you need to load the kernel first; kernel panic! unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0) | Arch Linux Community | Page 1

visual escarp Mar 13, 2026, 1:49 PM

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specs:
acer predator helios 300 laptop
nvidia graphics
intel cpu
sata ssd

problem: I cannot boot into arch after installation. All goes well until it’s time to boot without the live USB.

my „fixes” to resolve the issue:

disabling secure boot
checking to see if drive is correctly enabled in bios
reinstalling grub
regenerating initramfs
running pacman -S linux linux-firmware
retrying the install using a new USB formatted with rufus on windows using DD mode on a cleared SSD that I tested for corruption in my windows machine

any information will help cause i have never been able to actually install linux on any computer - always ends up not booting and i just reinstall windows lol 😔😔

visual escarp Mar 13, 2026, 4:04 PM

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after another reinstall however this time using archinstall this is what i got

quick crescent Mar 13, 2026, 4:45 PM

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visual escarp after another reinstall however this time using archinstall this is what i got

Something is wrong, you did disabel Fast Boot and Secure Boot, right?

quick crescent Mar 13, 2026, 4:45 PM

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visual escarp after another reinstall however this time using archinstall this is what i got

... chroot

wanton turtleBOT Mar 13, 2026, 4:45 PM

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#18416 📣 1. Boot your PC into the ISO
2. Run:
lsblk -fs
-# this should show the available drives, partitions, their size and the FS on them. Use this to figure out what drive/partition your / is located on.
3. Run:
mount /dev/root_drive /mnt
-# replace /dev/root_drive with the path to your root partition you identified in step 2.
4. Run:
arch-chroot /mnt
-# this will let you puppeteer your system without actually booting it.
5. Run:
mount -a
-# this will try to mount everything configured in your systems fstab.

visual escarp Mar 13, 2026, 4:46 PM

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quick crescent Something is wrong, you did disabel Fast Boot and Secure Boot, right?

yes

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this is what it boots to on different hardware

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oh wait this is arch i managed to log in

quick crescent Mar 13, 2026, 4:48 PM

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visual escarp oh wait this is arch i managed to log in

Yeah.

visual escarp Mar 13, 2026, 4:49 PM

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do you think this means that its some type of problem with my laptop/bios?

quick crescent Mar 13, 2026, 4:49 PM

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visual escarp this is what it boots to on different hardware

Is that an external drive?

visual escarp Mar 13, 2026, 4:49 PM

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quick crescent Is that an external drive?

no internal

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the same drive i had in the laptop

quick crescent Mar 13, 2026, 4:50 PM

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visual escarp the same drive i had in the laptop

Did you take it out from the laptop?

visual escarp Mar 13, 2026, 4:50 PM

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yes

quick crescent Mar 13, 2026, 4:50 PM

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visual escarp yes

Then it's an issue with the laptop.

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Does the laptop have UEFI?

visual escarp Mar 13, 2026, 4:51 PM

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yes

quick crescent Mar 13, 2026, 4:52 PM

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visual escarp yes

Show it in the BIOS.

visual escarp Mar 13, 2026, 4:55 PM

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quick crescent Mar 13, 2026, 4:57 PM

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visual escarp

What's the other option instead of UEFI?

visual escarp Mar 13, 2026, 5:09 PM

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legacy

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everything seems to be working when booting from pc ill try the disk back inside my laptop and try to work something out now knowing that my installation works