Introduction

Welcome, intrepid Linux adventurer! If you’ve ever yearned for the rolling-release excitement of Arch Linux and the bragging rights that come with building your system from the ground up, you’ve landed in the right place. This tutorial will take you by the hand (metaphorically please don’t hold your USB stick by my hand) and guide you step-by-step through installing Arch Linux. Expect serious detail, a dash of humor, and plenty of references to the ever-helpful Arch Wiki.

Prerequisites

• A USB stick (≥ 2 GB)
• An internet connection (preferably wired for reliability)
• A machine that can boot in UEFI or BIOS mode
• Courage (installation can be intimidating, but you can do it!)
• Basic Linux comfort (knowing your way around a shell helps)

Step 1: Download Verify the ISO

1. Go to the Arch Linux download page:
https://archlinux.org/download/
2. Choose a mirror and download archlinux-YYYY.MM.DD-x86_64.iso.
3. (Optional but highly recommended) Verify the ISO signature:

    # pacman -Sy gnupg archlinux-keyring
    # wget https://archlinux.org/iso/latest/archlinux-YYYY.MM.DD-x86_64.iso{.sig,}
    # gpg --keyserver-options auto-key-retrieve --verify archlinux-.iso.sig
  

If GPG complains, don’t panic—import the correct keys as directed on the signature page or consult the Arch Wiki on ISO signing.

Step 2: Create a Bootable USB

Pick one of these methods:

• dd (native, powerful, ruthless—no pity)

  # dd if=archlinux-YYYY.MM.DD-x86_64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress oflag=sync
        

  Replace /dev/sdX with your USB device (e.g., /dev/sdb). Triple-check to avoid accidental data loss.

• Etcher (GUI, user-friendly)
  • Download from Etcher’s website.
  • Select ISO, choose USB, flash.

Step 3: Boot Into the Live Environment

1. Insert the USB stick, reboot and enter your firmware settings (usually Esc, F2, F12, or Del).
2. Choose the USB as your boot device.
3. At the Arch boot menu, press Enter to boot the live system.

You’ll arrive at a shell prompt: it’s showtime!

Step 4: Configure the Keyboard Layout (Optional)

If you need a non-US layout:

# loadkeys de-latin1   # for German, for example
  

Otherwise, the default is US QWERTY.

Step 5: Verify Network

Check connectivity:

# ping -c 3 archlinux.org
  

If wired, DHCP should work automatically. For Wi-Fi:

• # iwctl
• station wlan0 connect YOUR_SSID

Step 6: Partition the Disk

Choose your target disk, e.g. /dev/sda. Here’s a typical UEFI GPT layout:

Using fdisk or parted:

# parted /dev/sda -- mklabel gpt
# parted /dev/sda -- mkpart primary fat32 1MiB 513MiB
# parted /dev/sda -- set 1 esp on
# parted /dev/sda -- mkpart primary linux-swap 513MiB 8705MiB
# parted /dev/sda -- mkpart primary ext4 8705MiB 100%
  

Step 7: Format Partitions

# mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sda1
# mkswap /dev/sda2
# swapon /dev/sda2
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3
  

Step 8: Mount the Filesystems

# mount /dev/sda3 /mnt
# mkdir /mnt/boot
# mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
  

Step 9: Install the Base System

Use pacstrap to install essential packages:

# pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware
# pacstrap /mnt vim    # or your preferred editor
# pacstrap /mnt networkmanager    # for networking
  

Step 10: Generate fstab

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

Inspect /mnt/etc/fstab if you’re curious or paranoid.

Step 11: chroot Into Your New System

# arch-chroot /mnt
  

Step 12: Time Zone Localization

1. Set your time zone:

   # ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Region/City /etc/localtime

2. Sync hardware clock:

   # hwclock --systohc

3. Edit /etc/locale.gen and uncomment your locale, e.g. en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8.
4. Generate locales:

   # locale-gen

5. Create /etc/locale.conf with:

   LANG=en_US.UTF-8

6. Create /etc/vconsole.conf for console font/kbd if needed.

Step 13: Network Configuration

Create a hostname:

# echo myarch > /etc/hostname
  

Edit /etc/hosts:

127.0.0.1   localhost
::1         localhost
127.0.1.1   myarch.localdomain myarch
  

Step 14: Set the Root Password

# passwd
  

Step 15: Install a Boot Loader (Systemd-boot for UEFI)

Systemd-boot is simple:

# bootctl install
# mkdir -p /boot/loader/entries
  

Create /boot/loader/loader.conf:

default arch
timeout 3
editor  no
  

Create /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf:

title   Arch Linux
linux   /vmlinuz-linux
initrd  /initramfs-linux.img
options root=PARTUUID=(blkid -s PARTUUID -o value /dev/sda3) rw
  

Step 16: Exit Reboot

# exit
# umount -R /mnt
# reboot
  

Don’t forget to remove the USB stick. If all went well, you’ll be greeted by your shiny new Arch Linux!

Step 17: Post-Installation Tips

• Enable NetworkManager:

  # systemctl enable NetworkManager

• Install a desktop environment or window manager:

  # pacman -S xorg gnome    # or i3, kde, etc.

• Graphics drivers:

  # pacman -S xf86-video-intel  # for Intel
  # pacman -S nvidia nvidia-utils  # for NVIDIA
        

• Sound:

  # pacman -S alsa-utils pulseaudio

• Don’t forget the Arch Wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org/

Conclusion Words of Wisdom

Congratulations! You’ve built your Arch Linux system from scratch. You now wield the ultimate power (and responsibility): updates will never stop arriving, so run sudo pacman -Syu often. Keep calm and read the Arch Wiki before asking questions. May your pacman transactions always succeed and your log files stay serene.

Installing Arch can feel like scaling Everest in flip-flops, but the view from the summit (a fully customized, lightning-fast system) is worth every keystroke. Happy hacking, and remember—if it compiles, it works!