mihirchanduka · October 13, 2025 13:12 · Nov 23, 2023 · Nov 23, 2023 · Nov 23, 2023 · Apr 23, 2023
diff --git a/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md b/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ blkid
 
 Edit the rEFInd configuration file
 ```bash
-vim /boot/refind.conf
+vim /boot/refind_linux.conf
 ```
 
 Add the cryptdevice flag to “Boot with Standard Options”

diff --git a/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md b/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ blkid
 
 Edit the rEFInd configuration file
 ```bash
-vim /boot/refind_linux.conf
+vim /boot/refind.conf
 ```
 
 Add the cryptdevice flag to “Boot with Standard Options”

diff --git a/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md b/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ pacman -S refind base base-devel linux linux-headers bash-completion efibootmgr
 
 AMD
 ```bash
-pacman -S refind base base-devel linux linux-headers bash-completion efibootmgr sddm plasma iwd man intel-ucode kde-applications firewalld
+pacman -S refind base base-devel linux linux-headers bash-completion efibootmgr sddm plasma iwd man amd-ucode kde-applications firewalld
 
 ```
 

diff --git a/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md b/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md
@@ -116,8 +116,9 @@ Move into the `/mnt` directory
 cd /mnt
 ```
 
-```
+
 Create the `@` and `@home` BTRFS Subvolumes
+
 ```bash
 btrfs subvolume create @
 btrfs subvolume create @home
@@ -170,6 +171,9 @@ arch-chroot /mnt
 ```
 
 Edit the file system `table` and remove the `subvolid` from the `@` and `@home` entries 
+```bash
+vim /etc/fstab
+```
 
 ```diff
 -rw,noatime,compress=zstd:1,ssd,space_cache=v2,subvolid=261,subvol=/@

diff --git a/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md b/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ Move into the `/mnt` directory
 cd /mnt
 ```
 
+```
 Create the `@` and `@home` BTRFS Subvolumes
 ```bash
 btrfs subvolume create @
@@ -216,7 +217,11 @@ localectl set-locale LC_TIME="en_US.UTF-8"
 localectl set-keymap us
 ```
 
-Set the hostname
+Set the hostname 
+```bash
+vim /etc/hostname
+```
+
 ```diff
 +arch
 ```
@@ -254,6 +259,14 @@ pacman -Syu
 ```
 
 Install Arch Packages
+
+Intel
+```bash
+pacman -S refind base base-devel linux linux-headers bash-completion efibootmgr sddm plasma iwd man intel-ucode kde-applications firewalld
+
+```
+
+AMD
 ```bash
 pacman -S refind base base-devel linux linux-headers bash-completion efibootmgr sddm plasma iwd man intel-ucode kde-applications firewalld
 
@@ -265,7 +278,7 @@ Intel
 ```bash
 pacman -S xf86-video-intel mesa vulkan-intel
 ```
-Amd
+AMD
 ```bash
 pacman -S xf86-video-amdgpu mesa vulkan-radeon
 ```

diff --git a/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md b/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md
@@ -111,19 +111,24 @@ Mount the `archlinux` partition
 mount /dev/mapper/archlinux /mnt 
 ```
 
+Move into the `/mnt` directory
+```bash
+cd /mnt
+```
+
 Create the `@` and `@home` BTRFS Subvolumes
 ```bash
 btrfs subvolume create @
 btrfs subvolume create @home
 ```
 
-unmount `archlinux` partition
+Unmount `archlinux` partition
 ```bash
 cd 
 umount /mnt 
 ```
 
