USER GUIDE

Memora Installation

Hello, friend! Welcome to Memora OS. This guide is written specially for beginners who have never installed Linux before. We will walk through it together, step-by-step!

1. Installation Requirements

Before we start installing, let's make sure your computer is fully prepared. Think of this as gathering your tools before building something:

  • Bootable USB: Your Memora ISO file must be written/flashed onto a USB flash drive.
  • Storage Space: At least 30GB of empty space on your computer hard drive.
  • Internet: A stable internet connection (WiFi or LAN cable).
  • Data Backup: All your important files safely copied to an external drive or cloud (just in case!).
  • Architecture: A computer that supports 64-bit systems and UEFI Boot Mode.
Important Warning

The installation process will erase files on the partition you choose. Please ensure your important photos, documents, and files are backed up safely before proceeding!

2. Downloading the Memora ISO File

1. Open your web browser and visit the official website on the download page:

memora.yuros.org
Memora OS Website

2. Click Download to get the Memora ISO file.

Download Memora ISO

3. Wait until the download process is finished and make sure the ISO file is downloaded perfectly without any interruptions.

3. Downloading and Using Rufus to Create a Bootable Flash Drive

Rufus is a handy tool used to inject or write the Memora ISO file into your flash drive so it can be used as a booting media (a drive that can start up a computer).

3.1 Downloading Rufus

1. Visit the official Rufus website:

https://rufus.ie/
Rufus Website

2. In the Download section, select the latest version of Rufus (for example, the standard version Rufus X.XX.exe or the Portable version).

Download Rufus

3. Save the Rufus application file to your computer.

3.2 Creating the Bootable Flash Drive

1. Plug your USB flash drive (minimum 2 GB) into your computer's USB port.

Note:

All data inside this flash drive will be completely erased. Make sure there are no important files left inside it!

2. Open the Rufus application you just downloaded.

Open Rufus
Rufus Config 1

3. Configure the settings in Rufus exactly like this:

    Rufus Config 2
  • Device: Select your USB flash drive.
  • Boot selection: Click the SELECT button, then browse and choose the Memora ISO file you downloaded in Step 2.
  • Partition scheme: Select GPT (this is the standard for modern UEFI computer systems).
  • Target system: Select UEFI (non CSM).
  • File system: Leave this at the default setting (usually FAT32 or Large FAT32).

4. Click the START button at the bottom of the Rufus window.

5. If a confirmation pop-up appears saying ISOHybrid image detected, choose the Write in ISO Image mode option (or DD Image mode if it is highly recommended for Memora), and then click OK.

ISOHybrid Prompt

6. Confirm the final warning that all data on your flash drive will be deleted by clicking OK.

7. Wait patiently for the writing process to finish until the green status bar shows READY (100%), then you can safely close the Rufus application.

4. Booting into Memora OS Installer

Data Safety Warning

Make sure you have shrink the volume and prepared the Unallocated Space (as explained in Step 2) before starting this process so you don't accidentally damage existing data partitions.

4.1 Preparation Before Booting

Ensure the following things are met before restarting your computer:

  • The Memora bootable flash drive created via Rufus remains connected to a USB port.
  • Know your Boot Menu Key based on your computer

4.2 Steps to Enter the Installer

Step 1: BIOS / UEFI Settings (Optional but Recommended)

  1. Turn off your computer completely.
  2. Turn on the computer again, then press the BIOS/UEFI Key (usually F2 or Del) repeatedly until you enter the BIOS menu.
  3. Make the following adjustments:
    • Secure Boot: Change to Disabled (Arch Linux requires Secure Boot to be turned off to load).
      Secure Boot Setting 1 Secure Boot Setting 2
    • SATA Mode / NVMe Mode: Make sure it is set to AHCI (not RAID / RST).
  4. Save changes and exit BIOS (Save & Exit, usually by pressing the F10 key).
Save and Exit BIOS

Step 2: Booting into the Memora Installer Flash Drive

  1. Connect the bootable flash drive to the computer's USB port.
  2. Turn on the computer, then immediately press the Boot Menu key repeatedly until the boot device list appears.
  3. On the boot menu selection, choose your flash drive name with UEFI mode (Example: UEFI: SanDisk).
Boot Menu Selection

4. Press Enter to confirm.

Step 3: Selecting the Memora Boot Option

After successfully booting from the flash drive, you will be presented with the initial Memora launch screen:

  1. Select the top option:
    Memora linux install medium
  2. Press Enter.
  3. Wait for the text loading process (booting log) to finish until you arrive at the main terminal screen with a red/white prompt:
    root@archiso ~ #

5. Connecting to the Internet

We need the internet to download system files, you can use Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Ethernet, WLAN and WWAN interfaces using DHCP should work automatically. For Wi-Fi, we will use a simple tool called iwctl to connect to your WiFi.

First, open the network tool by typing this command in your terminal and pressing Enter:

iwctl

5.1 Finding Your WiFi Device Name

Every computer's WiFi card has a name (like an ID card). Let's see yours by typing:

device list

You will see a list that looks like this:

Device      Name
-----------------
wlan0       wlan0

In this example, our WiFi device name is wlan0.

Friendly Note: Your computer might name it something slightly different (like wlan1 or wifi0). Always use whatever name pops up on your own screen!

