diff --git a/install-stage1.sh b/install-stage1.sh
index 4c2d2a1..51ff99b 100644
--- a/install-stage1.sh
+++ b/install-stage1.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+LOGFILE=/tmp/void-usb-install-log
+
 function press_any_key {
   echo "Press any key to continue or Ctrl+c to abort..."
   read -n1 DISCARD_ME
@@ -39,6 +41,12 @@ function run_in_target {
 }
 
 clear
+touch $LOGFILE
+
+#TODO: check that we are root
+#TODO: check that we are online
+# -> could be done by pinging repo-default.voidlinux.org
+
 echo "
 This script will now download and install Void Linux on your USB stick.
 Any data that is currently on the stick will be lost and it won’t be
@@ -48,15 +56,17 @@ Before we begin, the following packages need to be installed (if not installed a
 - xmirror
 - squashfs-tools
 - wget
-- xtools-minimal"
+"
 press_any_key
 
-xbps-install --sync
-xbps-install --yes --update xbps
-xbps-install --yes xmirror squashfs-tools wget xtools-minimal
+echo -n "Ensuring that XBPS is up-to-date... "
+xbps-install --yes --sync --update xbps >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
+echo -n "Installing xmirror, squashfs-tools, wget... "
+xbps-install --yes xmirror squashfs-tools wget >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
 
-#TODO: If going down the path of extracting routines from void-installer and
-# xmirror, that should be done here.
+#TODO: If going down the path of extracting routines from void-installer, that should be done here
 
 #TODO: Select keyboard layout
 KBD_LAYOUT="de-latin1"
@@ -90,6 +100,7 @@ else
   exit 1
 fi
 
+echo -n "Wiping and partitioning storage... "
 # new GPT
 # 2M BIOS GRUB
 # 268M ESP
@@ -116,38 +127,43 @@ t
 t
 3
 20
-w" | fdisk --wipe always --wipe-partitions always "/dev/$TARGET_DISK"
+w" | fdisk --wipe always --wipe-partitions always "/dev/$TARGET_DISK" >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
 TARGET_PART_BIOS="$(lsblk --raw --noheadings --output PATH "/dev/$TARGET_DISK" | sed -n '2p')"
 TARGET_PART_EFI="$(lsblk --raw --noheadings --output PATH "/dev/$TARGET_DISK" | sed -n '3p')"
 TARGET_PART_BIG="$(lsblk --raw --noheadings --output PATH "/dev/$TARGET_DISK" | sed -n '4p')"
+echo "done"
 
-mkfs.vfat -F32 -n "EFIBOOT" "$TARGET_PART_EFI"
-mkfs.f2fs -f -l "container" "$TARGET_PART_BIG"
+echo -n "Formatting partitions... "
+mkfs.vfat -F32 -n "EFIBOOT" "$TARGET_PART_EFI" >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mkfs.f2fs -f -l "container" "$TARGET_PART_BIG" >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
 
-mkdir -p /mnt/target
-mount -t tmpfs -o size=3g,mode=755 tmpfs /mnt/target
+echo -n "Mounting partitions and virtual file systems... "
+mkdir -p /mnt/target >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mount -t tmpfs -o size=3g,mode=755 tmpfs /mnt/target >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
 
 # used for chroot later
-mkdir /mnt/target/run
-mount --rbind /run /mnt/target/run
-mkdir /mnt/target/proc
-mount --rbind /proc /mnt/target/proc
-mkdir /mnt/target/sys
-mount --rbind /sys /mnt/target/sys
-mkdir /mnt/target/dev
-mount --rbind /dev /mnt/target/dev
+mkdir /mnt/target/run >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mount --rbind /run /mnt/target/run >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mkdir /mnt/target/proc >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mount --rbind /proc /mnt/target/proc >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mkdir /mnt/target/sys >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mount --rbind /sys /mnt/target/sys >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mkdir /mnt/target/dev >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mount --rbind /dev /mnt/target/dev >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
 
 # actual storage
-mkdir -p /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container
-mount "$TARGET_PART_BIG" /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container
-mkdir /mnt/target/boot
-mkdir /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container/boot
-mount --bind /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container/boot /mnt/target/boot
-mkdir /mnt/target/boot/efi
-mount "$TARGET_PART_EFI" /mnt/target/boot/efi
-mkdir /mnt/target/home
-mkdir /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container/home
-mount --bind /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container/home /mnt/target/home
+mkdir -p /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mount "$TARGET_PART_BIG" /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mkdir /mnt/target/boot >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mkdir /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container/boot >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mount --bind /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container/boot /mnt/target/boot >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mkdir /mnt/target/boot/efi >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mount "$TARGET_PART_EFI" /mnt/target/boot/efi >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mkdir /mnt/target/home >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mkdir /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container/home >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+mount --bind /mnt/target/run/void-usb/container/home /mnt/target/home >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
 
 clear
 echo "Storage is now prepared and ready for installation.
@@ -157,7 +173,6 @@ The script will launch xmirror on the host/live system and determine
 the chosen mirror from the config file it generates.
 "
 press_any_key
-
 xmirror
 #TODO: also remove CPU architecture
 TARGET_MIRROR="$(sed 's/repository=//;s|/musl$||' /etc/xbps.d/00-repository-main.conf)"
@@ -170,26 +185,34 @@ if grep "musl" <<< "$TARGET_TYPE"; then
   TARGET_MIRROR="$TARGET_MIRROR/musl"
 fi
 
-mkdir -p /mnt/target/var/db/xbps/keys
-cp /var/db/xbps/keys/* /mnt/target/var/db/xbps/keys/
+echo -n "Copying repository keys... "
+mkdir -p /mnt/target/var/db/xbps/keys >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+cp /var/db/xbps/keys/* /mnt/target/var/db/xbps/keys/ >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
 
+echo "The next step is installing packages for base system components.
+Depending on your internet connection, your USB stick, and the phase of the moon, this may take a while.
+The XBPS log will be displayed for this step.
+"
+press_any_key
 XBPS_ARCH="$TARGET_TYPE" xbps-install --yes --sync --rootdir /mnt/target --repository "$TARGET_MIRROR" \
   linux bash shadow f2fs-tools dosfstools dbus NetworkManager iana-etc \
   iw wpa_supplicant util-linux which tar man-pages iproute2 iputils \
   wifi-firmware traceroute grep gzip file sed gawk less coreutils findutils \
   diffutils pciutils usbutils tzdata base-files ncurses mdocml procps-ng \
   kbd xbps sudo ethtool kmod eudev runit-void removed-packages nano acpid \
-  squashfs-tools grub grub-i386-efi grub-x86_64-efi dracut xz
+  squashfs-tools grub grub-i386-efi grub-x86_64-efi dracut xz 2>&1 | tee --append $LOGFILE
+echo ""
 
+echo "Adding mirror configuration."
 echo "repository=$TARGET_MIRROR" > /mnt/target/etc/xbps.d/00-repository-main.conf
 
+echo "Adding sudo configuration."
 echo "%wheel ALL=(ALL:ALL) ALL" > /mnt/target/etc/sudoers.d/wheel_as_sudo_group.conf
+echo "Disabling root password."
+run_in_target passwd --lock root
 
-
-
-mkdir -p /mnt/target/opt/void-usb
-chmod 755 /mnt/target/opt/void-usb
-
+echo "Adding dracut configuration."
 echo '# Void USB dracut configuration
 
 hostonly="no"
@@ -198,22 +221,29 @@ compress="xz"
 add_dracutmodules+=" void-usb "
 omit_dracutmodules+=" nvdimm resume "' > /mnt/target/etc/dracut.conf.d/99-void-usb.conf
 
-mkdir -p /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb
-chmod 755 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb
-wget --output-document=/mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/module-setup.sh https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/dracut-modules/90void-usb/module-setup.sh
-chmod 744 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/module-setup.sh
-wget --output-document=/mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/create-loop0.sh https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/dracut-modules/90void-usb/create-loop0.sh
-chmod 744 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/create-loop0.sh
-wget --output-document=/mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/squashfs-img.sh https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/dracut-modules/90void-usb/squashfs-img.sh
-chmod 744 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/squashfs-img.sh
-wget --output-document=/mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/overlay.sh https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/dracut-modules/90void-usb/overlay.sh
-chmod 744 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/overlay.sh
+echo -n "Adding dracut module void-usb... "
+mkdir -p /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 755 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+wget --output-document=/mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/module-setup.sh https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/dracut-modules/90void-usb/module-setup.sh >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 744 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/module-setup.sh >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+wget --output-document=/mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/create-loop0.sh https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/dracut-modules/90void-usb/create-loop0.sh >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 744 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/create-loop0.sh >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+wget --output-document=/mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/squashfs-img.sh https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/dracut-modules/90void-usb/squashfs-img.sh >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 744 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/squashfs-img.sh >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+wget --output-document=/mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/overlay.sh https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/dracut-modules/90void-usb/overlay.sh >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 744 /mnt/target/lib/dracut/modules.d/90void-usb/overlay.sh >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
 
