--- Avery's Simplified Archlinux Install Guide ---

[Bare minimum requirements]

[Formatting Information]
"_" dictates a placeholder.
"# " dictates a command to be ran.
"[]" dictates a keyboard keypress.

[Pre-Boot Configuration]
1) BIOS Settings
Firstly, boot into the BIOS interface and change these settings:
- "Secure Boot" = OFF
- "USB booting" = ON
Then, save and exit the BIOS interface.
2) Choose Method Of Booting
If your device has a "boot menu," access it, and boot the USB.
Otherwise:
- Change your boot order.
- Plug the Archlinux USB in.
- Restart the device.
Wait 20~60 seconds. You should now be at a bash terminal.

[Post-Boot Configuration]
1) Check the Boot mode
# efivars -l
If anything is listed, UEFI.
If nothing is listed, BIOS.
2) Check the Bit mode
# cat /sys/firmware/efi/fw_platform_size
This will either be '32-bit' or '64-bit.'
3) Check Internet Connection
# ping www.google.com
If the ping doesn't work, use the "iwctl" tool.
For further help, google "arch iwctl help" online.

[Installation Process]
1) Prepare the Destination Drive
'# lsblk' will display your connected storage devices.
1.1) Wipe the Disk
# gdisk /dev/_
# x (for eXpert)
# z (for Zap)
If asked to blank out GPT or MBR say "Y" and [Enter]
The drive is now completely formatted.

1.2) Partition the Disk

{Boot Partition}
First Sector: [Enter]
 Size In Sectors: 1024MiB
Filesystem Type: EF00
Name: boot
{Swap Partition}
First Sector: [Enter]
Size In Sectors: <user choice>
Filesystem Type: 8200
Name: swap
{Root Partition}
First Sector: [Enter]
Size In Sectors: <user choice>
Filesystem Type: [Enter]
Name: root
{Home Partition}
First Sector: [Enter]
Size In Sectors: [Enter]
Filesystem Type: [Enter]
Name: home
1.3) Format the Partitions
# mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/_1
# mkswap /dev/_2
# swapon /dev/_2
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/_3
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/_4
1.4) Mount the Drive
# mount /dev/_3 /mnt
# mkdir /mnt/boot /mnt/home
# mount /dev/_1 /mnt/boot
# mount /dev/_4 /mnt/home

2) Install The OS
2.1) Optimize Servers Based On Location
# cp /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist.backup
# sudo pacman -Sy pacman-contrib
# rankmirrors -n 6 /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist.backup >
/etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
2.2) Install the Archlinux Kernel
# pacstrap -K /mnt base linux linux-firmware base-devel
Once completed, please type the following commands:
# genfstab -U -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
# arch-chroot /mnt
Once entered, your prompt will lose the red color.
The change signifies you have succefully entered your
installation.
This is the CLI for your archlinux copy located on your
Destination Drive.
Here, we can directly modify your installa.
Before continuing, please install the "nano" text editor:
# sudo pacman -Sy nano bash-completion
2.3) Choose a Locale
# nano etc/locale.gen
Find "en_US.UTF-8" and remove the # before this line. Save and
Exit.
# locale-gen
# echo LANG=en_US.UTF-8 > /etc/locale.conf
# export LANG=en_US.UTF-8
2.4) Choose a Time Zone
# ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/US/Michigan > /etc/localtime
# hwclock --systohc --utc
 2.5) Name the Computer
Replace "_" with desired computer name
# echo _ > /etc/hostname
2.6) Make a User and Add Passwords
Make a Root password:
# passwd
Replace "_" with your username
# useradd -m -g users -G wheel,storage,power -s /bin/bash _
Make a User Password:
# passwd _
2.7) Add Optional System-dependant Components
2.7.1) [OPTIONAL] Frequent Trim Support For SSDs
# systemctl enable fstrim.timer
2.7.2) [OPTIONAL] 32-Bit-Program Support For Pacman on 64-Bit
Systems
# nano /etc/pacman.conf
Find "[Multilib]"
Remove the # before this line.
Remove the # before the next line.
2.8) Modify Superuser Execution Permission Defaults
This makes sudo execution require Root password.
# EDITOR=nano visudo
Find "%wheel"
Remove the pound symbol and space before this line.
scroll down to the bottom and create a new line:
# Defaults rootpw
2.9) Install your Microcodes
[INTEL] # sudo pacman -Syu intel-ucode
[AMD] # sudo pacman -Syu amd-ucode
2.10) Install and Write a Bootloader
# bootctl install
# nano /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf
Type in the following EXACTLY as written:
line 1 # title Archlinux
line 2 # linux /vmlinuz-linux
[INTEL] line 3 # initrd /intel-ucode.img
[AMD] line 3 # initrd /amd-ucode.img
line 4 # initrd /initramfs-linux.img
# echo "options root=PARTUUID=$(blkid -s PARTUUID -o value
/dev/_3) rw" >> /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf
2.11) Install the Network Manager software
Replace _ with network adapter found in # ip link
# sudo pacman -S networkmanager
Enable them to run on boot with this command:
# sudo systemctl enable NetworkManager.service
wpa_supplicant.service
3) Reboot the Computer
# exit
# reboot

[Desktop Enviroment]
Upon booting, you will not have a desktop.
This is because Archlinux requires you install a desktop manually.
Please check the Archlinux wiki for compatible desktops.
[NOTE]: Bugs may occur using obscure desktops.
[NOTE]: ALL of these desktops listed can be themed in SOME way.
[NOTE]: compatibility layers exist between wayland and xorg, as well as gtk
and qt.
For a MacOS-like experience:
 # sudo pacman -Syu deepin
For a Windows-like experience:
# sudo pacman -Syu plasma (Recommended)
# sudo pacman -Syu cinnamon (Linux Mint's Desktop)
# sudo pacamn -Syu lxde (QT)
# sudo pacamn -Syu xfce4 (GTK)
For a completely different experience:
# sudo pacman -Syu gnome
# sudo pacman -Syu cosmic
# sudo pacman -Syu hyprland
# sudo pacman -Syu bspwm
# sudo pacman -Syu i3
Otherwise, use whatever you'd like.
--- That's The END. Enjoy Archlinux! ---