First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

TySpicer · 2025-08-31 15:51:26

I'm going through the installation process on the wiki, and I'd like to make sure I'm doing it right before I proceed. If it helps, I'm doing everything from Linux Mint.

On step 1.1, any recommendations for finding the right ISO? I'm in the US (Oklahoma), so I'm scrolling the United States list on the downloads page, but I don't know how to tell which is closest to me.

Once I'm in one of those pages, there are several files here. Do I need all of them, some of them, or just the archlinux-2025.08.01-x86_64.iso file?

For step 1.2, I downloaded the archlinux-2025.08.01-x86_64.iso.sig file from the downloads page, and copied b2sums.txt and sha256.txt to text files. So there are four files in my Downloads folder now: .iso, .iso.sig, and two .txt files. Next, I ran through the "Download verification" section on the downloads page. I ran this line:

b2sum -c b2sums.txt

It looks like the .iso file is fine, and it fails to check the other files. Again, do I need those files, or is this fine?

I also ran the other two lines from the GnuPG instructions. The first one ran fine, but the second one said "WARNING: The key's User ID is not certified with a trusted signature!" Does this mean I should use a different ISO?

That's as far as I've gone on this pass. I tried and failed to install Arch two other times, so I want to make sure I get everything right this time. Thanks for the help!

Head_on_a_Stick · 2025-08-31 15:56:54

The ISO image is for suckers. Real Archers use the bootstrap image :-P

But seriously, for the GnuPG instructions that WARNING does not mean the image is not verified, it just means that you haven't signed the Arch key with your own. As long as the output includes "gpgv: Good signature" the ISO is fine.

The b2sum verification is only needed for the ISO image. The (detached) signature will only "fit" the correct image anyway.

switcher · 2025-09-04 05:27:36

- Read the installation archwiki and get an overview.
- Just download the .iso ( only need this file) from any mirror in US or torrent it and move on.
- burn the .iso into a usb stick ( you can do it from android too using itchdroid)
- restart > change bios to read from usb > load
- select install arch ( it will start by putting all the arch to memory )
- follow guide

- Partition ( the most important part )
-- if dual, keep the win at start, if not just make partition for linux

NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINTS
nvme0n1 259:0 0 238.5G 0 disk
├─nvme0n1p1 259:1 0 100M 0 part
├─nvme0n1p2 259:2 0 16M 0 part
├─nvme0n1p3 259:3 0 77.7G 0 part
├─nvme0n1p4 259:4 0 642M 0 part
├─nvme0n1p5 259:5 0 394M 0 part /boot
├─nvme0n1p6 259:6 0 3.7G 0 part [SWAP]
├─nvme0n1p7 259:7 0 57.7G 0 part /
├─nvme0n1p8 259:8 0 37.3G 0 part /home
├─nvme0n1p9 259:9 0 37.3G 0 part /mnt/data-vault
└─nvme0n1p10 259:10 0 23.6G 0 part

--- why win at start, it causes some problem when unable to locate partition in multi vfat
--- why 2fat, sometime win mess up the efi by deleting other files inside it, so I prefer it to seperate it
--- do I need swap, yes around half of your ram is preffered, when going to sleep, kernel will move ram data to swap like in battery down situtation

-- space (imp) : /boot (500mb will do or less) /root (30gb) /home (30gb) , there is nothing mandatory space but keep in mind that all applications will be installation in these 2 locations
--- you have to routinely also clean pacman packages, that increases the /root partition
--- once partition is done and installed , it will be hard to expand or shrink middle partition.
--- if want to access from win some files, then make a paritition in nfts

- Networking (imp) ( if new use network manager, it will configure all network interface ) other than that iwd from systemd also inbuilt
-- sethost name, nameserver
-- this is part where dns resolve creates most of the problem after reboot
-- remember arch does not copy network configuration from live to new installed arch (its your responsibility how you want to configure it)

- install all important binaries, by archroot or pacstrap
-- use gvim with vim because gvim supports clipboard
-- update the pacman keyring with simply -Syyu

- bootmanager (imp) ( make sure you can you did it with guide ) grub is common, systemd also provide inbuilt
-- make sure entries are present in the /boot dir for all the distro
-- pacman update runs hook everything kernel is updated

there is much more that need to be considered but archwiki will fill the void.

Head_on_a_Stick · 2025-09-04 05:40:23

switcher wrote:

- Just download the .iso ( only need this file) from any mirror in US or torrent it and move on.

I think image verification is important. The Arch devs go to the trouble of signing the image for a reason.

switcher wrote:

-- space (imp) : /boot (500mb will do or less) /root (30gb) /home (30gb)

I think the OP would be better advised to use a single root partition unless they have good reason not to. Having separate partitions can be tricky to manage, people certainly seem to regularly open threads here asking how to re-jig their partition structure because they've run out of space. 30GiB sounds like enough for a root partition but it might not be if the user likes flatpaks.

