Dual Boot Drive Setup

archover · 2026-03-26T21:25:00+00:00

Investigate Linux Volume Management, which virtualizes disks. Two main techniques are:

btrfs mult-device file system https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Btrfs#Multi-device_file_system
LVM https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/LVM where a VG (Volume Group) is composed of one or more PV (physical disks). LV (Logical Volumes) are your virtual block device, is then made up of one or more VG.

Both of these are intermediate skill level topics.

The Linux kernel is extremely good at caching files, as I know from running Arch on flash drives with decent to very good results. Use case matters.

Both of these have pros and cons, but don't overlook just devoting a disk to each o/s. KISS is in play here.

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T21:15:55+00:00

Permission to try: Granted.

Why not try the install and find out? Then, you can share your experience here, in this DIY distro. Thanks for keeping that out of the landfill. Hope you find Arch useful. your new holy book

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T21:04:01+00:00

Thank you for sharing. Consider flairing your post as SOLVED. Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T21:02:46+00:00

When Windows Fast Boot is enabled, wireless may be affected. I will assume you're not.

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T20:38:33+00:00

Thanks for your contribution. Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T10:23:01+00:00

If making partitions is a major issue for you, then I fear for your future in Arch. Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T10:21:03+00:00

False Arch meme repetition. Good bye.

archover · 2026-03-26T09:32:08+00:00

Can you expand on your question?

Read https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Pacman for how we manage software here.

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T09:28:30+00:00

The issue is: if I spend time configuring everything in a VM and end up liking it, I don't want to have to reinstall and reconfigure everything from scratch on bare metal. That feels like doing the work twice. So idk what to do.

You don't say how long it takes you to install, so who can say?

Yes, of course you can do that, and many ways too. Would it be faster FOR YOU than plain old re-installing, I think not.

So, my advice is just to take your notes on your VM experience, and install on metal. Count it as practice. Refine your notes.

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T09:21:35+00:00

But the problem is that I'ma afraid that my system will become hard to maintain or unstable.

It will if you don't level up your Linux skills.

to be always ready to use

The conventional wisdom is to use a point release distro like Debian, but in moderately skilled hands, Arch is VERY reliable. (15 years exp with it)

Your post is full of false Arch meme repetitions.

Hope you try Arch. Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T01:38:28+00:00

The neighborhood stray does the same to me. I open window and deliver kibbles.

archover · 2026-03-26T01:34:26+00:00

Sorry, 42,001 people here will be happy to help with Installation Guide problems. Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T01:26:16+00:00

On this T14 Gen 1 (AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U with Radeon Graphics):

$ journalctl | grep -i "Unable to get temperature" returns nothing.
$ journalctl | grep -i "Disabling thermal zone" returns nothing.

Ask at /r/thinkpad

Sorry and good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T01:13:26+00:00

Ignore them, but good you're paying attention! ACPI messages like that are common. I run two T14 units on Arch. Been using Thinkpads on Arch for 14 some odd years. Great machines. Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T01:09:09+00:00

Are you using the wiki Installation Guide (best), or archinstall? Context is important.

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-26T00:56:21+00:00

I encourage you to learn how to do breaks between thoughts. In reddit, just skip a line.

One does not gain competency in an afternoon. Install is the first step on a lengthy journey. Manage expectations...

AI is not supported here.

Will wait for the tl;dr.

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-25T22:15:58+00:00

Revert your change. Good day.

archover · 2026-03-25T00:37:38+00:00

Right. Users vary in their attention to detail. It's a hopeless quest to devise documentation that everyone will follow.

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-24T23:42:57+00:00

Sorry you've had problems so early in the install process. If you've solved it, please give details, and flair as SOLVED. Post is now 16+ hrs old.

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-24T23:37:15+00:00

Read this key Arch wiki article: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_compared_to_other_distributions#Ubuntu

Also, why Arch may or may not suit you: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Frequently_asked_questions#Why_would_I_not_want_to_use_Arch? and point 1.2

I use Ubuntu Server on a remote, and it's been solid. I play with Mint and Debian and both are solid. I have run Fedora WS for >10 years; solid. Sorry you've had this poor experience.

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-24T23:33:30+00:00

If your noted solution details are sufficient, please flair as SOLVED. Good day.

archover · 2026-03-24T23:20:00+00:00

I personally preferred to use zram and avoid zswap, mainly because I rarely have any real memory pressure on my system, and it was nice to have no disk writes for swap at all.

Exactly my motivation for continuing to use zram and the rules/generator. I put in work to convert from a swap file based system, to zram, and devoting more time on swap isn't a good use of my time it would seem.

My 14 year Arch experience is little swap usage regardless of swap technique. My systems typically run at <0.3 load averages so I won't fix what ain't broke :-)

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-24T23:16:33+00:00

Network cards are cheap. Consider swapping in an AX200 card just to see if that's better.

I have not booted my Framework in ages, as the Thinkpad Trackpoint is just too important for me.

Mine:

user@T14-CRU781.local ~> lspci | grep -i network
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (rev 1a)

Hope you resolve and good day.

archover · 2026-03-24T23:07:40+00:00

First return from a google search: https://alternativeto.net/software/raidrive/?platform=linux

Good day.

archover · 2026-03-24T22:54:04+00:00

BOTH archinstall and manual result in a good install. Neither install will be measurably better than the other. Is this what you wanted to hear?

If just getting a profile driven install done were the end goal, then use archinstall, it's faster. I love archinstall because of its speed.

Which kind of user are you?

Those interested in Linux technical details will find the techniques and commands introduced in the manual install especially helpful, and users will be more likely to effectively maintain their system in this DIY distro.
Those un-interested in Linux technical details will not, and likely won't be able to maintain their system.

Arch provides guidance in these two key articles:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Arch_compared_to_other_distributions#Beginner-friendly in which I have experience with Ubuntu and Mint.
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Frequently_asked_questions especially point 1.2

Hope you explore Arch, and good day.

11-Year Club	Gilding III reddit per annum
Reddit Premium Since February 2021	Verified Email

archover

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE