Install Slackware 15: A Straight‑Ahead Guide for the DIY Linux Fan
If you’re looking to install Slackware 15 on a fresh machine or replace an older distro, this article will walk you through every step—no fluff, just the bits that actually matter.
Preparing Your Bootable Media
1. Download the official 64‑bit ISO from slackware.org and verify its SHA256 checksum.
The installer will quit on a corrupt file, so double‑checking protects you from a half‑broken boot.
2. Burn the image to a USB stick with Rufus or dd (dd if=slackware-15.iso of=/dev/sdx bs=4M).
A clean USB is more reliable than a DVD on modern laptops that ignore optical drives.
Booting from USB or DVD
1. Plug the media in, reboot, and hit the BIOS/UEFI key (often F12, Esc, or Delete).
2. Choose “Boot from USB” or “Boot from DVD.”
The installer isn’t a network program; it needs a local image to work.
3. If you’re on an older laptop, I’ve seen people get stuck because the BIOS only supports Legacy mode while Slackware’s default uses UEFI. Switch to Legacy in the BIOS if that happens.
Partitioning with cfdisk or fdisk
1. In the boot prompt, type cfdisk and press Enter.
2. Create a new partition table (MBR for older systems, GPT for newer).
3. Make at least two partitions: one for root (/) and one swap (size = RAM × 2 is overkill but safe).
4. Write the changes.
Slackware’s installer doesn’t do automatic partitioning; a clean layout saves you from accidental data loss.
Mounting Your Filesystems
1. mount /dev/sda1 /mnt – mount root to /mnt.
2. mkdir -p /mnt/boot and mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/boot if you’re using a separate boot partition.
The installer expects the root filesystem at /mnt; skipping this step will lead to a silent failure when it tries to install files.
Running the Installer
1. slackpkg update – bring the package list up‑to‑date (you’ll need an internet connection).
2. setup – launch the text UI and follow prompts: time zone, keyboard layout, hostname, etc.
These early choices set the system’s basic configuration; messing with them later is a hassle.
Selecting Packages
1. At the package selection screen, choose “Minimal” or “Standard.”
2. If you’re installing to an SSD, pick “ext4” for the filesystem (fast and battle‑tested).
3. For graphics, I’ve seen people hit a wall when they install “xf86-video-intel” on a laptop with an NVIDIA GPU; just skip that if your machine doesn’t need it.
Installing the Bootloader
1. In the installer’s bootloader step, choose GRUB (default).
2. Tell it to install to /dev/sda and confirm when prompted.
Without GRUB, you’ll have to manually chain‑load a boot loader from another distro or reinstall later.
Finishing Up
1. Let the installer copy files; this can take a while on slow media.
2. When it asks if you want to reboot, type yes.
3. Remove the USB/DVD before the system starts again.
First Boot and Post‑Install Tweaks
1. Log in as root (no password at first install).
2. Run passwd to set a strong user password.
3. Update your system: slackpkg update && slackpkg upgrade-all.
A fresh install is still missing many security patches; updating now keeps you safe.
Real‑World Scenario
I’ve seen people hit a brick wall when they try to boot Slackware on an older laptop that only supports Legacy BIOS. The installer stalls at “Booting from disk” because it expects UEFI. Switching the BIOS to Legacy mode fixes the issue without touching any code, but many newcomers get stuck looking for a mysterious error message.
Enjoy your clean, minimal Slackware box! It’s lightweight, fast, and gives you full control over what runs on your machine.
