# Arch Linux Installation Notes

## Pre-Installation Checklist
- [x] Download Arch Linux ISO
- [x] Create bootable USB drive
- [x] Backup any important data on ThinkPad
- [x] Note ThinkPad hardware specs for driver compatibility

## Installation Steps
### Boot and Initial Setup
- [x] Boot from USB
- [x] Set keyboard layout if needed: `loadkeys us`
- [x] Verify UEFI boot: `ls /sys/firmware/efi/efivars`
- [x] Connect to internet (wifi-menu or ethernet)

### Partitioning
- [x] List disks: `fdisk -l`
- [x] Create partitions (EFI, swap, root)
- [x] Format partitions
- [x] Mount filesystems

### Base System Installation
- [x] Update package database: `pacman -Sy`
- [x] Install base system: `pacstrap /mnt base linux linux-firmware`
- [x] Generate fstab: `genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab`
- [x] Chroot: `arch-chroot /mnt`

### System Configuration
- [x] Set timezone
- [x] Configure locale
- [x] Set hostname
- [x] Configure network
- [x] Set root password
- [x] Install bootloader (GRUB)
- [x] Create user account with sudo privileges

## Post-Installation Priorities
- [x] Install SSH server: `pacman -S openssh`
- [x] Enable SSH service: `systemctl enable sshd`
- [x] Create user account with proper sudo access
- [x] Basic network configuration

See [arch-linux-setup.md](arch-linux-setup.md) for comprehensive post-installation tasks.