EDIT: Check reply #14, there I explain it: I went for the full install. It's easier than all tutorials in the internet tell you. Persistent Live is good too, but for daily use it's just slightly better to use the full install. It feels more "complete" and "at home" like this. Linux Mint is perfect if you consider having Linux as a secondary OS or switch from Windows. Just find yourself some good open-source replacements for the Windows stuff that you kept all your life for the sake of not leaving your comfort zone. 
Hello, I plan to make Linux my secondary OS, but keep it "portable", while at the same time keep my settings, browser and files on it.
I am not experienced in Linux at all, so I have to mostly go with softwares that use any kind of UI, because I lack of knowledge of Linux commands (that is why I will chose Mint, because it's supposedly easy to use for Windows users).
I will write now the main question.
The rest after this is just explaining and further details about what I want to achieve.
My question is, if I can do with an "Live USB drive with persistence" these things:
If you want to read the long version:
Right now I am using Windows 11 To Go (Created with Rufus) on an external SSD.
I like about it, that I can just plug it off the device, take it to another device, plug it in, and my whole desktop and data is with me, without carrying a whole laptop with me.
Everything is great with that - but that is Windows..
Now, as I said before, I want to have Linux Mint as my secondary OS, and the goal is, to make it behave similar like Windows To Go.
What I mean by that is, that I want to have Linux installed on an external drive, such as an external SSD.
I want to be able to carry the whole system including settings, files and the desktop just in my pocket, and that it can be plugged in at any suitable device, and that it will boot Linux, with my desktop, settings, browser, bookmarks, documents and Thunderbird (just as Windows 11 To Go does).
Now I have to tell you, that I never even once touched any Linux OS ever, but that I am sure that I want to use it at least as my secondary OS. That is just one more reason for me to also make it "Portable / To Go" like Windows is.
Basically instead of booting into either Windows or Linux, I rather want to plug in the USB drive with either one installed, and it boots automatically.
That is the story behind my question.
But now I will ask the actual question:
I read, that there are 2 options right now for me, that both will behave very differently, so I need to know which of these I will have to do.
There is the "Full Install on USB".
And there is the "Live USB drive with persistence".
At first I thought that the Full Install is the way to go for me, but consider, that I want the OS to be totally portable. That means that I can plug it into any other suitable device. And when I checked about the Full Install, I learned that it will not be so easy to make it work correctly. For example Windows 11 To Go will simply download updates and fix itself on the new device, whenever I plug it into another PC or laptop.
But it seems like Linux will not do that as easy as Windows does.
So then I consider USB drive with persistence.
But I am not really sure if that is the way to go for me?
Hello, I plan to make Linux my secondary OS, but keep it "portable", while at the same time keep my settings, browser and files on it.
I am not experienced in Linux at all, so I have to mostly go with softwares that use any kind of UI, because I lack of knowledge of Linux commands (that is why I will chose Mint, because it's supposedly easy to use for Windows users).
I will write now the main question.
The rest after this is just explaining and further details about what I want to achieve.
My question is, if I can do with an "Live USB drive with persistence" these things:
- Email client
- Browser (including bookmarks, browsing history, etc.)
- Keep documents, files on there
- Organize desktop, settings and themes
- Install / Update software
If you want to read the long version:
Right now I am using Windows 11 To Go (Created with Rufus) on an external SSD.
I like about it, that I can just plug it off the device, take it to another device, plug it in, and my whole desktop and data is with me, without carrying a whole laptop with me.
Everything is great with that - but that is Windows..
Now, as I said before, I want to have Linux Mint as my secondary OS, and the goal is, to make it behave similar like Windows To Go.
What I mean by that is, that I want to have Linux installed on an external drive, such as an external SSD.
I want to be able to carry the whole system including settings, files and the desktop just in my pocket, and that it can be plugged in at any suitable device, and that it will boot Linux, with my desktop, settings, browser, bookmarks, documents and Thunderbird (just as Windows 11 To Go does).
Now I have to tell you, that I never even once touched any Linux OS ever, but that I am sure that I want to use it at least as my secondary OS. That is just one more reason for me to also make it "Portable / To Go" like Windows is.
Basically instead of booting into either Windows or Linux, I rather want to plug in the USB drive with either one installed, and it boots automatically.
That is the story behind my question.
But now I will ask the actual question:
I read, that there are 2 options right now for me, that both will behave very differently, so I need to know which of these I will have to do.
There is the "Full Install on USB".
And there is the "Live USB drive with persistence".
At first I thought that the Full Install is the way to go for me, but consider, that I want the OS to be totally portable. That means that I can plug it into any other suitable device. And when I checked about the Full Install, I learned that it will not be so easy to make it work correctly. For example Windows 11 To Go will simply download updates and fix itself on the new device, whenever I plug it into another PC or laptop.
But it seems like Linux will not do that as easy as Windows does.
So then I consider USB drive with persistence.
But I am not really sure if that is the way to go for me?
