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Arch Linux Live/Rescue Image for Microsoft Surface

Install Arch Linux or rescue your Linux installation on Surface even without external mouse or keyboard.

Disclaimer

This live image and all the files in this repository are distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

Supported Devices and Features

This live image uses linux-surface. The compatibility of linux-surface is described here.

Features

  • Copy squashfs to RAM at boot
  • GNOME Shell and a few GNOME applications
  • Improved Onscreen Keyboard
  • Use timeshift to restore your system
  • Battery status display
  • Auto screen rotation support
  • fish as default shell
  • Symbols and CJK fonts support
  • Bootable with Ventoy

Getting started

Acquire the ISO

You can download the ISO from Releases, or build it with the following commands:

$ git clone --recursive https://github.com/SamLukeYes/archiso-surface
$ sudo mkarchiso -v -w /path/to/work_dir -o /path/to/out_dir archiso-surface

For technical details, see ArchWiki

Creating live medium

See ArchWiki. Please note that this ISO is only designed for UEFI.

Installation Guide

For Arch Linux Installation Guide, please refer to ArchWiki. Here are some additional notes.

Connecting to the Internet

archiso-surface uses NetworkManager

Run Reflector Manually

Since April 2021, reflector in archiso-surface will not run automatically. You can run it at your option.

Text Editor

archiso-surface uses gedit instead of nano

Make your touchscreen work in a new installation

Follow this guide to install necessary packages for your hardware to function. To make touchscreen actually usable in your new system, don't forget to set up graphical user interface. You can do this in chroot, so that you don't have to boot into a system without touchscreen support.

Restore your system using Timeshift

If you have existing snapshots created by Timeshift on your disk, you can use the Gtk interface of Timeshift to restore your system. Simply skip the initial configuration, select a snapshot, and restore it.

Known Issues & Workarounds

Auto rotation doesn't work

Since GNOME 40, automatic screen rotation cannot be enabled when a mouse is connected.

Bluetooth menu disappears after turning off

If you want to enable bluetooth again, try turning it on in Settings. If it doesn't work, restart bluetooth.service.

Onscreen keyboard can't pop up when a mouse is available

This might be a new behavior of GNOME 40. If you need to use the OSK with a mouse, please enable it in Accessibility Settings.

Onscreen keyboard doesn't resize windows

See this issue.