IS YOUR COMPUTER READY FOR LINUX?

BIOS – UEFI – MOTHERBOARD SETTINGS

When you boot up your computer, every pc lets you get into the BIOS or SETUP be sure you have set everything correct so you can install Linux on your computer.

You should be able to boot from the usb via a keyboard shortcut  for example F8 and if you are planning to install virtual box or any other similar application you need to enable virtualization.

Here you can find everything you need to know about install linux on your computer.

Here you can find various articles about Bios and Uefi settings on different computers.

VIRTUALBOX OR REAL METAL

Before installing a linux distribution, you can first try it out in VirtualBox or other virtual machines.

As a matter of fact ArcoLinuxD is fine-tuned to work smoothly on VirtualBox. All packages are pre-installed.

You need to use the proper settings in VirtualBox.

You can end up with a non responding system (not enough RAM, not enough cores, not enough harddisk space).

You can end up with the wrong resolution (wrong choice of the graphics controller).

Here you can find all our articles about VirtualBox and virtual machines in general

BURN ON USB

We recommend using a USB to install ArcoLinuxD.

Here you can find our article about burning an ISO to usb.

YOU WILL BOOT UP IN A BARE XFCE DESKTOP WHY?

We use XFCE as means to install ArcoLinuxD.

It is the most minimal graphical Arch Linux based ISO.

You need to choose how to proceed.

Either use the installer to install the software and desktop(s) you want.

Either use our scripts to install the software and desktop(s) you want. Info about scripts.

HOW TO INSTALL ARCOLINUXD

It takes several screens to install ArcoLinuxD and will take approx. 15 minutes to install on newer hardware.

Thanks to Calamares you will have a simple and clean graphical interface.

Calamares is changing with every release. Every new release of ArcoLinuxD we use the latest calamares installer.

Over time you will see some changes in our Calamares installer.

You can always report issues on the github of calamares. It is the only way to improve calamares.

Calamares is not an ArcoLinux product.

WHAT IS ARCOLINUXD

sArcoLinuxD is the most minimal ISO. If you do not install any packages, it is the most bare version we have and it can give you the Arch Linux look and feel.

There is no

• • • bluetooth
    • printers
    • sound

You will still need to install those with our scripts from the ArcoLinuxD githubs. This does not change.

With the latest version of Calamares you have the freedom to choose what packages to install on the fly. Internet connection is required.

You can select if you want a different kernel or decide to install nvidia packages.

You can decide to install the microcode.

As extra option you can also use one of 4 available display managers

1. 1. lightdm
   2. sddm
   3. gdm
   4. lxdm
   5. ly

You select any of the additional software from the list.

We have created an ArcoLinux-meta-steam packages to install steam the efficient way.

We have created an ArcoLinux-meta-fun package to install all the ‘fun’ packages.

Choose either Libre Office Fresh or Libre Office Still.

Choose either Virtualbox for linux or linux-lts kernel.

If you change the language in Calamares, you will also change the language of Libre Office

Internet connection is required

OLD SETUP

See that you know your (graphical) hardware – inxi -b, probe, neofetch will give a summary of what you have. Laptops often have labels of Amd/Ati or Nvidia on them.

Hardware with Intel and Amd graphical cards use option 2 as a first choice or option 1.

Hardware with newer Nvidia cards use option 3 or option 4.

Hardware with older Nvidia cards use option 1 or option 2. If they want they can install lateron Nvidia 340, 390 or 470.

If all of the above fails, then you use the nomodeset option.

NEW SETUP

See that you know your (graphical) hardware – inxi -b, probe, neofetch will give a summary of what you have. Laptops often have labels of Amd/Ati or Nvidia on them.

Virtual machines and hardware with Intel and Amd graphical cards use option 1.

Hardware with newer Nvidia cards use option 2.

If all of the above fails, then you use the nomodeset option.

To ease the transition we added first some “commentary”  without xf86-video drivers.

Both images will do exactly the same thing.

Remember to change liveuser into your login name if you choose SDDM as displaymanager.

nsddmk

ALL ARCOLINUXD INSTALLATION VIDEOS EVER CREATED

First update your computer

update

Arch Linux and ArcoLinux packages will be updated

skel

Skel is essential for Tiling Window Managers as the code for the desktop is still in /etc/skel. We move the configs to our home directory.

upall

AUR packages will be updated

Then we enable the display manager of our choice (normally automatically activated)

sudo systemctl enable lightdm

sudo systemctl enable sddm

sudo systemctl enable gdm

sudo systemctl enable lxdm

sudo systemctl enable ly

then you reboot and you will boot into a graphical environment.

sudo reboot

We have added a script that will enable the display manager that is present on the system.

Enjoy your exploration of your system/dektop. You will find many tutorials in the menu. They are arranged per desktop and in our learning phases. We started making videos with the number 1 and then continued numbering them.

The intention is that you start with number 1 and move up in the numbering. Sometimes the numbering starts to make no sense.
Here you can read why that is.

Everyone has a particular way how to set up his system. Once set up you want to make sure the configs are saved for a later installation.
We advise you to learn how to use github. You will find more info in this article.

Playlist of all installation videos