Arch Linux Install Guide

Arch Linux Install Guide:
Up-to-date as of March 2018
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installation_guide
http://wideaperture.net/blog/?p=3851

For Dual boot
Windows 10 info:
cmd.exe /k echo %processor_architecture%
Detecting Windows boot mode
msinfo32
In the System Information windows, select System Summary on the left and check the value of BIOS mode item on the right
If the value is UEFI, Windows boots in UEFI/GPT mode. If the value is Legacy, Windows boots in BIOS/MBR mode.

vbox configurations:
4G RAM
Dynamically allocated
40GB suggested

VirtualBox > Preferences > Input
Set Host Key

Boot Arch Linux (x86_64)

Verify Boot mode:
# ls /sys/firmware/efi/efivars
If the directory does not exist, the system may be booted in BIOS or CSM mode. Refer to your motherboard's manual for details.

Connect to the Internet:
# ping archlinux.org
If no connection is available, stop the dhcpcd service with systemctl stop dhcpcd@ and pressing Tab.
Proceed with Network configuration for wired devices or Wireless network configuration for wireless devices.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Network_configuration#Device_driver
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Wireless_network_configuration

Update system clock
# timedatectl set-ntp true

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Partitioning
List block devices:
# fdisk -l

Look for sda (SATA Drive A)
# ls /dev

Format sda:
# gdisk /dev/sda
-press 'p' at prompt and press enter;

Create Partitions:
Partition 1 - boot partition:
-type 'n' and at enter prompt to create new partition
-default partition number
-first sector accept default, last sector type +250M
-use 8300 and press enter

Partition 2 - swap partition:
-type 'n' at propmt
-default partition number
-first sector default, last sector +2G
-use 8200 and press enter

Partition 3 - root partition:
-type 'n' and enter at prompt
-default partition number
-first sector default, last sector +15G
-use 8300 and press enter

Partition 4 - home partition:
-type 'n' and enter at prompt
-default partition number
-first and last sector default
-default 8300 hex code

Format Disk Partitions:
# mkfs -t ext4 /dev/sda1
# mkfs -t ext4 /dev/sda3
# mkfs -t ext4 /dev/sda4
# mkswap /dev/sda2

// Used for configuration and system maintenence through install medium
Mount Hard Drive Partitions:
# swapon /dev/sda2
# mount /dev/sda3 /mnt
# cd /mnt
create points and mount
# mkdir boot home
# mount /dev/sda1 boot
# mount /dev/sda4 home
# cd /

Put Arch Linux on our root partition
# pacstrap /mnt base base-devel

Generate system's fstab file
# genfstab -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
check fstab file
# more /mnt/etc/fstab

Install boot loader:
# pacstrap /mnt syslinux

Configure Linux Install:
# arch-chroot /mnt

Set locale:
# nano /etc/locale.conf
LANG="en_US.UTF-8"
# nano /etc/locale.gen
#en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
#en_US ISO-8859-1
Delete preceding '#' on two above lines in locale.gen file

Implement changes:
# locale-gen

Give time zone:
# ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/America/Chicago /etc/localtime
To display all timezones:
# ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/America/
hit tab a couple times.

Set host name:
# nano /etc/hostname

Configure bootloader:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Category:Boot_loaders
# cd /boot/syslinux/
# more syslinux.cfg

Arch wiki says to copy all
# cp /usr/lib/syslinux/bios/*.c32 /boot/syslinux/

# extlinux --install /boot/syslinux

# dd conv=notrunc bs=440 count=1 if=/usr/lib/syslinux/bios/gptmbr.bin of=/dev/sda

“Make an initial ramdisk environment (mkinitcpio)
using presets (-p) suitable for Linux”.:
# mkinitcpio -p linux

Set root password:
# passwd

Transport back to install disk:
# exit

Unmount all partitions
# umount /mnt/boot
# umount /mnt/home
# swapoff /dev/sda2
# umount /mnt

Optionally manually unmount all the partitions with
# umount -R /mnt
this allows noticing any "busy" partitions, and finding the cause with fuser(1).

