📱 Arch Linux Installation Guide for MacBook Air Mid 2012

Using archinstall (Easy Method)

🚀 QUICK START - 5 STEPS

Boot from USB → Hold Option (⌥) key during startup
Connect WiFi → Follow commands below
Run installer → ./easy-install.sh
Answer prompts → Choose disk and set passwords
Reboot → Remove USB and enjoy!

📋 PART 1: CREATING THE USB INSTALLER

On Windows:

Download Arch Linux ISO: https://archlinux.org/download/
Download Rufus: https://rufus.ie/
Insert USB drive (8GB+)
Run Rufus:
- Select your USB device
- Select Arch Linux ISO
- Partition scheme: GPT
- Target system: UEFI
- Click START

On macOS:

# Download ISO
cd ~/Downloads
curl -O https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/iso/latest/archlinux-x86_64.iso

# Find USB device (usually disk2 or disk3)
diskutil list

# CAREFUL! Replace diskN with your USB device
sudo dd if=archlinux-x86_64.iso of=/dev/rdiskN bs=1m

# Eject when done
diskutil eject /dev/diskN

On Linux:

# Download ISO
wget https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/iso/latest/archlinux-x86_64.iso

# Find USB device
lsblk

# CAREFUL! Replace sdX with your USB device
sudo dd bs=4M if=archlinux-x86_64.iso of=/dev/sdX status=progress oflag=sync

📋 PART 2: BOOTING THE MACBOOK

1. Backup Your Data!

⚠️ THIS WILL ERASE EVERYTHING ON YOUR MACBOOK!

2. Insert USB Drive

3. Restart MacBook and Boot from USB

Hold Option (⌥) key immediately after power on

You'll see a boot menu. Select:

"EFI Boot" or
"USB Drive" or
The orange/yellow USB icon

Press Enter to boot.

4. Wait for Boot

You'll see a lot of text scrolling. This is normal. Eventually you'll get to a prompt that looks like:

root@archiso ~ #

📋 PART 3: CONNECTING TO WIFI (MOST IMPORTANT!)

Method 1: Using iwctl (Recommended)

Step 1: Start iwctl

iwctl

Your prompt will change to:

[iwd]#

Step 2: List your WiFi device

device list

You'll see something like:

Name    Address             Powered
wlan0   12:34:56:78:9a:bc   on

Step 3: Scan for networks

station wlan0 scan

(No output is normal)

Step 4: List available networks

station wlan0 get-networks

You'll see:

Network name              Security
MyHomeWiFi                psk
NeighborWiFi              psk
Guest-Network             open

Step 5: Connect to your network

For secured network (most common):

station wlan0 connect "MyHomeWiFi"

It will ask for password. Type it carefully (you won't see it as you type).

For open network:

station wlan0 connect "Guest-Network"

Step 6: Exit iwctl

exit

Step 7: Test internet

ping -c 3 google.com

Should see:

64 bytes from google.com...

✅ If you see this, WiFi is working!

❌ If you see "Network unreachable", try again from Step 1.

Method 2: Alternative WiFi Setup

If iwctl doesn't work:

# Check WiFi device name
ip link

# Bring interface up
ip link set wlan0 up

# Connect using wpa_supplicant
wpa_passphrase "YourNetworkName" "YourPassword" > /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf
wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf

# Get IP address
dhcpcd wlan0

# Test
ping google.com

Method 3: Using Ethernet (Easiest!)

If you have a USB-to-Ethernet adapter:

Plug it in
Plug in ethernet cable
Wait 5 seconds
Test: ping google.com

That's it! Ethernet usually works immediately.

📋 PART 4: RUNNING THE INSTALLER

Step 1: Download Installation Scripts

Option A: Using the USB (if you saved files on it)

# Mount USB (find device first)
lsblk
mkdir /mnt/usb
mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb  # Adjust device name

# Copy files
cp /mnt/usb/easy-install.sh .
chmod +x easy-install.sh

Option B: Download from internet

# If you uploaded to GitHub/server
curl -O https://your-server.com/easy-install.sh
chmod +x easy-install.sh

Option C: Type it manually (embedded in script)

The script has the config embedded, so you just need to copy the easy-install.sh file!