5.2 Finding Available WiFi Networks

Now, let's scan for nearby WiFi signals using your device name (replace device with your actual name, e.g., wlan0):

station device get-networks

5.3 Connecting to Your WiFi

To connect to your home or office WiFi, use this command (change device to your WiFi name, and ssid to your exact WiFi name):

station device connect ssid

Example: If your device is wlan0 and your WiFi name is Home, type:

station wlan0 connect Home

Type your WiFi password when it prompts you. Once you are successfully connected, type exit to leave the network menu.

6. Storage Partitions (Splitting Your Hard Drive)

Before performing the installation, your storage needs to be divided into several specific parts. Think of your hard drive like a large empty house. Before moving in, we need to divide it into different rooms for different purposes:

Partition Function Recommended Size
EFI Stores bootloader files so the computer can start up. 1GB
Root (/) Stores the operating system and applications. 15GB - 30GB
Home (/home) Stores user data such as documents, pictures, and personal files. Remaining space
Swap Used as additional memory when the main RAM is full. 2GB - 8GB

Here is an example of partitioning a 50GB Disk:

Disk 50GB
├── EFI        1 GB
├── Root       15GB
├── Home       30GB
└── Swap        4GB

6.1 Viewing Available Disks

First, use this command to check what your hard drive is named on your computer:

lsblk

Example output:

NAME        SIZE
sda         50G

In this example, the disk being used is /dev/sda.

Warning

Make sure to select the correct disk. Choosing the wrong disk can cause all your data to be erased.

6.2 Creating Partitions Using cfdisk

Run the following command (replace sda with your actual disk name):

cfdisk /dev/sda
Cfdisk Visual Partition

6.2.1 EFI Partition

1. Press Enter on the "New" option.

2. Type 1G as shown in the image below.

3. Press Enter and select the "type" option.

4. Select EFI System.

  • Size: 1GB
  • Type: EFI System
Cfdisk Efi Partition

Function: Stores bootloader files so the computer can run the operating system.

6.2.2 Root Partition (/)

1. Press Enter on the "New" option.

2. Type 15G as shown in the image below.

3. Press Enter and select the "type" option.

4. Select Linux filesystem.

  • Size: 15GB
  • Type: Linux filesystem
Cfdisk Root Partition

Function: Stores the operating system files, configuration, and applications.

6.2.3 Swap Partition

1. Press Enter on the "New" option.

2. Type 4G as shown in the image below.

3. Press Enter and select the "type" option.

4. Select Linux swap.

  • Size: 2GB - 8GB
  • Type: Linux swap
Cfdisk Root Partition

Function: Used as additional virtual memory when the main RAM is full.

6.2.4 Home Partition (/home)

1. Press Enter on the "New" option.

2. Adjust to the remaining partition.

3. Press Enter and select the "type" option.

4. Select Linux filesystem.

  • Size: Remaining storage space
  • Type: Linux filesystem
Cfdisk Root Partition

Function: Stores user data such as documents, pictures, and personal files.

Once you have created all the partitions, save your changes by selecting:

Write
Cfdisk Root Partition

Then, exit the cfdisk tool by selecting:

Quit
Cfdisk Save and Quit

7. Step-by-Step Interactive Installation

Now we are ready to grab the installer tools and launch the installation wizard!

Once that's done, start the friendly automated installer by typing:

memora-install

Follow these visual steps carefully on your screen:

Step 1: Choose the partition you want to use

Warning!

ALL DATA INSIDE THE CHOSEN PARTITION WILL BE PERMANENTLY ERASED!

Memora OS Installer: Choose partition step

Step 2: Enter your username

Type a short, cool username for yourself (all lowercase letters, no spaces, like dimas or foxy).

Memora OS Installer: Enter username step

Step 3: Enter your password

Create a secure password to protect your account.

Memora OS Installer: Enter password step

Don't panic if no letters or dots show up while typing your password—that is a normal security feature in Linux! Just type it blindly and press Enter.

Step 4: Enter your computer name (hostname)

Give your computer a nickname (e.g., memora-pc).

Memora OS Installer: Hostname step

Step 5: Choose your country

Memora OS Installer: Country selection

Step 6: Set your Continent

Memora OS Installer: Continent selection

Step 7: Set your time zone (City)

Memora OS Installer: City time zone selection

Tip: You can scroll up and down through the city list using your keyboard arrow keys. Once you find your city's number, just press the letter q on your keyboard to lock it in!

Step 8: Final Confirmation

Memora OS Installer: Final Confirmation

Type the word yes if you are 100% sure everything looks correct. If you made a mistake, don't worry—just press Ctrl + C on your keyboard to cancel and start over from Step 1!

Step 9: Let the magic happen (Installation in progress)

Memora OS Installer: Installation progress

Sit back, relax, and let the computer do all the hard work until it says complete.

8. After Installation is Complete

Congratulations, friend! You have successfully installed Memora OS. Now let's boot into your brand new system:

  1. Restart your computer by typing: reboot
  2. Unplug your USB flash drive installer so the computer doesn't boot into it again.
  3. Let your computer start up normally from its internal hard drive.
  4. Log in using the username and password you just created in Step 2 and 3. Welcome home!