hi,
here is the login screen, right after i have installed arch and rebooted.

http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/4737/may162010003.jpg

as of this time i have not given, nor been asked for a username or a password (unless i have list my mind).
did i miss something i should have done?
how do i move forward, so i can use arch?
thanks.

Log in as "root" (you did enter a root password, right?) and create a user.

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/...d_setup_groups

snowpine,
after reading your post, i decided to go back and install arch to another hard drive. i stand corrected. my fault.

here are screenshots that show "configure system" and then "root password". so it does indeed, allow for installation of a password, but at this point never asks for a username.

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6027/arch001.jpg
http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1150/arch002.jpg

i hope i still have you with me. here is a screenshot of the computer allowing me root priviledges. is this where i enter "useradd" as per your provided info? i don't know where to go from here.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7615/arch003.jpg

thanks for the quick reply.

Are you following the Beginners Guide on the Arch Wiki? It walks you through the complete installation from starting with the Live CD to a full DE if required. The Arch Wiki is very good and you can usually find everything you need on it (apologies for the RTM type post - it's not meant that way).

To answer your question, section 3.4 of the Beginners Guide linked above gives some details of adding a user. An easier method than useradd (in my opinion) is to use the adduser script, it takes you through creation of a user by prompting for input (such as desired username, required groups etc) instead of having to type in all the options initially.

Hope this helps!

Yes, "root@myhost #" is the "command line" where you can enter the many necessary commands you will find in the Arch Beginner's Guide.

most of the info in the wiki is great. i had no problem at all, but some of it was a little too advanced (networking, to be specific).

i'd like to provide these links for any newbie in the same boat as me.

http://www.raiden.net/articles/arch_...ation_guide/1/

http://home.comcast.net/~pudges-plac...ase_page1.html

arch linux is clearly a great OS.

thanks for the replies.