Manual Arch installation guide for Beginners

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Installing Arch Linux with GNOME can be a bit more involved, but it’s a great choice for a user-friendly desktop environment. Here’s a step-by-step guide to install arch manually:

Step 1: Download and Create a Bootable USB

Visit the Arch Linux download page and download the ISO image.
Use a tool like Rufus (on Windows), dd (on Linux), or BalenaEtcher (on macOS, Linux, and Windows) to create a bootable USB drive.

Step 2: Boot from the USB and Prepare the Installation Environment

Insert the USB into your computer and boot from it. Adjust the boot order in your system’s BIOS/UEFI if necessary.
Once in the live environment, ensure you have an internet connection.
Verify the system clock with:
```
timedatectl set-ntp true
```

Step 3: Partition the Disk

Use a partitioning tool (e.g., cfdisk or gdisk) to partition your disk. Create partitions for root (/), swap, and, if desired, a separate home (/home) partition.

Step 4: Format and Mount Partitions

Format the partitions using mkfs. For example:

mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX1    # Format root partition
mkswap /dev/sdX2       # Format swap partition
swapon /dev/sdX2       # Enable swap

Mount the root partition to /mnt:
```
mount /dev/sdX1 /mnt
```

Step 5: Install the Base System

Use pacstrap to install the base system, along with the GNOME desktop environment and other necessary packages:
```
pacstrap /mnt base base-devel linux linux-firmware gnome gdm networkmanager
```

Step 6: Generate an Fstab File

Generate an fstab file to define how disk partitions should be mounted:
```
genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
```

Step 7: Chroot into the Installed System

Enter the new system with arch-chroot:
```
arch-chroot /mnt
```

Step 8: Set Time Zone, Locale, and Network Configuration

Set your time zone:

ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Region/City /etc/localtime

Uncomment the desired locale in /etc/locale.gen and generate the locale:
```
locale-gen
```
Create a hostname file and edit /etc/hosts:
```
echo yourhostname > /etc/hostname
```

Step 9: Set Root Password and Create a User

Set the root password:
```
passwd
```

Create a regular user and set its password:

useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash yourusername
passwd yourusername

Step 10: Install and Configure GRUB

Install GRUB bootloader:

pacman -S grub
grub-install --target=i386-pc /dev/sdX    # Replace sdX with your disk
grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Step 11: Enable GNOME Services

Enable the GDM (GNOME Display Manager) and NetworkManager services:
```
systemctl enable gdm
systemctl enable NetworkManager
```

Step 12: Exit, Unmount, and Reboot

Exit the chroot environment:
```
exit
```
Unmount all partitions:
```
umount -R /mnt
```
Reboot your system:
```
reboot
```

After rebooting, you should be greeted by the GNOME login screen. Log in with the user credentials you created during the installation.

This guide provides a comprehensive step-by-step process for installing Arch Linux with the GNOME desktop environment. Remember to adapt the instructions according to your specific preferences and hardware. Always refer to the official Arch Linux installation guide for the latest information and troubleshooting tips.