Set boot disk to bootable.
# sgdisk /dev/sda --attributes=1:set:2

#reboot

Remove .iso or installation medium
On vBox:
Devices > CD/DVD Devices > Remove disk from virtual drive

Boot into new Arch Linux install

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/General_recommendations

Connect to the internet
# dhcpcd

Add a new user
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Users_and_groups#User_management
# useradd -m -s /bin/bash yogi
# passwd yogi
to create a home dir for new user
-d home-directory
create the home directory
-m

install sudo for super user priviledges outside of root
# pacman -S sudo
tell sudo that new user account has admin priviledges
# nano /etc/sudoers
find line that says the following and add user:
##
## User privilege specification
##
root ALL=(ALL) ALL
<username> ALL=(ALL)

to logout:
# exit

Automating Internet Connection:
$ ip addr or # ip a displays serial number to be used in place of eth0
$ sudo systemctl enable dhcpcd@eth0.service

in my case we have enp0s3
$ sudo systemctl enable dhcpcd@enp0s3.service

Now Arch will automatically connect to internet upon booting

(not required) Connect to network you want
$ sudo dhcpcd

Install X window system
According to https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xorg:
$ sudo pacman -S xorg-server xorg-apps

Install appropriate driver for X:
$ lspci | grep -e VGA -e 3D
$ sudo pacman -Ss xf86-video

checking/enabling/disabling services (like DMs)
$ sudo systemctl is-enabled target.service (gdm.service for example)
$ sudo enable target.service
$ sudo disable target.service

download GNOME
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GNOME
$ sudo pacman -S gnome
$ sudo pacman -S gnome-extra
Enable GNOME DM at boot
$ sudo enable gdm.service

Reboot to enter GNOME

Once in GNOME:
create a shortcut to terminal, use 'gnome-terminal' as input
Changing terminal settings; in terminal:
Edit -> Profile Preferences


Install NetworkManager package (Though GNOME is telling me I already had it)
$ sudo pacman -S networkmanager

if you run into error:
failed to init transaction (unable to lock database)
OS suggests something like: "you can remove /var/lib/pacman/db.lck"
$ sudo rm /var/lib/pacman/db.lck
Try reinstall

For Firefox:
# sudo pacman -S firefox
Installing Python
$ sudo pacman -S python
$ sudo pacman -S python-pip

i3wm Installation and Customization:
https://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html#configuring
http://briancaffey.github.io/2017/10/17/moving-from-gnome-to-i3-on-arch-linux.html
$ sudo pacman -S i3
$ sudo pacman -Ss dmenu
Cutomization and configuration:
Config created upon booting up with i3 for the first time.
~/.config/i3/config

If using ~/.i3 scheme:
$ cp -r /etc/i3 ~/.i3


Background image; add following to ~/.config/i3/config:
exec_always feh --bg-scale ~/Pictures/image.jpg
To restart i3 in place:
$ Mod+shift+r

Installing rxvt terminal (if using i3)
$ sudo pacman -S rxvt-unicode
Launch:
$ urxvt
Go back to gnome terminal:
$ gnome-terminal
rxvt config are made in ~/.Xresources, refresh with following:
$ xrdb ~/.Xresources

Some aesthtic changes to .Xresources:
Go to: (terminal.sexy a website for presets)
URxvt.font: xft:Consolas:size=10
URxvt.transparent:true
reload urxvt using
$ xrdb ~/.Xresources
$ urxvt

Removing packages:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/pacman#Removing_packages
$ sudo pacman -R target_package
Removing packages recursively without interfering with other installs:
$ sudo pacman -Rs target_package

Debugging:
$ sudo pacman gdb
$ gdb appname
(gdb) r
..wait for seg fault
(gdb) bt full
Post out to pastebin and include URL in bug report

Pywal Install (Still not working)
$ sudo pacman -S python-pywal