-mount newly created subvolumes and EFI
+Mount newly created subvolumes and EFI
 ```bash
 mount -o noatime,compress=zstd:1,space_cache=v2,discard=async,subvol=@ /dev/mapper/archlinux /mnt
 

diff --git a/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md b/Arch_Linux_Install_Guide.md
@@ -0,0 +1,394 @@
+# Arch Linux Installation Guide
+--- 
+Guide to install Arch Linux on an EFI System. Includes these features:
+- Full Disk Encryption with LUKS
+- BTRFS with `@`  and `@home` subvolumes
+- Timeshift Backups
+- Encrypted Swap Partition 
+- rEFInd bootloader
+- SDDM display manager
+- KDE Plasma desktop environment 
+
+## Connect to WiFi and Time Sync
+---
+
+Enable Time Sync
+
+```bash
+timedatectl set-ntp true
+```
+
+
+## Disk Partitioning
+---
+List your disks 
+```bash
+lsblk
+```
+
+Format the disk you want to install arch on by using sgdisk. Typically most disks are labeled as `/dev/sda` , `/dev/vda`, or `/dev/nvme0n1`
+
+```bash
+sgdisk -Z /dev/sda
+```
+
+Once formatted use gdisk to begin to partition the drive
+
+```bash
+gdisk /dev/sda
+```
+
+### EFI Partiton
+
+Type `n` and hit `enter` to create a new partition. 
+Hit `enter` to leave the defaults for the partition start. 
+Type `+512M` and hit `enter` to create a 512MB size partition. 
+Type `ef00` and hit `enter` to choose EFI partition type.
+
+
+### Encrypted Swap Partition 
+
+Type `n` and hit `enter` to create a new partition. 
+Hit `enter` to leave the defaults for the partition start. 
+Type `+16G` and hit `enter` to create a 16G size partition. (Swap sizes can be larger or smaller but it is recommended to match your swap to the amount of ram within the system)  
+Type `8200` and hit `enter` to choose Linux Swap partition type.
+
+### Root Partition
+Type `n` and hit `enter` to create a new partition. 
+Hit `enter` to leave the defaults for the partition start.
+Hit `enter` to use the remainder of the disk. 
+Hit `enter` to choose the default partition type.
+
+Hit `w` to write the changes
+
+## Disk Formatting and LUKS Encryption
+---
+List out all the partitions. They are laid out as `/dev/sda1`, `/dev/sda2` , `/dev/sda3` or `/dev/nvme0n1p1`, `/dev/nvme0n1p2`, `/dev/nvme0n1p3`. 
+```bash
+lsblk
+```
+
+
+Format EFI Partition as FAT32
+```bash
+mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sda1
+```
+
+Temporary enable swap partition
+```bash
+mkswap /dev/sda2
+swapon /dev/sda2
+```
+
+Enable the Encryption Modules
+```bash 
+modprobe dm-crypt
+modprobe dm-mod
+```
+
+Encrypt the root partition
+```bash
+cryptsetup luksFormat -v -s 512 -h sha512 /dev/sda3
+```
+Type out "YES"  in call caps and create a secure passphrase for the partition (Recommended to use 25 - 30 characters).
+Verify the passphrase.
+
+Unlock the newly encrypted drive
+```bash
+cryptsetup luksOpen /dev/sda3 archlinux
+```
+Enter the passphrase 
+
+Format the root partition
+```
+mkfs.btrfs /dev/mapper/archlinux
+```
+
+## Creating and Mounting BTRFS Subvolumes
+---
+Mount the `archlinux` partition 
+```bash
+mount /dev/mapper/archlinux /mnt 
+```
+
+Create the `@` and `@home` BTRFS Subvolumes
+```bash
+btrfs subvolume create @
+btrfs subvolume create @home
+```
+
+unmount `archlinux` partition
+```bash
+cd 
+umount /mnt 
+```
+
+mount newly created subvolumes and EFI
+```bash
+mount -o noatime,compress=zstd:1,space_cache=v2,discard=async,subvol=@ /dev/mapper/archlinux /mnt
+
+# create a mount point for the home directory 
+mkdir /mnt/home
+
+mount -o noatime,compress=zstd:1,space_cache=v2,discard=async,subvol=@home /dev/mapper/archlinux /mnt/home
+
+# create a mount point for the EFI partiton
+mkdir /mnt/boot
+
+mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/boot
+```
+
+## Installing Base Packages 
+---
+
+Use `pacstrap` to install the base packages. 
+
+If you have an INTEL CPU
+```bash
+pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware sudo vim intel-ucode btrfs-progs
+```
+
+If you have an AMD CPU
+```bash 
+pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware sudo vim amd-ucode btrfs-progs
+```
+
+Generate fstab
+```bash
+genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
+```
+
+Enter Arch Linux on the `/mnt` directory
+```bash
+arch-chroot /mnt
+```
+
+Edit the file system `table` and remove the `subvolid` from the `@` and `@home` entries 
+
+```diff
+-rw,noatime,compress=zstd:1,ssd,space_cache=v2,subvolid=261,subvol=/@
++rw,noatime,compress=zstd:1,ssd,space_cache=v2,subvol=/@
