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Installing Arch Linux on a Dell XPS 7390 2-in-1 laptop
# ____________________________________________________________________________
# | |
# | .:: BOOT & PREPARE ::. |
# |____________________________________________________________________________|
# increase font size due to 4k display
setfont latarcyrheb-sun32
# connect to wifi network
wifi-menu
# test connection
ping -c 3 github.com
# ____________________________________________________________________________
# | |
# | .:: FORMAT DISK ::. |
# |____________________________________________________________________________|
# this laptop has an nvme disk, so the disk will most likely be "nvme0n1".
# however, you can verify by issuing the command:
lsblk
# create 2 partitions:
# partition 1:
# - EFI
# - size 512 MiB
# - hex code ef00
# partition 2:
# - Linux/data
# - size 100%
# - hex code 8300
cgdisk /dev/nvme0n1
# format EFI partition
mkfs.vfat -F32 /dev/nvme0n1p1
# create and open encrypted Linux/data partition
cryptsetup luksFormat /dev/nvme0n1p2
cryptsetup open /dev/nvme0n1p2 luks
# create partitions on encrypted disk
# we have 2: root and swap
# for swap we use 16 GiB, as the XPS has 16 GiB of memory
pvcreate /dev/mapper/luks
vgcreate vg0 /dev/mapper/luks
lvcreate --size 16G vg0 --name swap
lvcreate -l +100%FREE vg0 --name root
# format encrypted partition
mkfs.ext4 /dev/mapper/vg0-root
mkswap /dev/mapper/vg0-swap
# mount system
mount /dev/mapper/vg0-root /mnt
swapon /dev/mapper/vg0-swap
mkdir /mnt/boot
mount /dev/nvme0n1p1 /mnt/boot
# ____________________________________________________________________________
# | |
# | .:: INSTALL BASE SYSTEM ::. |
# |____________________________________________________________________________|
# select mirror
# uncomment the mirror closest to you
vim /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
# install base packages
# NOTE: as of recently, the base package doesn't include linux anymore!
pacstrap -i /mnt base base-devel linux linux-headers zsh vim git sudo efibootmgr dialog iw wpa_supplicant
# generate fstab
genfstab -pU /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
# verify and adjust /mnt/etc/fstab
# change "relatime" on all non-boot partitions to "noatime" to reduce wear on the SSD
vim /mnt/etc/fstab
# enter the new system
arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash
# ____________________________________________________________________________
# | |
# | .:: CONFIGURE SYSTEM ::. |
# |____________________________________________________________________________|
# configure locale
# uncomment "en_US.UTF-8"
vim /etc/locale.gen
echo LANG=en_US.UTF-8 > /etc/locale.conf
export LANG=en_US.UTF-8
echo LC_ALL= >> /etc/locale.conf
locale-gen
# configure timezone
tzselect
ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/Europe/Brussels /etc/localtime
hwclock --systohc --utc
# configure font for 4k display
echo 'FONT=latarcyrheb-sun32' >> /etc/vconsole.conf
# configure hostname
# change "<my_hostname>" to one of your choosing
echo '<my_hostname>' > /etc/hostname
echo '127.0.1.1 <my_hostname>.localdomain <my_hostname>' >> /etc/hosts
# configure root password
passwd
# add and configure your user
# change "<my_username>" to one of your choosing
useradd -m -g users -G wheel -s /bin/zsh <my_username>
passwd <my_username>
echo '<my_username> ALL=(ALL) ALL' > /etc/sudoers.d/<my_username>
EDITOR=vim visudo
# ____________________________________________________________________________
# | |
# | .:: INSTALL BOOT LOADER ::. |
# |____________________________________________________________________________|
# install Intel's microcode updates
pacman -S intel-ucode
# configure mkinitcpio with modules needed for the initrd image
# add or update the following to or in /etc/mkinitcpio.conf:
#
# MODULES="i915 ext4 nvme intel_agp"
# BINARIES=""
# FILES="/etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf"
# HOOKS="systemd autodetect modconf block keymap sd-encrypt sd-lvm2 filesystems keyboard"
#
vim /etc/mkinitcpio.conf
# regenerate initrd image
mkinitcpio -p linux
# setup systembootd
bootctl --path=/boot install
# get your LUKS UUID
cryptsetup luksUUID /dev/nvme0n1p2
# create bootloader entry with powersaving
# replace <UUID> with the output of the previous command
# add the following lines to /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf:
#
# title Arch Linux
# linux /vmlinuz-linux
# initrd /intel-ucode.img
# initrd /initramfs-linux.img
# options luks.uuid=<UUID> luks.name=<UUID>=luks root=/dev/mapper/vg0-root resume=/dev/mapper/vg0-swap rw nvme_core.default_ps_max_latency_us=170000
#
vim /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf
# create loader.conf file, and add the following content:
#
# default arch
# timeout 0
# editor 0
#
vim /boot/loader/loader.conf
# enable Intel GPU and powersaving options needed for tear free operation, and battery life
# create the i915 modprobe file (Intel graphics powersaving options), and add the following content:
#
# options i915 enable_rc6=1 enable_fbc=1 semaphores=1 modeset=1 enable_guc_loading=1 enable_guc_submission=1 enable_huc=1 disable_power_well=0 enable_psr=1
#
vim /etc/modprobe.d/i915.conf
