diff --git a/du_setup.sh b/du_setup.sh
index d2a00f3..47f8f84 100644
--- a/du_setup.sh
+++ b/du_setup.sh
@@ -1064,15 +1064,8 @@ configure_custom_bashrc() {
     print_info "Creating custom .bashrc for '$USERNAME'..."
     log "Creating custom .bashrc at $BASHRC_PATH"
 
-    # Back up existing .bashrc if it's not the default skeleton
-    if [[ -f "$BASHRC_PATH" ]] && ! grep -q "generated by /usr/sbin/adduser" "$BASHRC_PATH" 2>/dev/null; then
-        local BASHRC_BACKUP="$BASHRC_PATH.backup_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)"
-        print_info "Backing up existing non-default .bashrc to $BASHRC_BACKUP"
-        cp "$BASHRC_PATH" "$BASHRC_BACKUP"
-        log "Backed up existing .bashrc to $BASHRC_BACKUP"
-    fi
-
-    if ! tee "$BASHRC_PATH" > /dev/null <<'EOF'
+    local bashrc_content
+    bashrc_content=$(cat <<'EOF'
 # shellcheck shell=bash
 # ===================================================================
 #   Universal Portable .bashrc for Modern Terminals
@@ -2235,20 +2228,50 @@ alias commands='compgen -A function -A alias | grep -v "^_" | sort | column'
 # - Consider moving rarely-used functions to separate files
 # - Use 'time bash -i -c exit' to measure startup time
 EOF
-    then
-        print_error "Failed to write custom .bashrc to $BASHRC_PATH."
-        log "Failed to write custom .bashrc."
-        return 1
+) # End of bashrc_content assignment
+
+    # Back up existing .bashrc if it's not the default
+    if [[ -f "$BASHRC_PATH" ]] && ! grep -q "generated by /usr/sbin/adduser" "$BASHRC_PATH" 2>/dev/null; then
+        local BASHRC_BACKUP="$BASHRC_PATH.backup_$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M%S)"
+        print_info "Backing up existing non-default .bashrc to $BASHRC_BACKUP"
+        cp "$BASHRC_PATH" "$BASHRC_BACKUP"
+        log "Backed up existing .bashrc to $BASHRC_BACKUP"
     fi
 
-    # Set correct ownership and permissions
-    if ! chown "$USERNAME:$USERNAME" "$BASHRC_PATH" || ! chmod 644 "$BASHRC_PATH"; then
-        print_warning "Failed to set correct ownership/permissions on $BASHRC_PATH."
-        log "Failed to chown/chmod $BASHRC_PATH"
+    local temp_bashrc_path
+    temp_bashrc_path="/tmp/custom_bashrc_for_${USERNAME}.txt"
+    if ! printf '%s\n' "$bashrc_content" | tee "$BASHRC_PATH" > /dev/null; then
+        print_error "Failed to automatically write custom .bashrc to $BASHRC_PATH."
+        log "Error writing custom .bashrc for $USERNAME to $BASHRC_PATH (likely permissions issue)."
+
+        if printf '%s\n' "$bashrc_content" | tee "$temp_bashrc_path" > /dev/null; then
+            chmod 644 "$temp_bashrc_path"
+            print_warning "ACTION REQUIRED: The custom .bashrc content has been saved to:"
+            print_warning "  ${temp_bashrc_path}"
+            print_info "After setup, please manually copy it:"
+            print_info "  sudo cp ${temp_bashrc_path} ${BASHRC_PATH}"
+            print_info "  sudo chown ${USERNAME}:${USERNAME} ${BASHRC_PATH}"
+            print_info "  sudo chmod 644 ${BASHRC_PATH}"
+            log "Saved custom .bashrc content to $temp_bashrc_path for manual installation."
+        else
+            print_error "Also failed to save custom .bashrc content to $temp_bashrc_path."
+            log "Critical error: Failed both writing to $BASHRC_PATH and saving to $temp_bashrc_path."
+        fi
+    else
+        if ! chown "$USERNAME:$USERNAME" "$BASHRC_PATH" || ! chmod 644 "$BASHRC_PATH"; then
+            print_warning "Failed to set correct ownership/permissions on $BASHRC_PATH."
+            log "Failed to chown/chmod $BASHRC_PATH"
+            print_warning "ACTION REQUIRED: Please manually set ownership/permissions:"
+            print_info "  sudo chown ${USERNAME}:${USERNAME} ${BASHRC_PATH}"
+            print_info "  sudo chmod 644 ${BASHRC_PATH}"
+        else
+            print_success "Custom .bashrc created for '$USERNAME'."
+            log "Custom .bashrc configuration completed for $USERNAME."
+        fi
+        rm -f "$temp_bashrc_path" 2>/dev/null
     fi
 
-    print_success "Custom .bashrc created for '$USERNAME'."
-    log "Custom .bashrc configuration completed for $USERNAME."
+    return 0
 }
 
 # --- USER INTERACTION ---