Install ArchLinux (on a VM)

1. Format disk
# fdisk /dev/sda
   n
   Return
   Return
   Return
   Return
   w

2. Create ext4 filesystem
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1

3. Mount the filesystem
# mount -t ext4 /dev/sda1 /mnt

4. Install archlinux and GRUB bootloader
# pacstrap -i /mnt base base-devel grub

5. Generate fstab
# genfstab -U -p /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab

6. Open the system you installed, DO NOT REBOOT
# arch-chroot /mnt /bin/bash

7. Edit locales
# nano /etc/locale.gen
   Uncomment en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
   Uncomment en_US ISO-8859-1

8. Generate locales
# locale-gen

9. Use the locales
# echo LANG=en_US.UTF-8 > /etc/locale.conf
# export LANG=en_US.UTF-8

10. Set timezone
# ln -s /usr/share/zoneinfo/LOCATION/PATH /etc/localtime

11. Set HW clock to UTC
# hwclock --systohc --utc

12. Set your hostname
# echo hosthere > /etc/hostname

13. Set up network
# cp /etc/netctl/examples/ethernet-dhcp /etc/netctl/my_network
# nano /etc/netctl/my_network
   Replace the "Interface=eth0" line with the one shown by the "ip a" command.
# netctl enable my_network

14. Set root password
# passwd

15. Set up the boot loader
# grub-install --recheck /dev/sda
# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

16. Stop the machine
# exit
# umount /mnt
# shutdown

17. Remove the ISO and boot into the drive

************************************************************
*************** INSTALL A DESKTOP ENVIROMENT ***************
************************************************************

1. Create new user and set its password
# useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash usernamehere
# passwd usernamehere

2. Enable sudo
# nano /etc/sudoers
   Scroll down to "root  ALL=(ALL) ALL"
   Add "usernamehere  ALL=(ALL) ALL" below it
Add "NOPASSWD: ALL" instead of the last ALL to allow using sudo without a password.

3. Install graphical stuff
# pacman -S xorg-server xorg-xinit xorg-server-utils mesa xorg-twm xorg-xclock xterm

************* VIRTUALBOX ONLY, OTHERWISE INSTALL GRAPHICS DRIVERS *************
# pacman -S virtualbox-guest-utils
# nano /etc/modules-load.d/virtualbox.conf
   Add vboxguest
   Add vboxsf
   Add vboxvideo
# systemctl enable vboxservice.service
*******************************************************************************

4. Installing LXDE
# pacman -S lxde
# systemctl enable lxdm
# nano /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf
   Uncomment session=/usr/bin/startlxde

4.1 Installing MATE
Installing LightDM and the greeter
# pacman -S lightdm lightdm-gtk-greeter
Install mate
# pacman -S mate

5. Reboot