Arch Linux Install Guide — For the Brave & the Sleepless

STEP 01

Optional SSH Access

Because typing on a laptop balanced on your knees is a great way to destroy your spine and mistype /dev/sda.

ℹDo this on the live ISO before anything else if you prefer copy-pasting from a comfy machine.

bash

# Find your IP address
ip a

# Set a password for the live session (NOT your real machine)
passwd

Then SSH in from another machine: ssh root@<IP_FROM_ip_a>

STEP 02

Sync the Clock

Your system clock is probably wrong. Like most things in your life right now. Fix this one at least.

bash

timedatectl set-ntp true

STEP 03

Connect to WiFi

Skip if using ethernet, you sensible person. Otherwise, enter iwctl's little interactive dungeon. It's not as bad as it looks. It's worse.

bash

iwctl
  # Now inside iwctl interactive prompt:
  device list                                # find your WiFi adapter name
  station <device> scan                     # scan for networks
  station <device> get-networks             # list them
  station <device> connect <SSID>           # connect (enter password when asked)
  exit

Replace <device> (e.g. wlan0) and <SSID> with your network name.

STEP 04

Partition the Disk

This is the part where you accidentally wipe your Windows partition and discover inner peace. Double-check you're targeting the right disk.

⚠Verify your disk name first with lsblk. Assumes /dev/sda — yours may be /dev/nvme0n1 or /dev/vda. Destroying data on the wrong disk is a timeless tradition you do not want to join.

bash

cfdisk /dev/sda

📋

Inside cfdisk, create a GPT partition table, then:
1) New → 512M → Type: EFI System
2) New → remaining space → Type: Linux filesystem
Then → Write → type yes → Quit

STEP 05

Format & Mount

Give your partitions a filesystem. Like giving a house walls and a floor. Except you're doing it in the dark. With a blindfold. And the house is on fire.

bash

# Format partitions
mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sda1        # EFI partition
mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda2             # root partition

# Mount them
mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
mkdir -p /mnt/boot
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot

STEP 06

Set Mirrors

Default mirrors are often painfully slow. Like queuing at a government office, but for packages. Use local Bangladeshi mirrors for speed.

bash

nano /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

# Add these at the TOP of the file (BD mirrors — fast locally):
Server = http://mirror.limda.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.limda.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = http://mirror.xeonbd.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.xeonbd.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch

Save with Ctrl+O, exit with Ctrl+X. If you don't know nano keybinds yet... welcome.

STEP 07

Install Base System

This is the moment. The whole OS gets bootstrapped. Go make tea. Contemplate your choices. Come back in 3 minutes.

bash

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware nano openssh btop networkmanager

💡Add more packages here if you want them pre-installed — e.g. vim git sudo. It's cheaper now than re-entering chroot later.

STEP 08

Generate fstab

Tell the system how to find its own partitions on boot. Yes, it forgets. Like a goldfish. A goldfish that runs your OS.

bash

genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab

# Verify it looks sane (2 entries expected)
cat /mnt/etc/fstab

STEP 09

Enter chroot

You are now inside the new system. Like Inception, but less cool and with more potential for bricking things.

bash

arch-chroot /mnt

STEP 10

System Configuration

Set your hostname, timezone, locale, and root password. All the things you'll forget you set and have to look up in 6 months.

bash

# Hostname — name your machine. Be creative. Or don't.
echo "myhostname" > /etc/hostname

# Timezone — symlink your zone
ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Asia/Dhaka /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc

# Locale
echo "en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8" >> /etc/locale.gen
locale-gen
echo "LANG=en_US.UTF-8" > /etc/locale.conf

# Root password (don't use "password". Or do. I'm a guide, not your dad.)
passwd

# Enable SSH and NetworkManager on boot
systemctl enable sshd
systemctl enable NetworkManager

Replace myhostname and Asia/Dhaka with your actual hostname and timezone. List zones: ls /usr/share/zoneinfo/

STEP 11

Install Bootloader (GRUB)

The thing that actually starts your system. If you get this wrong, you'll get to meet the GRUB rescue shell. It's very minimalist. You'll hate it.

⚡Not sure if you have UEFI or Legacy BIOS? Check: ls /sys/firmware/efi — if the directory exists, you're UEFI. Pick accordingly.

⚡ UEFI / Modern Systems

bash

pacman -S grub efibootmgr

grub-install \
  --target=x86_64-efi \
  --efi-directory=/boot \
  --bootloader-id=GRUB

grub-mkconfig \
  -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

🖥 Legacy BIOS / Old Iron

bash

pacman -S grub

grub-install \
  --target=i386-pc \
  /dev/sda

grub-mkconfig \
  -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

STEP 12

Exit, Unmount & Reboot

The moment of truth. Either it boots, or you spend the next hour googling from your phone like a peasant.

bash

exit                    # leave chroot
umount -R /mnt          # unmount everything cleanly
reboot                  # this is it. godspeed.

🎉If it boots: congratulations, you've joined a long tradition of people who could have just used Manjaro but didn't. If it doesn't boot: welcome to the forums. Bring snacks.