# create the X11 Intel config file, and add the following content:
#
# Section "Device"
# Identifier "Intel Graphics"
# Driver "intel"
# Option "AccelMethod"
# EndSection
#
vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf
# update bootloader
bootctl update
# ____________________________________________________________________________
# | |
# | .:: INSTALL DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT & TOOLS ::. |
# |____________________________________________________________________________|
# install GNOME & GDM & networking tools
pacman -S gnome gdm network-manager-applet networkmanager gnome-clocks gnome-software gnome-boxes gnome-calendar gnome-maps gnome-bluetooth gnome-user-share gnome-characters gnome-color-manager gnome-documents gnome-logs gnome-music gnome-photos gnome-todo seahorse file-roller
# install touchpad & graphics
pacman -S xf86-input-libinput xf86-video-intel mesa-libgl vulkan-intel libva-intel-driver
# start GNOME on boot
systemctl enable NetworkManager.service
systemctl enable gdm.service
# reboot and start using Arch
exit
umount -R /mnt
swapoff -a
reboot
# ____________________________________________________________________________
# | |
# | .:: POST INSTALL UTILITIES ::. |
# |____________________________________________________________________________|
# update system
sudo pacman -Syyu
# check if NVME (Toshiba) SSD has powersaving mode enabled
sudo nvme get-feature -f 0x0c -H /dev/nvme0
# ensure Intel Video drivers are used
sudo lspci -s 00:02 -vk
# ensure the following options are set in i915 config:
#
# options i915 modeset=1 enable_rc6=1 enable_fbc=1
#
sudo vim /etc/modprobe.d/i915.conf
# install utilities:
# - basic tools such as bluetooth
# - printing tools
# - dmidecode: for dumping DMI/SMBIOS in human readable format
sudo pacman -Syu terminator gnome-tweak-tool systemd-swap util-linux dosfstools lshw \
bluez bluez-utils bluez-libs bluez-firmware \
cups cups-pdf gtk3-print-backends \
dmidecode \
xdotool wmctrl ffmpeg pulseaudio-alsa pulseaudio-bluetooth alsa-utils
# enable and start Bluetooth
sudo modprobe btusb
sudo systemctl start bluetooth.service
sudo systemctl enable bluetooth.service
# auto enable Bluetooth
# change AutoEnable to true in the [Policy] section:
#
# SET AutoEnable=True
#
sudo vim /etc/bluetooth/main.conf
# enable and start printing service
sudo systemctl start org.cups.cupsd.service
sudo systemctl enable org.cups.cupsd.service
# enable SWAP service
sudo systemctl enable systemd-swap.service
# enable SSD TRIM
sudo systemctl enable fstrim.timer
# install yay
cd <YOUR_DIRECTORY>
git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/yay.git
cd yay
makepkg -si
# install fonts
sudo pacman -S adobe-source-code-pro-fonts adobe-source-han-sans-cn-fonts adobe-source-han-sans-jp-fonts adobe-source-han-sans-kr-fonts adobe-source-han-sans-otc-fonts adobe-source-han-sans-tw-fonts adobe-source-sans-pro-fonts noto-fonts-emoji otf-ipafont ttf-dejavu ttf-hanazono ttf-inconsolata ttf-liberation ttf-roboto ttf-ubuntu-font-family
yay -S ttf-google-fonts-git ttf-ms-fonts
# install some more QOL utilities
sudo pacman -S neofetch etcher steam vlc firefox qt4 thunderbird libreoffice ufw gnome-clocks gnome-software gnome-boxes gnome-calendar gnome-maps gnome-bluetooth gnome-user-share gnome-characters gnome-color-manager gnome-documents gnome-logs gnome-music gnome-photos gnome-todo seahorse file-roller
yay -S etcher-bin brave-bin spotify skypeforlinux-stable-bin timeshift
# hide unwanted desktop file icons
# create a script with the following content:
#
# #!/bin/sh
#
# APPLICATION_PATH="/usr/share/applications"
# USER_APPLICATION_PATH="${HOME}/.local/share/applications"
#
# for FILE in `cat $1`; do
# if [ -e "${APPLICATION_PATH}/${FILE}" ]; then
# echo "Creating file ${USER_APPLICATION_PATH}/${FILE}"
# echo "NoDisplay=true" > "${USER_APPLICATION_PATH}/${FILE}"
# elif [ ! -e "${APPLICATION_PATH}/${FILE}" ] && [ -e "${USER_APPLICATION_PATH}/${FILE}" ]; then
# echo "Deleting unnecessary file ${USER_APPLICATION_PATH}/${FILE}"
# rm "${USER_APPLICATION_PATH}/${FILE}"
# fi
# done
#
vim ~/hide_desktop_icons.sh
# create a list if icons you want to hide with the following content:
#
# assistant-qt4.desktop
# avahi-discover.desktop
# bssh.desktop
# bvnc.desktop
# CMake.desktop
# designer-qt4.desktop
# ipython-qtconsole.desktop
# jconsole.desktop
# linguist-qt4.desktop
# policytool.desktop
# qdbusviewer-qt4.desktop
# qtconfig-qt4.desktop
# qv4l2.desktop
# gda-control-center-5.0.desktop
# gda-browser-5.0.desktop
# nvidia-settings.desktop
# hplip.desktop
# ipython.desktop
# zenmap.desktop
# zenmap-root.desktop
# designer.desktop
# qdbusviewer.desktop
# assistant.desktop
# linguist.desktop
#
vim ~/hide_desktop_icons_list.txt
# execute script
chmod +x hide-icon.sh
./hide-icon.sh list_of_desktop_file_names.txt
# ____________________________________________________________________________
# | |
# | .:: REFERENCES ::. |
# |____________________________________________________________________________|
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Dell_XPS_13_2-in-1_(7390)
https://gist.github.com/huntrar/e42aee630bee3295b2c671d098c81268
https://gist.github.com/chrisleekr/a23e93edc3b0795d8d95f9c70d93eedd
https://gist.github.com/ymatsiuk/1181b514a9c1979088bd2423a24928cf
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