-wget --output-document=/mnt/target/opt/void-usb/backup-fs https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/opt/backup-fs
-chmod 744 /mnt/target/opt/void-usb/backup-fs
+echo -n "Adding file system helper... "
+mkdir -p /mnt/target/opt/void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 755 /mnt/target/opt/void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+wget --output-document=/mnt/target/opt/void-usb/backup-fs https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/opt/backup-fs >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 744 /mnt/target/opt/void-usb/backup-fs >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
 echo "
 /opt/void-usb/backup-fs" >> /mnt/target/etc/rc.shutdown
+echo "done"
 
+echo "Adding fstab."
 echo "# See fstab(5).
 # <device> <mount point> <fstype> <options> <dump> <pass>
 
@@ -221,16 +251,16 @@ echo "# See fstab(5).
 
 /run/void-usb/container/boot /boot none bind 0 0
 /run/void-usb/container/home /home none bind 0 0
-tmpfs /tmp tmpfs size=512m 0 0
 UUID=$(blkid --output value --match-tag UUID $TARGET_PART_EFI) /boot/efi vfat defaults,fmask=0077,dmask=0077 0 2
 " > /mnt/target/etc/fstab
 
+echo "Configuring keyboard layout."
 if grep "#KEYMAP=" /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf; then
   sed -i -e 's/#KEYMAP=.*/KEYMAP="'"$KBD_LAYOUT"'"/' /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf
 else
   clear
-  echo "WARNING: Could not locate the keymap setting in rc.conf."
-  echo "The script will attempt to add one."
+  echo "WARNING: Could not locate the keymap setting in rc.conf." | tee --append $LOGFILE
+  echo "The script will attempt to add one." | tee --append $LOGFILE
   echo ""
   press_any_key
   echo "" >> /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf
@@ -238,21 +268,25 @@ else
   echo "KEYMAP=\"$KBD_LAYOUT\"" >> /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf
 fi
 
+#TODO: Figure out how to configure keyboard for Xorg
+
 #TODO timezone
 
 clear
-echo "Is the hardware clock set to UTC?
+echo "Assume that the hardware clock is UTC?
 
-Most Unix/Linux systems set the clock in your computer to UTC and add
-the time zone on-the-fly. If you use Windows, you will want to answer no here.
+Most Unix-like systems set the clock in your computer to UTC and add the time zone
+on-the-fly. Windows on the other hand usually sets the hardware clock to local time.
+
+If you want to use this stick on Windows computers, you will most likely want to answer no here.
 "
 if yesno; then
   if grep "#HARDWARECLOCK=" /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf; then
     sed -i -e 's/#HARDWARECLOCK=.*/HARDWARECLOCK="UTC"/' /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf
   else
     clear
-    echo "WARNING: Could not locate the hardwareclock setting in rc.conf."
-    echo "The script will attempt to add one."
+    echo "WARNING: Could not locate the hardwareclock setting in rc.conf." | tee --append $LOGFILE
+    echo "The script will attempt to add one." | tee --append $LOGFILE
     echo ""
     press_any_key
     echo "" >> /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf
@@ -264,8 +298,8 @@ else
     sed -i -e 's/#HARDWARECLOCK=.*/HARDWARECLOCK="localtime"/' /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf
   else
     clear
-    echo "WARNING: Could not locate the hardwareclock setting in rc.conf."
-    echo "The script will attempt to add one."
+    echo "WARNING: Could not locate the hardwareclock setting in rc.conf." | tee --append $LOGFILE
+    echo "The script will attempt to add one." | tee --append $LOGFILE
     echo ""
     press_any_key
     echo "" >> /mnt/target/etc/rc.conf
@@ -277,8 +311,7 @@ fi
 clear
 echo "Do you want to set a hostname?
 
-This is equivalent to giving a name to your computer - except it's a system
-on a USB drive.
+This is equivalent to giving a name to your computer - except it's a system on a USB drive.
 