Step 2: Run Installer

./easy-install.sh

Step 3: Follow the Prompts

The archinstall tool will start. Here's what you'll see:

📺 Screen 1: Language & Mirrors

Keyboard Layout: Press Enter (keeps "us")
Mirror Region: Select your country or nearby (use arrow keys, Space to select, Enter to confirm)

💾 Screen 2: Disk Configuration

Select disk: Choose your MacBook's disk (usually /dev/sda)
Disk layout: Choose "Ext4" (simplest)
Erase disk: Confirm "Yes"

👤 Screen 3: User Setup

Root password: Type a secure password (you won't see it)
Create user: Should already be "martin"
User password: Type a secure password for martin
Sudo access: Should already be "yes"

🖥️ Screen 4: Desktop Environment

Should already be set to "Deepin"
Press Enter to continue

🎵 Screen 5: Audio

Should be "pipewire"
Press Enter

✅ Screen 6: Confirm

Review everything
Select "Install"
Confirm one more time

Step 4: Wait

Installation takes 15-30 minutes depending on internet speed.

You'll see:

[#################] 45%

☕ This is a good time for coffee!

📋 PART 5: FIRST BOOT

1. Remove USB Drive

When installation finishes:

Remove USB drive
Type: reboot

2. Boot into New System

MacBook will restart. You'll see:

GRUB bootloader (black screen with "Arch Linux")
Press Enter or wait 3 seconds
Deepin loading screen

3. Login

Deepin Login Screen appears!

Username: martin
Password: (what you set during installation)

4. First Time Setup

Deepin will ask a few questions:

Language: English
Keyboard: US
Time zone: Europe/Skopje (should be set)

📋 PART 6: POST-INSTALLATION

1. Check Welcome File

Open Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T) and:

cat WELCOME.txt

2. Change Your Password

passwd

Type new password twice.

3. Update System

sudo pacman -Syu

Enter your password when asked.

4. Install Microsoft Edge

./install-edge.sh

This takes about 10 minutes. It will:

Install yay (AUR helper)
Download and build Microsoft Edge
Install Edge

Once done, you'll find Edge in the application menu!

5. Test WiFi

WiFi should connect automatically. To manage WiFi:

Click the network icon in top bar
Select your network
Enter password if needed

Or from terminal:

nmtui

🔧 TROUBLESHOOTING

WiFi Not Working After Installation

sudo systemctl start NetworkManager
sudo systemctl enable NetworkManager

Or manually:

sudo modprobe -r b43
sudo modprobe wl
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Screen Brightness Not Working

# Add kernel parameter
sudo vim /boot/loader/entries/arch.conf
# Add: acpi_backlight=vendor

Keyboard Backlight Not Working

sudo pacman -S kbdlight

Trackpad Too Fast/Slow

Open Control Center
Go to Devices → Mouse
Adjust pointer speed

Sound Not Working

alsamixer  # Press F6 to select sound card, unmute with 'M'

📚 USEFUL COMMANDS

Package Management

# Install package
sudo pacman -S package-name

# Remove package
sudo pacman -R package-name

# Search for package
pacman -Ss keyword

# Update everything
sudo pacman -Syu

# Install from AUR
yay -S package-name

System Information

neofetch              # System info
htop                  # Task manager
df -h                 # Disk space
free -h               # RAM usage
ip addr               # IP address

Network

nmtui                 # Network manager TUI
nmcli device wifi     # List WiFi networks
iwctl                 # WiFi configuration tool

📦 RECOMMENDED SOFTWARE

After Installation:

# Development
yay -S visual-studio-code-bin

# Communication
sudo pacman -S telegram-desktop discord

# Media
sudo pacman -S vlc mpv

# Office
sudo pacman -S libreoffice-fresh

# Utilities
yay -S google-chrome
yay -S slack-desktop
yay -S zoom

🆘 GETTING HELP

Arch Wiki: https://wiki.archlinux.org
MacBook Arch: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/MacBook
Forum: https://bbs.archlinux.org/

✅ CHECKLIST

Before installation:

Backup all important data
Created Arch Linux USB
MacBook plugged in or >50% battery
Know your WiFi password

After installation:

📝 NOTES FOR MACBOOK AIR MID 2012

What Works:

✅ WiFi (Broadcom BCM4360) ✅ Bluetooth ✅ Graphics (Intel HD 4000) ✅ Trackpad (multi-touch) ✅ Keyboard + backlight ✅ Screen brightness ✅ Audio (speakers + headphones) ✅ USB ports ✅ Thunderbolt (as USB) ✅ Battery indicator ✅ FaceTime camera

What Needs Tweaking:

⚠️ Battery life (install TLP for better life) ⚠️ Sleep/suspend (may need tweaking) ⚠️ Fan control (install mbpfan)

To Improve Battery Life:

sudo pacman -S tlp tlp-rdw
sudo systemctl enable tlp
sudo systemctl start tlp

To Control Fans:

yay -S mbpfan-git
sudo systemctl enable mbpfan
sudo systemctl start mbpfan

Good luck! You're going to love Arch Linux! 🎉

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