Hey fellow future-Arch-users! I’ll show you how to install Arch Linux without needing a PhD in wiki navigation. Thanks to the magical archinstall script, we can now get this done faster than it takes to compile Gentoo’s base system (okay, maybe not that fast).

1: Get the ISO (Like a Digital Pirate)

First, grab the latest Arch ISO from their delightfully minimalist website:
archlinux.org/download

Pro Tip: The “mirrors” page looks like it’s from 2003 – that’s how you know it’s legit.

Making Your USB Bootable

Windows Users:
Use Rufus in DD mode (not ISO mode!). DD stands for “Destroy Disk” if you select the wrong drive.
Linux Chad Method:
```
sudo dd if=archlinux.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress
```
(Replace X with your USB drive letter. Yes, this will nuke everything on it.)

2: Boot It Up (And Pray to Linus)

Smash F12/DEL/ESC during startup (depending on how much your motherboard hates you) to access the boot menu. Select your USB.

You’ll be greeted by a beautiful root@archiso~# prompt. No GUI? Good – we’re doing this properly.

3: Let `archinstall` Do the Heavy Lifting

1. Internet Check (Because Offline Arch is Sad Arch)

ping google.com

WiFi Warriors: Use iwctl (Arch’s built-in WiFi sorcery):

iwctl
station wlan0 scan
station wlan0 connect "YourWiFi"
exit

2. Launch the Magic Script

archinstall

Now enjoy this beautiful TUI menu that does 90% of what took us 5 hours to do manually back in the day.

Configuration Cheat Sheet

Setting	Recommendation	Notes
Disk	`/dev/nvme0n1` or `/dev/sda`	Say goodbye to your Windows partition
Filesystem	`ext4` (default)	`btrfs` if you’re feeling fancy
Hostname	`arch-masterrace`	Be creative
Desktop	`gnome`/`kde`/`xfce`	Or go hardcore with `minimal`
Bootloader	`systemd-boot` (UEFI) or `grub` (BIOS)	UEFI is cleaner, fight me
Timezone	`Asia/Jakarta`	Or wherever you VPN from

Wait 5-10 minutes while Arch installs. Perfect time to brew some coffee (or ramen).

4: Post-Install Party

After reboot, log in and run:

sudo pacman -Syu

(Translation: “Update everything because Arch moves faster than your ex”)

Optional But Recommended

Install yay (AUR Helper):

git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay && makepkg -si

Now you can install all those ~~bloatware~~ essential packages:

yay -S neofetch steam discord

Flex Your Installation:
```
neofetch
```
(Mandatory screenshot for Reddit karma)

Troubleshooting

archinstall Failed?
Congrats! You’ve unlocked Manual Mode. Refer to the Arch Wiki – it’s our bible.
WiFi Not Working?
```
 sudo systemctl enable --now NetworkManager
```
(Yes, I just recommended NetworkManager. Purists may scream.)

Final Thought:
This method gets you 80% of the “Arch experience” with 20% of the pain. Want full bragging rights? Do a manual install next time – I’ll wait with popcorn.

Now go forth and sudo pacman -Syu like it’s your job.

(this tech doc from ‘ramenaru’ -> Certified Arch Install Survivor)

Last modified on 2025-02-19