Desktop environment (optional):

    • Select: KDE Plasma (most complete) or GNOME or XFCE (lightweight)
    • Graphics driver: Choose based on your GPU:
      • Intel: intel
      • NVIDIA: nvidia or nvidia-dkms
      • AMD: amd

  6. Network:

    • Choose: NetworkManager (easiest for beginners)

  7. Additional packages:

    • Add: base-devel git curl wget nano vim firefox

  8. Timezone & locale:

    • Timezone: Select your region
    • Locale: en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

  9. Bootloader:

    • Choose: systemd-boot (for UEFI) or grub (for BIOS)

4. Start Installation

  • Review settings and select “Install”
  • Wait 5-15 minutes for installation to complete
  • Reboot when prompted:
    umount -a
reboot
  • Remove USB when instructed

Post-Installation (First Boot)

1. Login & Update

# Login with your user
sudo pacman -Syu            # Update system
sudo pacman -S yay          # Install AUR helper (optional but useful)

2. Essential Software

# Browser
sudo pacman -S firefox chromium

# Media
sudo pacman -S vlc mpv

# Utilities
sudo pacman -S htop neofetch git

# Office
sudo pacman -S libreoffice-fresh

# Gaming
sudo pacman -S steam lutris

3. Enable Services

# If using NetworkManager
sudo systemctl enable NetworkManager
sudo systemctl start NetworkManager

# If using Bluetooth
sudo systemctl enable bluetooth

Troubleshooting

No Internet After Install?

sudo systemctl start NetworkManager
nmtui                         # GUI network manager

Graphics Not Working?

# Intel
sudo pacman -S mesa xf86-video-intel

# NVIDIA
sudo pacman -S nvidia nvidia-utils

Sound Not Working?

sudo pacman -S pulseaudio pulseaudio-alsa
pulseaudio --start

Tips for Beginners

  1. Read the Arch Wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org
  2. Use AUR (Arch User Repository):
    yay -S package-name      # Install from AUR
  3. Backup before major updates:
    sudo timeshift --create   # If using timeshift
  4. Check system info:
    fastfetch
inxi -F

Learning Resources