 If you leave this empty, it will be set to void-usb.
 Allowed characters are a-zA-Z0-9 (and - in the middle).
@@ -299,30 +332,39 @@ done
 
 echo "$TARGET_HOSTNAME" > /mnt/target/etc/hostname
 
-mkdir /mnt/target/boot/efi/LOADER
+clear
+echo -n "Installing bootloader... "
+mkdir /mnt/target/boot/efi/LOADER >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
 echo "GRUB has been deliberately installed to a non-standard location.
 This avoids default kernel hooks breaking the custom config." > /mnt/target/boot/efi/LOADER/README.TXT
 
 # no idea if any of these are even necessary/relevant but it can’t hurt...
 TARGET_PRELOAD_GRUB_MODULES="usb usbms uhci ehci ohci part_gpt f2fs ahci ata pata"
-run_in_target grub-install --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot/efi/LOADER --disk-module=native --modules="'$TARGET_PRELOAD_GRUB_MODULES'" "'/dev/$TARGET_DISK'"
-run_in_target grub-install --target=i386-efi --boot-directory=/boot/efi/LOADER --disk-module=native --efi-directory=/boot/efi --removable --no-nvram --modules="'$TARGET_PRELOAD_GRUB_MODULES'" "'/dev/$TARGET_DISK'"
-run_in_target grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --boot-directory=/boot/efi/LOADER --disk-module=native --efi-directory=/boot/efi --removable --no-nvram --modules="'$TARGET_PRELOAD_GRUB_MODULES'" "'/dev/$TARGET_DISK'"
+run_in_target grub-install --target=i386-pc --boot-directory=/boot/efi/LOADER --disk-module=native --modules="'$TARGET_PRELOAD_GRUB_MODULES'" "'/dev/$TARGET_DISK'" >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+run_in_target grub-install --target=i386-efi --boot-directory=/boot/efi/LOADER --disk-module=native --efi-directory=/boot/efi --removable --no-nvram --modules="'$TARGET_PRELOAD_GRUB_MODULES'" "'/dev/$TARGET_DISK'" >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+run_in_target grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --boot-directory=/boot/efi/LOADER --disk-module=native --efi-directory=/boot/efi --removable --no-nvram --modules="'$TARGET_PRELOAD_GRUB_MODULES'" "'/dev/$TARGET_DISK'" >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
 
-wget --output-document=/mnt/target/opt/void-usb/grub-config https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/opt/grub-config
-chmod 744 /mnt/target/opt/void-usb/grub-config
+echo -n "Adding grub-config helper... "
+wget --output-document=/mnt/target/opt/void-usb/grub-config https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/opt/grub-config >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 744 /mnt/target/opt/void-usb/grub-config >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
 
-#TODO: ensure that this is being run by xbps-reconfigure -fa, if not add it here
-# run_in_target /opt/void-usb/grub-config
+echo -n "Adding kernel hooks... "
+wget --output-document=/mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/pre-install/99-void-usb https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/kernel.d/pre-install/99-void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 744 /mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/pre-install/99-void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+wget --output-document=/mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/post-install/99-void-usb https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/kernel.d/post-install/99-void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 744 /mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/post-install/99-void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+wget --output-document=/mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/post-remove/99-void-usb https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/kernel.d/post-remove/99-void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+chmod 744 /mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/post-remove/99-void-usb >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
 
-wget --output-document=/mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/pre-install/99-void-usb https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/kernel.d/pre-install/99-void-usb
-chmod 744 /mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/pre-install/99-void-usb
-wget --output-document=/mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/post-install/99-void-usb https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/kernel.d/post-install/99-void-usb
-chmod 744 /mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/post-install/99-void-usb
-wget --output-document=/mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/post-remove/99-void-usb https://lostcave.ddnss.de/git/BodgeMaster/void-minecraft-usb/raw/branch/master/kernel.d/post-remove/99-void-usb
-chmod 744 /mnt/target/etc/kernel.d/post-remove/99-void-usb
+echo -n "Reconfiguring all installed packages... "
+run_in_target xbps-reconfigure -fa >> $LOGFILE 2>&1
+echo "done"
 
-run_in_target xbps-reconfigure -fa
+echo "Creating system image..."
+#TODO: make this work without user interaction
 run_in_target /opt/void-usb/backup-fs
 
 #