Hey everyone! So, I recently got inspired to try out Arch Linux after watching Pewdiepie's video where he talks about it. My friend and I have been interested in Linux for a while, but we never really took the plunge until now. After Felix built his PC and installed Linux Mint and Arch on his laptop, I realized how cool it is to customize your desktop. Therefore, I'm deciding to give Arch a shot, despite knowing it's not recommended for beginners. I plan to dual-boot it on an old extra HDD I have. Just a bit worried about how to set that up properly and if it's the right choice for me. Any tips or guidance would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
I really recommend starting with Linux Mint first rather than jumping straight into Arch. Since you’re new to Linux, Mint will provide a smoother experience for beginners. Once you get the hang of it, you can consider moving to Arch if you really want that challenge!
To get started with Linux, here are some steps you can follow: 1. Download the ISO from the Arch or Mint website. 2. Use a tool like Balena Etcher to flash the ISO onto a USB drive. 3. Plug in the USB, restart your PC, and enter your BIOS (usually pressing F2 during boot). 4. Set the USB drive as the highest boot priority. 5. Save and restart. You should boot into a live session to test things out before installing!
If you want to dual-boot, I advise against using an HDD because it might lead to frustrating performance issues. Instead, if you're committed to trying Arch, consider using an Arch-based distro like EndeavourOS or CachyOS—they're more beginner-friendly! Also, check out a good tutorial online for guidance.
Thanks for the tip! I’ll look into those options.