CachyOS: Beginner’s Installation & Setup Guide

A simple, straightforward guide to downloading, flashing, and installing CachyOS—an Arch Linux-based distribution optimized for speed, low latency, and modern gaming.

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🚀 Why Choose CachyOS?

CachyOS is designed to make Arch Linux fast and easy to use without the complicated manual setup.

• Optimized Performance: Uses custom x86-64 CPU-optimized packages (v3/v4) for faster app launches and smoother system responsiveness.
• Gaming Ready: Includes out-of-the-box support for Nvidia/AMD graphics drivers, Steam, Lutris, Proton, and custom kernel tweaks for gaming performance.
• Beginner Friendly Installer: Uses the Calamares graphical installer so you can set up your system visually without typing terminal commands.

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1. Pre-Installation Checklist

Before starting, make sure you have:

• A USB flash drive (8GB or larger).
• An active internet connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi).
• Backed up any important files on your PC and USB drive.

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2. Downloading CachyOS

Always get the official ISO file directly from the source:

• Official Website: cachyos.org
• SourceForge / Mirrors: Select the Desktop Edition ISO (x86-64-v3 if supported by your CPU, or the standard x86-64 build).

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3. Creating a Bootable USB Drive

On Windows (Using Rufus):

1. Plug in your USB drive.
2. Open Rufus and select your USB drive under Device.
3. Click Select and choose the downloaded CachyOS ISO.
4. Set the partition scheme to GPT (for modern UEFI systems).
5. Click Start (if prompted, choose DD Image mode).

On Linux (Using Ventoy or BalenaEtcher):

• You can simply copy the ISO file onto a Ventoy USB drive or write it using BalenaEtcher.

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4. Booting and Installing

1. Shut down your PC and plug in the bootable USB drive.
2. Power on your PC and hit your motherboard’s Boot Menu Key (usually F12, F11, F8, or Del).
3. Select your USB drive from the UEFI boot options.
4. Once the live desktop loads, click Launch Installer.
5. Follow the step-by-step setup:
   • Language & Location: Set your keyboard layout and timezone.
   • Desktop Environment: Select your preferred desktop layout (KDE Plasma is recommended for beginners).
   • Partitioning: Choose Erase Disk for a clean install, or manually partition if dual-booting alongside Windows.
   • User Setup: Enter your username and password.
6. Click Install and wait for the process to complete. Reboot when finished and remove the USB drive.

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5. Recommended Post-Install Steps

Once you log in for the first time:

A. Update the System

Open a terminal and refresh your package database:

sudo cachyos-bugreport
sudo pacman -Syu