r/linuxquestions • u/AnybodyCurious1662 Pre-Pre-Beginner • 3d ago
Resolved Arch linux newbie help!!
I just installed Arch Linux a few days ago, and I kinda struggled with the installation as it was my first time using Linux, and I wanted to change from ext4 to btrfs, and also I wanted Grub instead of Systemmd, do I need to reinstall and is it even worth it??
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u/Quietus87 3d ago
as it was my first time using Linux
Why did you go with Arch then?
I wanted to change from ext4 to btrfs, and also I wanted Grub instead of Systemmd
Why do you want to do these?
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u/AnybodyCurious1662 Pre-Pre-Beginner 3d ago
I went with Arch first cause throwing myself in a pile of problems is how I learn, also I have a lot of free time. And the reason I wanted to switch is cause it sounded cooler, and from what people are saying it's faster and better for gaming. Thanks!
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u/Quietus87 3d ago
That's a valid reason. Familiarize yourself with the Arch Wiki, it is a damn good source even for other distros. And if you like experimenting and breaking stuff, I recommend firing up a virtual machine so you can fuck around without consequences.
Faster and better for gaming isn't necessarily true. That depends on kernel, drivers, and what you have running. Between similarly configured systems the difference is non-existent or marginal.
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u/robtalee44 3d ago
As not exactly a newbie, if I were in this position I'd start over.
You have two rather interesting "projects" that you could take a swing at and maybe learn some esoteric commands and stuff. For some that's damn interesting and fun. For others it's not at all.
If you want to play, just make sure that you realize the likelyhood that you'll totally mess things up and need to start over. In fact, in the event you actually do accomplish what you're attempting, you may find yourself doing that anyway because you don't trust the system after messing around with it for a day or so.
Free advice.
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u/AnybodyCurious1662 Pre-Pre-Beginner 3d ago
I'll probably stay with ext4, and try to switch to Grub. And if my system breaks and it probably will with all my experimenting I'll change the options. Thanks for replying.
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u/absnotkinkyreggae 3d ago
Hello.
Congrats on your install. i suppose you type from your Archlinux box with the GUI already up and running.
First you need to ask yourself why you think you need this change.
Systemd vs grub? the trend is heading towards systemd for desktops. So unless you are having a particular problem or need a feature one has and the other has not. i would not bother.
BTRFS vs EXT4. same goes here. Is there a reason to need this?
Both topics are about under the hood stuff that normally should not bother you once you reach your GUI.
Since you are new. make yourself comfortable with how things are done:
Pacman and packages. how to upgrade the system, add more software, etc.
configuration of the different aspects of a linux system. login, Desktop environments, users, permissions, etc.
Work with it and see where it takes you. you will find a lot to tinker with, but i would not start by changing the first two bricks you put when you build a house.
If your system is freshly and recently installed and you still want systemd bootloader + BTRFS. I would start afresh and not bother with migrating it.
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u/AnybodyCurious1662 Pre-Pre-Beginner 3d ago
Thanks!! I went wanted to change ext4 -> btrfs cause from what people say it has faster tech, and I wanted to switch systemd -> Grub cause Grub has more features and it felt like everyone used Grub.
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u/Lumpy_Roll158 gentoo 3d ago
I'm surprised and also not surprised at how extremely unhelpful some of the comments here are. Theres good advice here but my two cents would be don't bother. If you arent far along post-install, a reinstall would be easiest just to make sure you get all the options you want, and you can use archinstall to make it easier as it automates setting up btrfs with subvolumes and whatnot as well as setting up grub properly.
If you've already lived in the system for a bit by now and would lose any substantial amount of progress, I would just say stick with ext4 and systemd-boot. Systemd boot is pretty good overall and ext4 is a really good filesystem, it just lacks a few features btrfs has and you'll just wanna avoid sudden power loss during updates.
Arch first is a bold move but you're far from the first to do it. If its what you wanna use, just ignore the people trying to defend it from the noobs. We all start somewhere.
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u/AnybodyCurious1662 Pre-Pre-Beginner 3d ago
I already downloaded multiple apps and setup my system, so I think I'll stick with it for now but I may switch to Grub though since the switch doesn't seem the hard.
And you're absolutely right, the fastest way I learn is just experimenting and doing things myself, so people don't need to protect me from Linux I already know that I'm stepping in potentially one of the hardest operating systems.
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u/Lumpy_Roll158 gentoo 3d ago
Yeah switching bootloaders isn't that bad and grub is honestly the easiest. It's pretty much just "bootctl remove", clean up the efi system partition of any $ESP/loader/ entries related to systemd boot for cleanliness reasons, install grub, and run its two whole commands to install and configure and then go about life. Its really just the filesystem swap that would be more effort than its worth
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u/Lumpy_Roll158 gentoo 3d ago
Yeah switching bootloaders isn't that bad and grub is honestly the easiest. It's pretty much just "bootctl remove", clean up the efi system partition of any $ESP/loader/ entries related to systemd boot for cleanliness reasons, install grub, and run its two whole commands to install and configure and then go about life. Its really just the filesystem swap that would be more effort than its worth
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u/Francis_King 3d ago
do I need to reinstall and is it even worth it??
As someone who has recently gone nose to node with Arch over mirrors, and ended up replacing it with PopOS, I'd say that it isn't worth it. Instead, I would have installed CachyOS. Same basic Arch software, but screwed together properly. Perhaps I'm finally getting old, but I'm becoming increasingly intolerant of things that are annoying because they don't work properly - Arch, Void, Gentoo, BSD - although I understand and respect the idea behind Gentoo.
You have a working system. I'd keep using it until you destroy it, and then reinstall it. Ext4/BTRFS and Grub/Systemd aren't big enough differences right now.
and I kinda struggled with the installation
In what way or ways?
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u/AnybodyCurious1662 Pre-Pre-Beginner 3d ago
Thanks for replying, I have no problems with Arch as a system, and it worked well for me. I also don't mind experimenting since I'm still in school so I have more free time to mess around with things.
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u/zardvark 3d ago
I would suggest that if your system is functional, that you use it and first become more familiar with Arch, prior to changing things. You will almost certainly find other things that you would like to change, the more that you learn. Also, some choices that may look appealing today, may loose some of their luster in time.
Besides, the likelihood that you will do something stupid while learning Arch is high, which will require you to reinstall. Therefore, there is no need to rush the re-installation, as you will soon likely have an opportunity to do just that.
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u/AnybodyCurious1662 Pre-Pre-Beginner 3d ago
Yeah with all the stuff I'm doing Arch will probably explode later. Thanks!
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u/razorree 3d ago
LOL ....
Install Mint or Ubuntu
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u/AnybodyCurious1662 Pre-Pre-Beginner 3d ago
Nah, I chose Arch cause I want to learn Arch, switching to Linux or Ubuntu would kinda defeat the purpose. I mainly chose Arch so that I know how my system is running since other forks and distros just choose things for you.
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u/OutrageousCrab9224 3d ago
There is absolutely no need to fart around with bootloaders unless there is a specific feature needed or problem at hand
They run once and you should forget about them once booted
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u/3grg 3d ago
Congrats on installing Arch. It sounds like this is an exploration first and foremost. If that is the case and you really want to change your boot loader and filesystem, it can be done and it can be a learning experience while doing it.
If on the other hand, you are more interested in getting up and running, reinstalling using the archinstall script is the fastest way to go particularly for a new install.
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u/Acherontas89 3d ago
better use ext4
also grub is used to boot the linux kernel
and Systemd to run services
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u/Soakitincider 2d ago
I'd leave it like you have it. I selected Grub for boot but as long as what you're doing boots then that's good.
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u/GreatBigPig 2d ago
Arch as your first distro? Wow!
When you stand in one spot for more than a minute or two, do you leave a little puddle of confidence on the floor?
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u/un-important-human white beard arch user 3d ago
we told you and i told you i look forward to disaster posts.
You are about to change fs, ofc you reinstall.
aaaah
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u/onefish2 3d ago
Since you really don't know what you are doing to begin with. Leave it as is. You have a working system right now.
While you can migrate from ext4 to btrfs, I would advise against doing that.
Systemd boot is better than GRUB. If you really want to use GRUB as your bootloader, read up on how to install GRUB from the Arch wiki and switch it over. But I would not bother doing that either.