Introduction

If you’re here, you probably already know one thing:

Arch Linux is not hard - it’s just very honest.

This blog walks through a manual Arch Linux installation, following the ArchWiki approach, but explained in a slightly relaxed, no-pressure way.

No installers.
No scripts doing magic in background.
Just you, the terminal, and some patience.

Arch Linux Installation

What You Should Know Before Starting

Arch Linux assumes:

  • You are okay with terminal usage
  • You understand disks can be wiped (completely)
  • You are willing to read errors instead of panicking

First install almost always goes wrong somewhere. Normal hai.

Requirements

  • PC or laptop (UEFI preferred)
  • Latest Arch Linux ISO
  • Bootable USB (Ventoy / Rufus / dd)
  • Stable internet
  • At least 20–30 GB free disk space

Take time. Arch install is not a race.

Step 1: Boot Into Arch ISO

Boot from USB and you’ll land in a root shell.

Check boot mode:

ls /sys/firmware/efi/efivars

If it exists → UEFI
If not → Legacy BIOS

Step 2: Keyboard & Internet

(Optional) Set keyboard:

loadkeys us

Check internet:

ping -c 3 archlinux.org

If ping fails, stop here and fix network first.

Step 3: Disk Partitioning

⚠️ This will erase data.

List disks:

lsblk

Use cfdisk (recommended):

cfdisk /dev/nvme0n1

Example layout (UEFI):

  • EFI System Partition (512M)
  • Root partition (rest)

Don’t rush this step.

Step 4: Format & Mount

Format:

mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/nvme0n1p1
mkfs.ext4 /dev/nvme0n1p2

Mount root:

mount /dev/nvme0n1p2 /mnt

Mount EFI:

mkdir -p /mnt/boot
mount /dev/nvme0n1p1 /mnt/boot

Step 5: Install Base System

Install core packages:

pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware vim networkmanager

Let it finish. Arch mirrors test your patience.

Step 6: Generate fstab

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

Verify:

cat /mnt/etc/fstab

If mounts look correct, continue.

Step 7: Chroot

arch-chroot /mnt

Now you’re inside your new system.

Step 8: Timezone & Locale

Timezone:

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Asia/Kolkata /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc

Locale:

vim /etc/locale.gen

Uncomment:

en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

Generate:

locale-gen

Set language:

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

Step 9: Network & Hostname

Enable network:

systemctl enable NetworkManager

Set hostname:

echo archlinux > /etc/hostname

Step 10: Root Password

passwd

Pick something memorable.

Step 11: Bootloader (GRUB)

Install packages:

pacman -S grub efibootmgr

Install GRUB:

grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --efi-directory=/boot --bootloader-id=GRUB

Generate config:

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Step 12: User & Sudo

Create user:

useradd -m -G wheel user
passwd user

Enable sudo:

EDITOR=vim visudo

Uncomment:

%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL

Step 13: Finish Installation

Exit chroot:

exit

Unmount:

umount -R /mnt

Reboot:

reboot

Remove USB.
If it boots — congratulations.

What You Have Now

  • Minimal Arch Linux
  • No desktop
  • No bloat
  • Full control

Everything else is your choice.

Common Mistakes

  • Wrong disk selection
  • EFI not mounted
  • Forgot NetworkManager
  • Locale not generated

Happens to everyone.

Conclusion

Installing Arch Linux manually teaches you how Linux actually works.

Slow? Yes.
Worth it? Also yes.

Personal Opinion

Arch install looks scary until you do it once.

After that, it’s just steps and logic. You break it, you fix it — that’s the learning.

If you want full control, Arch is worth the effort.