I'm about to finish installing Linux Mint, specifically the Cinnamon version, after wiping Windows from my computer. I have a 500GB SSD and a 1TB SSD, but I keep seeing messages saying that selecting either of these will use the entire disk. I'm not sure what partitions are or if they are necessary for me to use the SSD for other things beyond just the OS. Can someone provide a simple, clear explanation on what partitions are, why they exist, and if I can still use my SSD for other data if I don't set any up? For context, I'm looking for something really basic that I can understand without much technical knowledge. Thanks!
1 Answer
Think of partitions as dividing your hard drive into sections. When you install an operating system like Linux, it often creates partitions automatically to keep things organized. In essence, you can consider them like having separate folders on your computer - one for the OS, another for programs, and possibly one for your files. If you let the installer handle it, you won't have to do anything special and can use the whole disk for your files and OS without an issue. Don't worry too much about trying to figure it all out right now; just let the installer do its thing!
This really helps clarify things, thanks! So I should just let the installer manage the partitions automatically, then?