Prereq To avoid typo or errors, we will use genfstab to generate /etc/fstab: # for arch-linux sudo pacman -S --needed arch-install-scripts # for ubuntu sudo apt install arch-install-scripts Commands # elevate to root where seen necessary # outputing info about filesystems $ lsblk -f # DANGEROUS - DO NOT UNMOUNT ROOT DIR (/) # unmount the device(s) if they are currently in use # substitute MOUNTPOINT to actual value; $ umount MOUNTPOINT # partitioning; substitute X & Y to actual device values $ fdisk -l # to list the drive(s) $ fdisk /dev/sdX # or /dev/nvmeXn1 $ fdisk -l /dev/sdX # to list the partitions of the drive # formatting; substitute X & Y to actual device values $ mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sdXY # or /dev/nvmeXn1pY; for EFI system $ mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdXY # or /dev/nvmeXn1pY $ mkfs.ntfs /dev/sdXY # or /dev/nvmeXn1pY; need package "ntfsprogs" $ mkswap /dev/sdXY # or /dev/nvmeXn1pY; if swap is needed # mounting # substitute DEVICE & MOUNTPOINT to actual values; $ mount DEVICE MOUNTPOINT $ swapon /dev/sdXY # for swap # (once mounting done) generating fstab $ genfstab -U -p / | less # to check if the generated is correct $ cp /etc/fstab /etc/fstab-old # backing up current fstab in case recovery is needed # if the above is correct, run as root, generate fstab, then reboot $ su $ genfstab -U -p / > /etc/fstab $ reboot # if recovery is needed $ rm /etc/fstab $ mv /etc/fstab-old /etc/fstab $ reboot Refs Brainiarc7/fstab-generate-arch.md