Arch Linux

thatrandomcanadianguy

Member

Registered: 2013-12-16

Posts: 10

Installing Arch from Existing Linux

While trying to install Arch from an existing linux distro (Elementary OS), I keep on getting the same error message when I run pacstrap /mnt base base-develop  or pacstrap -i base base-devel from a Live CD Chroot. I keep on getting a "/file/to/path/of/program exists in file system".

Any help?

mcmillan

Member

Registered: 2006-04-06

Posts: 737

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

Sounds like you already have a linux/arch system installed. Have you formatted it to remove anything from a previous install?
If so it might help if you post post all the commands you're using to mount the partition and install along with how you think you have partitions setup

th3voic3

Member

Registered: 2012-03-20

Posts: 92

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

Sounds like you already have a linux/arch system installed. Have you formatted it to remove anything from a previous install?
If so it might help if you post post all the commands you're using to mount the partition and install along with how you think you have partitions setup

I think OP is referring to this

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ANOKNUSA

Member

Registered: 2010-10-22

Posts: 2,141

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

@OP: Any chance you've mounted the LiveCD in the same location you're trying to install to?

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thatrandomcanadianguy

Member

Registered: 2013-12-16

Posts: 10

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

Here's what I've done so fa on Elementary OS:

unsquashfs -d /squashfs-root root-image.fs.sfs
mkdir /arch
mount -o loop /squashfs-root/root-image.fs /arch
mount -t proc none /arch/proc
mount -t sysfs none /arch/sys
mount -o bind /dev /arch/dev
mount -o bind /dev/pts /arch/dev/pts 
cp -L /etc/resolv.conf /arch/etc 
chroot /arch bash

Now in the Chroot, I did the following:

pacman-key --init
pacman-key --populate archlinux
mount  /dev/sda1 /mnt
mkdir /run/shm
pacstrap /mnt base

This is where I get the "/path/of/program exists in filesystem" error after pacstrap attempts to install a base system.

lucke

Member

From: Poland

Registered: 2004-11-30

Posts: 4,018

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

Is there an empty filesystem on /dev/sda1? Have you run mkfs on it?

thatrandomcanadianguy

Member

Registered: 2013-12-16

Posts: 10

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

/dev/sda1 is my root file system for Elementary OS
/dev/sda2 is my extended partition.
/dev/sda5 is my swap partition.

lucke

Member

From: Poland

Registered: 2004-11-30

Posts: 4,018

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

You boot into Elementary OS and then you try to install Arch onto its partition? It can't work.

What kind of setup are you trying to achieve? You can either install Arch alongside Elementary OS (on its own partition(s)) or replace Elementary OS with Arch. You can't make space for Arch's partition(s) (if you have to make sda1 smaller) or replace Elementary OS with Arch while running Elementary OS (you'd have to use Arch's installation medium or some other live medium).

thatrandomcanadianguy

Member

Registered: 2013-12-16

Posts: 10

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

I'm trying to replace Elementary OS with Arch. The problem is to connect to the internet, I need NDISWrapper which can only be installed 1.from the A.U.R 2. using a computer which can connect to the net/USB which has the files.

lucke

Member

From: Poland

Registered: 2004-11-30

Posts: 4,018

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

You could boot Arch live medium and connect a USB medium with required files (you can use "copytoram" kernel line parameter if you want to disconnect the Arch live medium) or boot Ubuntu or Elementary OS live medium (if your network works on them) and pacstrap on your sda1.

WonderWoofy

Member

From: Los Gatos, CA

Registered: 2012-05-19

Posts: 8,414

Re: Installing Arch from Existing Linux

I'm curious as to why you are using the live media and deconstructing that rather than just using the bootstrap image?  It really should make things much easier.
This one.