Hey everyone! I'm not super tech-savvy these days—I'm more used to the simplicity of Windows. I've dabbled in Linux a few times but faced challenges each time, so I gave up. With recent news about Windows changes, I'm back to trying Linux. I created a bootable USB for Linux Mint 22.2 using balena Etcher, and it's been working pretty well. However, every time I reboot, it resets to factory settings, meaning I have to reselect my keyboard layout and re-enter my Wi-Fi password. I want to know if there's a way to retain my settings without committing to a full installation on my hard drive. I'd really appreciate some straightforward advice since I need a bit of hand-holding here!
3 Answers
What you're experiencing is the typical behavior of a live USB. Unfortunately, any changes you make don't stick after a reboot. To save your settings, you might want to create a live USB with persistent storage; this way, your customizations will stick around. It might also be worth considering using a USB SSD for a more permanent setup, just make sure to avoid writing the boot loader to your Windows drive during the setup.
You’re looking for persistence! That's the key term you want to search for. There's a guide out there that focuses on Ubuntu, but it should apply to Mint as well. Just check this out for step-by-step instructions on setting it up: [Persistence Guide](https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-persistent-live-usb/). Good luck!
Google "persistent live mint" to find guides on how to achieve this. It's not complicated, and it’s what you need for your situation since live USBs don’t preserve changes by default.
Thanks! The Windows method looks pretty straightforward. I guess I’ll just have to think of starting over like losing my 'souls' in Dark Souls—a minor setback while learning!