I'm new to the Linux world and want to install Arch Linux as a second operating system alongside my existing Cinnamon Mint. The problem is, I only have a USB that currently has Mint installed, which I can't access to retrieve files. Additionally, I only have one hard drive available. Is there a way to dual boot Mint and Arch without using a USB drive? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
You don't actually need to recover any files from your USB. Just write the Arch ISO directly onto it! I recommend using Balena Etcher, which you can find in the Mint repositories. Just run `sudo apt install balena-etcher`, and it should be straightforward. Select your USB drive, choose the Arch ISO, and click to install it. Also, be prepared—Arch isn’t exactly ‘easy,’ but it’s also not super hard if you take your time and follow the steps carefully. Once you boot from the ISO, connect to the internet (Ethernet is usually easier), and then running `archinstall` in the terminal will help you get started with the installation. Make sure to resize partitions beforehand if you're dual-booting.
If you're just starting out, it might be good to stick with Mint for a bit longer and get comfortable. Installing Arch can be pretty challenging, but you can definitely try it out in a virtual machine (VM) first. That way, you won't risk messing up your current setup. Although many tutorials are specific to Arch, a lot of the concepts will apply across different distributions too!
Great advice! Just remember to take your time with everything. If you're unfamiliar with VirtualBox for your VM setup, search for recent tutorials tailored for Mint—it does take some configuration but is worth it in the long run.