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2025-09-04 05:41:06)

switcher · 2025-09-04 07:01:26

~The b2sum verification is only needed for the ISO image. The (detached) signature will only "fit" the correct image anyway.~
You already wrote on it.

~Having separate partitions can be tricky to manage~
Decision on partition are taken based on requirements.
Remainder of the device. At least 23–32 GiB. ( this is wiki ), my space with flatpak 18.9GB and without clearing pacman yet.

Most of application's user data are stored in /home dir and with personal configuration and personal data, its important to keep this data safe
- upon reinstalling, installation medium ask for partition, it does not care if your /home is inside that partition, it will wipe everything
- how data is stored inside a partition is versatile not sequential after usage, it make a file untracked upon deleting and fill with other parts of data in that void with link.
- Problem arise when these block of data becomes currupt while updating or for any reason, how would you create that part of data again without data recovery tool
-- partitions are sequential and seperate, one part of data block does not shared with other partition, it makes it easy to recreate.
- option to mount /home partition with other distro or archlive is important while fixing some issue.

We can only make assumptions based on our usage but requirement arises from experience.
Opinions are not decisions.

I am sure OP have to reinstall arch one day to fit his req. no matter what decision he will take today. Read, Experiment and keep learning.

seth · 2025-09-04 07:14:10

switcher wrote:

-- update the pacman keyring with simply -Syyu

Simply read https://man.archlinux.org/man/pacman.8# … PLY_TO_-S) and understand what the second "y" there *actually* does and what problems can arise from that and then only use it unless you *REALLY* mean to and not just because you believe it's probably gonna sync harder or better ore more reliable or whatnot nonsense drives people into that pattern.

Edit: yeah, but your first post makes it look like you suggest to skip any verification process, maybe your image writer does that for you, but you'd have to stress that.
Oh, and just because pet peeve: don't "burn" usb keys.
"Burning" was used in connotation w/ optical media because you're using a laser to literally burn little pits into it.
It makes absolutely no sense when talking about NAND flash.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_injection

Last edited by seth (2025-09-04 07:19:08)

switcher · 2025-09-04 08:27:02

seth wrote:

that pattern

There is no pattern here, -Syu.

seth wrote:

stress that

Sure

seth wrote:

don't "burn" usb keys

Will *write* it down because of pet peeve

seth · 2025-09-04 12:41:07

The pattern is the mindless usage and propagation of "pacman -Syy" which happens a lot because one fool copies it from some other fool.
If it shows up here, we cut the line.

switcher · 2025-09-04 13:46:58

seth wrote:

Simply read https://man.archlinux.org/man/pacman.8# … PLY_TO_-S) and understand what the second "y" there *actually* does and what problems can arise from that and then only use it unless you *REALLY* mean to and not just because you believe it's probably gonna sync harder or better ore more reliable or whatnot nonsense drives people into that pattern.
Edit: yeah, but your first post makes it look like you suggest to skip any verification process, maybe your image writer does that for you, but you'd have to stress that.
Oh, and just because pet peeve: don't "burn" usb keys.
"Burning" was used in connotation w/ optical media because you're using a laser to literally burn little pits into it.
It makes absolutely no sense when talking about NAND flash.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_injection

And yet only a mindless fool will waste time on this long garbage attention seeking lines , which simply could have been
Hey, just want to make some correction here
- Use -Syu not -Syyu as it can increase load on server bandwidth and should only be done in some situation when you suspect something wrong with db.
- Verify iso is important don't skip the step
- And Miss Seth is annoyed on why she is burned and not flashed.

Last edited by switcher (2025-09-04 14:29:37)

Lone_Wolf · 2025-09-05 09:53:48

Moderator Note

Switcher, that post contributes nothing to this thread and borders on violating our https://terms.archlinux.org/docs/code-of-conduct/ , especially the respect part.

Please change your tone.

Consider this your first warning.

Arch Linux

#1 2025-08-31 15:51:26

First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

#2 2025-08-31 15:56:54

Re: First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

#3 2025-09-04 05:27:36

Re: First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

#4 2025-09-04 05:40:23

Re: First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

#5 2025-09-04 07:01:26

Re: First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

#6 2025-09-04 07:14:10

Re: First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

#7 2025-09-04 08:27:02

Re: First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

#8 2025-09-04 12:41:07

Re: First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

#9 2025-09-04 13:46:58

Re: First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

#10 2025-09-05 09:53:48

Re: First couple of steps - I want to make sure it's right

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