Arch Linux is a lightweight and flexible Linux distribution that gives you complete control over your system. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire installation process from start to finish.

What is Arch Linux?

Arch Linux is a rolling-release distribution that follows the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid). It provides:

  • Minimal base system with no unnecessary packages
  • Rolling release model with continuous updates
  • User-centric design with extensive documentation
  • Pacman package manager for easy software management

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • Arch Linux ISO downloaded from archlinux.org
  • USB drive (4GB minimum) for the installation media
  • Internet connection for downloading packages
  • Basic Linux knowledge and command-line experience

Arch Linux Installation Steps

System Preparation

timedatectl set-ntp true

cgdisk /dev/"disk"

Disk Partitioning

New:

  • boot
    • default
    • 512M
    • ef02
  • swap
    • default
    • 4G
    • 8200
  • root
    • default
    • default
    • 8300

Disk Formatting

mkfs.ext2 /dev/"boot disk"
mkswap /dev/"swap disk"
mkfs.ext4 /dev/"root disk"

Mount Disks

mount /dev/"root disk" /mnt
swapon /dev/"swap disk"

Base System Installation

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware vim nano
genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
arch-chroot /mnt

System Configuration

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Europe/Istanbul
hwclock --systohc

Locale Settings

vim /etc/locale.gen   # tr_TR.UTF-8
locale-gen

Keyboard Settings

vim /etc/vconsole.conf   # KEYMAP=trq

Hostname & Hosts

vim /etc/hostname   # Computer name
vim /etc/hosts
# Content:
# 127.0.0.1   localhost   # IPv4
# ::1         localhost   # IPv6

Initramfs

mkinitcpio -P

Root Password

passwd   # root password

User Creation

useradd -m user_name
passwd user_name

Sudo Installation

pacman -Sy sudo vi

If you get an error:

pacman-key --init
pacman-key --populate archlinux

visudo   # Add user_name ALL line

Network Manager

pacman -S networkmanager
systemctl enable NetworkManager

Bootloader Installation

pacman -S grub
grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/"disk"
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Graphics Environment Installation

pacman -S xorg xorg-server xorg-apps
pacman -Ss amd   # or nvidia

Desktop Environment (i3 Example)

sudo pacman -S i3 dmenu i3status i3lock xterm
pacman -S pulseaudio pavucontrol

Login Manager (LightDM)

sudo pacman -S lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter
sudo systemctl enable lightdm
sudo systemctl start lightdm

Extra Tools (Customization & Usability)

sudo pacman -S picom feh lxappearance rofi thunar gvfs polybar

Post-Installation Configuration

Update System

# Update package database
sudo pacman -Syu

# Install additional software
sudo pacman -S firefox libreoffice gimp

Install AUR Helper (yay)

# Install git and base-devel
sudo pacman -S git base-devel

# Clone and install yay
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si

Configure Pacman

# Enable color output
sudo vim /etc/pacman.conf
# Uncomment: Color

# Enable parallel downloads
sudo vim /etc/pacman.conf
# Uncomment: ParallelDownloads = 5

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Boot Issues

# If GRUB doesn't appear, boot from USB and chroot
arch-chroot /mnt
grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/"disk"
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Network Issues

# Enable NetworkManager
sudo systemctl enable NetworkManager
sudo systemctl start NetworkManager

# Connect to WiFi
nmcli device wifi list
nmcli device wifi connect "NetworkName" password "password"

Graphics Issues

# Install graphics drivers
sudo pacman -S mesa xf86-video-intel  # Intel
sudo pacman -S mesa xf86-video-amdgpu # AMD
sudo pacman -S mesa nvidia nvidia-utils # NVIDIA

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Arch Linux. This installation gives you a minimal, fast, and highly customizable system. Remember to:

  • Keep your system updated with sudo pacman -Syu
  • Read the Arch Wiki for detailed documentation
  • Backup your system regularly
  • Join the Arch community for support

Arch Linux rewards those who take the time to learn and configure their system properly. Enjoy your new Arch installation! 🐧

Your system is now ready!