+-rw,noatime,compress=zstd:1,ssd,space_cache=v2,subvolid=261subvol=/@home
++rw,noatime,compress=zstd:1,ssd,space_cache=v2,subvol=/@
+```
+
+## Configuring Locales  
+---
+Enable Time Sync
+```bash
+timedatectl set-ntp true
+```
+
+Set your timezone. For this example the timezone is The United States East Coast
+```bash
+timedatectl set-timezone America/New_York
+```
+
+Sync the hardware clock
+```bash
+hwclock --systohc
+```
+
+Edit the locale gen to enable United States English UTF-8
+```bash
+vim /etc/locale.gen
+```
+
+```diff
+-#en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
++en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
+```
+
+Regenerate locale file
+```bash
+locale-gen
+```
+
+Set the locale language, time, and keyboard
+```bash
+localectl set-locale LANG="en_US.UTF-8"
+localectl set-locale LC_TIME="en_US.UTF-8"
+localectl set-keymap us
+```
+
+Set the hostname
+```diff
++arch
+```
+
+Set the host. Change `arch` to whatever the hostname is
+```bash
+vim /etc/hosts
+```
+
+```diff
++ 127.0.0.1   localhost
++ ::1         localhost
++ 127.0.1.1   arch.localdomain   arch
+```
+
+## Installing Arch
+---
+### Install Packages
+
+Edit the pacman configuration to enable parallel downloads and color
+```bash
+vim /etc/pacman.conf
+```
+
+```diff
+- #ParallelDownloads = 5
+- #Color
++ ParallelDownloads = 5
++ Color
+```
+
+Sync to the Arch servers and update packages
+```bash
+pacman -Syu
+```
+
+Install Arch Packages
+```bash
+pacman -S refind base base-devel linux linux-headers bash-completion efibootmgr sddm plasma iwd man intel-ucode kde-applications firewalld
+
+```
+
+Install Video Drivers
+
+Intel
+```bash
+pacman -S xf86-video-intel mesa vulkan-intel
+```
+Amd
+```bash
+pacman -S xf86-video-amdgpu mesa vulkan-radeon
+```
+Nvidia
+```bash
+pacman -S nvidia nvidia-utils
+```
+
+### Enable Services
+
+Enable the services on system startup
+
+```bash
+systemctl enable NetworkManager
+systemctl enable avahi-daemon
+systemctl enable sddm
+```
+
+### Setting Up mkinitcpio
+Edit `mkinitcpio.conf` and enable BTRFS
+```bash
+vim /etc/mkinitcpio.conf
+```
+
+```diff
+- MODULES=()
++ MODULES=(btrfs)
+```
+
+Add the encryption hook
+```diff
+- HOOKS=(base udev autodetect modconf block filesystems keyboard fsck)
++ HOOKS=(base udev autodetect modconf block encrypt filesystems keyboard fsck) 
+```
+
+Regenerate the ramdisk init environment
+```bash
+mkinitcpio -p linux
+```
+
+## Installing rEFInd
+---
+Enter the command to install rEFInd
+```bash
+refind-install
+```
+
+List out all devices on the device and note down the UUID of the encrypted partiton
+```bash
+blkid
+
+# /dev/sda3: UUID="83da0c42-4b61-498d-bebc-68b65dc1704f" TYPE="crypto_LUKS" PARTLABEL="Linux filesystem" PARTUUID="923b9107-492d-447f-9e86-18e496a9a0f7"
+
+#Note the UUID (UUID="83da0c42-4b61-498d-bebc-68b65dc1704f")
+```
+
+Edit the rEFInd configuration file
+```bash
+vim /boot/refind_linux.conf
+```
+
+Add the cryptdevice flag to “Boot with Standard Options”
+```diff
+- "Boot with standard options"  "loglevel=3 quiet"
++ "Boot with standard options"  "loglevel=3 quiet cryptdevice=UUID=83da0c42-4b61-498d-bebc-68b65dc1704f:archlinux root=/dev/mapper/archlinux rootflags=subvol=@ rw"
+```
+
+Reinstall rEFInd
+```
+refind-install
+```
+
+
+## Creating User
+---
+Create and user account and password. Replace `user` with the username
+```bash
+useradd -mG wheel user
+passwd user
+```
+
+Edit the sudoers to enable sudo access for the user
+```bash
+EDITOR=vim visudo
+```
+
+```diff
+- #%wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL
++ %wheel ALL=(ALL) ALL
+```
+
+Sync the system and reboot
+```
+sync
+exit
+umount -a
+reboot -n
+```
+
+## [Encrypted Swap](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dm-crypt/Swap_encryption)
+---
+Create a Swap Offset
+```bash
+su
+swapoff /dev/sda2
+mkfs.ext2 -L cryptswap /dev/sda2 1M
+#Press y when prompted
+```
+
+Open Cryptab
+```bash
+vim /etc/crypttab
+```
+
+Uncomment the swap 
+```diff
+- #swap      /dev/sd_X#_    /dev/urandom   swap,cipher=aes-cbc-essiv:sha256,size=256
++  swap   LABEL=cryptswap    /dev/urandom   swap,offset=2048,cipher=aes-xts-plain64,size=512
+```
+
+Edit swap entry in fstab
+```diff
+- UUID=ad1cdf6d-010f-43ae-8b64-7b9d54367dda    none      swap    defaults 0    0 
++ /dev/mapper/swap    none      swap    defaults 0    0
+```
+
+Reboot the system and enjoy your completed system :)
+```bash
+exit
+sudo reboot -n
+```