Hey everyone! I'm pretty new to Linux, and I'm trying to set up Arch Linux as a second operating system on my machine, which already has Cinnamon Mint installed. The problem is, I only have one USB stick, and it's currently flashed with Mint, so I can't just wipe it. I also only have one hard drive. Is there a way to have both Mint and Arch at the same time on my system without using a USB? Any tips would be really appreciated!
3 Answers
You don't need to remove the files from your USB stick! Just flash the Arch ISO directly onto it. I recommend using Balena Etcher; it's straightforward. If you’re looking for more versatility, Ventoy allows you to keep multiple ISOs but might be overkill for your situation. You can just install Balena from the Mint repo with a quick command (`sudo apt install balena-etcher`). After you select your USB and the ISO, you’re good to go! Remember, installing Arch involves some learning curve—especially if you're connecting to the internet after booting from the USB.
It might be a good idea to stick with Mint for now while you get the hang of things. But if you want to give Arch a shot, you can try it in a virtual machine (VM) first. That way, you can play around and learn in a safer environment. Just keep in mind that most tutorials are applicable to a lot of distros, not just Arch!
Familiarizing yourself with Mint and the basic GNU utilities is definitely a smart move before diving into Arch. It’ll make the process much smoother once you start installing and managing your system.
Yeah, take your time with it. If you’re ever confused, searching it up is super helpful! For setting up a VM, I'd suggest VirtualBox. Just be sure to check out recent tutorials on it.