Arch Linux

KineticLogic

Member

From: KC

Registered: 2026-02-22

Posts: 1

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USB Install Boot Looping (FIXED)

I finally got a minimal Arch setup running on my Framework 16 laptop. However, in my new-found confidence, I rushed a bit ahead with migrating my custom-built desktop from Windows to Arch. I can't seem to find any relevant information since IDK what to even search, and all the AI bots I ask just give me outdated information lol.

I successfully used "dd" on my laptop to make a flashdrive with the latest arch iso, but when I use it on my desktop it just keeps power cycling at the handoff from bootloader to kernel. I see "Welcome to Arch Linux" and then the brief "[ OK ]" checklist and then everything powers off and completely reboots, sending me back to before the BIOS.

- I'm using the "archlinux-2026.02.01-x86-64.iso" installer.
- I previously tried Ventoy, but after that failed, I have recreated the flashdrive with my laptop's "dd" command.
- The flash drive is a simple cheap green 8GB from Micro Center.
- My desktop is custom built, but I'll try and provide as much relevant information as I can think of:
-- Corsair 7000D
-- Corsair iCue Link H107i LCD
-- MSI MEG 670E GODLIKE
-- AMD 7950X3D
-- AMD RX 9070XT
-- 128GB DDR5 (4 DIMMs - Although, currently with 2 removed for this process)
-- SoundBlaster AE-9
-- Monitor: AW3423DW
-- BIOS: 7D68v1J
-- Keyboard: Wooting Two HE
-- Mouse: Corsair Nightsabre (plugged in)

I've tried nearly everything I could think of, from moving the USB stick to the FLASH-BIOS port, moving it to the front ports, unplugging literally all unneeded externals, etc. I was going to try running off the mobo iGPU, but there isn't any actual plug for video on my mobo, apparently (I find out now, an entire year after building lol).

Currently my tower is powered off, 2 DIMMs removed (only 64GB still installed), the DAC for my sound card is unplugged, the USB to my monitor is unplugged (now leaving only my mouse and keyboard as the only two USB cables), the ethernet plug is in, and I cannot remove my GPU or swap display cable to my mobo to test that unfortunately.

EDIT/UPDATE:
I successfully got into the ISO shell prompt. I decided to use Netboot instead of a raw ISO (which realistically only made the reboot cycle more pleasant lol) and just brute forced boot parameters until something worked:
"pci=nomsi amd_iommu=off usbcore.autosuspend=-1 modprobe.blacklist=btusb modprobe.blacklist=snd_hda_intel"

Last edited by KineticLogic (2026-02-23 17:37:16)

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It is not the target environment path that matters, but the methods used to navigate there, instead.