Arch Linux Installation Guide 2020

I haven't made a video in awhile due to a major catastrophe in my area and I felt like I needed to do this video. After all, an Arch Linux installation is relaxing and therapeutic. I install Arch inside VirtualBox, so install VirtualBox if you want to follow along.

NOTE: I did this as a UEFI installation. If you want to see this done using MBR, check out the 2019 Arch Linux Installation Guide, but be aware the pacstrap commands have changed since that video (be sure to pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware):

SOME COMMANDS I RAN:
Using fdisk:
fdisk -l (lists out the partitions)
fdisk /dev/sda
In fdisk, "m" for help
In fdisk, "o" for DOS partition or "g" for GPT
In fdisk, "n" for add new partition
In fdisk, "p" for primary partition (if using MBR instead of GPT)
In fdisk, "t" to change partition type
In fdisk, "w" (write table to disk)

Make filesystem:
mkswap /dev/sda2
swapon /dev/sda2

Base Install:
mount /dev/sda3 /mnt (mounts it to mnt on live image)
pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware
genfstab -U /mnt TWO GREATER THAN SIGNS /mnt/etc/fstab (YouTube doesn't allow angle brackets)

Chroot:
arch-chroot /mnt (change into root directory of our new installation)
ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/REGION/CITY /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc (sets the hardware clock)
pacman -S nano
locale-gen
nano /etc/hostname
nano /etc/hosts

Users and passwords:
passwd (set root pass)
useradd -m username (make another user)
passwd username (set that user's password)
usermod -aG wheel,audio,video,optical,storage username

Sudo:
pacman -S sudo
EDITOR=nano visudo

GRUB:
pacman -S grub
pacman -S efibootmgr dosfstools os-prober mtools (if doing UEFI)
mkdir /boot/EFI (if doing UEFI)
mount /dev/sda1 /boot/EFI #Mount FAT32 EFI partition (if doing UEFI)
grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --bootloader-id=grub_uefi --recheck (if doing UEFI)

Networking:
pacman -S networkmanager
systemctl enable NetworkManager

Reboot:
exit the chroot by typing "exit"
umount /mnt (unmounts /mnt)
reboot (or shutdown now if doing this in VirtualbBox)
Remember to detach the ISO in VirtualBox before reboot.

REFERENCED:

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[ferxxodev]

If anyone is having trouble with "Default Boot Device Missing or Boot Failed."

This is the solution grub-install /dev/sda --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot/EFI --bootloader-id=grub_uefi --recheck --removable

[mysterynad]

Just a tip, when it comes time to unmount, if it says busy it's because you're trying to unmount a higher-level directory without unmounting a nested lower-level one first. In this case it failed because /dev/sda1 was still mounted at /mnt/boot/EFI so it wasn't able to unmount /dev/sda3 at /mnt. To prevent this, just use the -R flag for recursive umount. Using the force flag can lead to data loss and corruption so it's generally not recommended.

[aacolive]

1:01 VM creation at VirtualBox
2:33 EFI mode enabled (just for fun)
4:14 Keyboard
6:07 System clock
6:53 Fdisk
7:40 Label on disk
8:16 EFI Partition - Adjusted at 10:26
9:19 Swap - Adjusted at 10:58
12:04 File System creation
13:01 Mount
13:14 Pacstrap
13:58 Fstab
14:58 Timezone
16:28 Hwclock
16:51 Locale
19:15 Host
20:44 Non root user
23:20 Grub
25:27 Grub-cfg
26:11 Network Manager
26:59 Enabling networkmanager

[uuu]

I love how the first post after your giant power outage is a new yearly ArchLinux installation guide

[joecool]

Perfect speed for a newer Linux user. And it's nice to see someone briefly explain each command. More install videos should be done just like this since most of us watching are not experienced users or we wouldn't be watching.

[talkshowhost]

I love how you mention the fullname of some commands. Making sense of their meanings definitely help to learn them better as well as remembering them!

[Adnan]

Literally the best Linux guy on YouTube!!!! Power goes out, as soon as it comes back he's straight to uploading again! Love that you basically do an Arch installation walk through every year!

[SpaceMarshalGyorni]

Hey DT,
I just want to leave a big THANK YOU for this. Reading the arch installation guide on the wiki made it seem daunting, but watching you go through it, especially with the comments on how to set up a VM to do it, and with your accessible explanations, made me finally work up the courage. It took me a few tries, but I got it to work, and more importantly it taught me that there's other ways to deal with a system crash than holding down the reset button for 30 seconds.

Now I'm a few weeks in, and not only did I graduade from a VM to an old laptop of mine, I even got it configured to the point where I can use it comfortably and without hassle. I am absolutely in love with how it looks, and how absolutely amazing it feels to work on a system that was custom built exactly for my needs. Most importantly, I learned SO MUCH while doing this. Not just about linux, but about computers in general. Without you I wouldn't even know what a tiling WM is, let alone have ever dreamt of going anywhere near something like arch. Thank you for your thorough efforts to demystify of all this. It's a fun and exciting journey you sent me on.

[hidayat_pcd]

It's good to see an updated version of the Arch installation guide; I heard it has changed in the last year. Just finished installing the base system alongside Windows just in case. It surprisingly works with dual boot on UEFI (disregarding Secure Boot), thanks to the manual/wiki. Excellent work, keep it up!

[gc]

Thank you sir for your clear instructions! Between your video and the Arch install guide, I breezed through my first install. Can confirm that this guide is still working in Oct 2021. I was quite impressed with the Arch documentation as well.

[connor]

First thing after the power comes back... Why not install arch

[userR]

something to note for virtualbox user: make sure to check "Enable EFI" in settings>system
most of yall are probably aware of this but I wanted to put this out there for inexperienced users

[HR-ebvs]

this was the only video where I found the pace perfect for me. Great video mate.

[TheSamitRai]

DT you're the reason I got back to Linux after almost 20 years and had the confidence to install Arch within a week of trying out Fedora. Thanks, man. You rock!!

[mikenecessary]

Love your videos. Tweaked my Manjaro install, set up a virtual machine, installed Mint and installed Xmonad and Xmobar, and just set up a new Arch VM machine. I've made more headway in Linux in the last couple of weeks than I have over the last couple years!... Thank you!...

[FunkyBigO]

Thank you DT. Your last Arch install video was (with the Arch wiki) my goto reference when I first leaved Ubuntu, and I don't think I would have been able to take the leap without you. I do not agree with everything you say, but you have helped so much and made me discover probably half of what I know today about GNU/Linux. I am so thankful to you. Keep up the great work ! :)
And BTW, taking in account the fact that Arch is a rolling distro, I think it's so relevant that you make a new Arch install each year (the way you do for now). :)

[Phydoux]

Welcome back! Glad you're OK after that storm! What a way to mark yourself as safe by installing Arch. Well done!

[Little-bird-told-me]

My first intro to Linux was about a month ago. I finally installed Arch today. Great fun to learn so much. Now i have practice it every day.

[engageintellect]

Think you for updating this for newcomers!

Good work as always, DT.

I hope you and yours are doing well, I have family in L.A., looks like you got your power back on. 👍🏻

[camron]

I've been wanted to switch to Arch for some weeks now (from Ubuntu) and this video was incredible. simple and quick but very informative