ArchLinux

Getting Started with Arch Linux: A Beginner’s Guide to Mastering the Basics

Introduction

Welcome, brave explorer! 🚀
You’re about to install Arch Linux — the operating system famous for being “hard,” but also the one that makes you feel like a real pro once you succeed.

Don’t panic. This guide is written for absolute beginners. Copy the commands, read the notes, and you’ll be fine.

Grab some coffee ☕ and let’s go!

UEFI or BIOS? Choosing Your Installation Path

Before we start slicing disks like pizza, you need to know how your computer boots:

UEFI + GPT – most modern laptops and desktops (last ~10 years)
BIOS + MBR – older machines or very simple setups

Check using the Arch ISO:

ls /sys/firmware/efi

If this directory exists → you’re in UEFI mode
If it does not exist → you’re in Legacy BIOS (MBR)

Below you’ll find two separate installation paths.

🟦 Installation with UEFI (Most Modern PCs)

Step 1: Prepare Your USB

sudo dd bs=4M if=/path/to/archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdX status=progress oflag=sync

Check disk names:

fdisk -l

Step 2: Keyboard Layout

localectl list-keymaps
loadkeys us

Step 3: Connect to the Internet

iwctl
device list
station wlan0 scan
station wlan0 get-networks
station wlan0 connect your-wifi-name
exit

Test:

ping archlinux.org

Step 4: Partition the Disk (UEFI, GPT)

Start partitioning:

fdisk /dev/sdX

Inside:

g
n → EFI partition → +512M
t → 1 (EFI System)
n → Root partition
w

Step 5: Format Partitions

EFI:

mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sdX1

Root:

mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX2

Step 6: Mount the Partitions

mount /dev/sdX2 /mnt
mkdir -p /mnt/boot
mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt/boot

Step 7: Install Base System

pacstrap -K /mnt base base-devel linux linux-firmware nano man

Step 8: Generate fstab

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

Step 9: Enter New System

arch-chroot /mnt

Step 10: Time Zone

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Region/City /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc

Example:

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Europe/Rome /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc

Step 11: Localization

Edit:

nano /etc/locale.gen

Uncomment:

en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

Generate:

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

Step 12: Hostname & Hosts

echo "archpc" > /etc/hostname
nano /etc/hosts

Add:

127.0.0.1   localhost
::1         localhost
127.0.1.1   archpc.localdomain archpc

Step 13: Root Password

passwd

Step 14: Install GRUB for UEFI

pacman -S grub efibootmgr
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot --bootloader-id=GRUB
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Step 15: Create User

useradd -m -G users,wheel,video -s /bin/bash admin
passwd admin

Step 16: Desktop (GNOME minimal)

pacman -S gnome-shell gdm gnome-disk-utility archlinux-keyring alacritty openssh pavucontrol xorg-server networkmanager network-manager-applet ttf-dejavu ttf-droid wqy-zenhei noto-fonts-emoji sudo gst-libav ntfs-3g gnome-control-center git gnome-keyring gnome-applets wget rsync
systemctl enable gdm.service
systemctl enable NetworkManager.service

Step 17: CPU Microcode

Intel:

pacman -S intel-ucode

AMD:

pacman -S amd-ucode

Step 18: Enable sudo

EDITOR=nano visudo

Uncomment:

%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL

Step 19: Exit & Reboot

exit
umount -R /mnt
reboot

🟥 Installation with BIOS / MBR (Older PCs)

Step 1: USB Preparation

Same as UEFI:

sudo dd bs=4M if=/path/to/archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdX status=progress oflag=sync
fdisk -l

Step 2: Keyboard

localectl list-keymaps
loadkeys us

Step 3: Internet

Same as UEFI.

Step 4: Partition Disk with MBR

fdisk /dev/sdX