I'm not very tech-savvy these days, and since my Windows days, I've found coding and configurations overwhelming. I've tried Linux a few times, only to get stuck and give up. Recently, I created a bootable Linux Mint 22.2 USB with balena Etcher, and it works great. However, every time I reboot, it resets everything back to the default settings. This means I have to reselect my keyboard layout and enter my WiFi password every single time. Is there a way to make the Live USB remember my changes without having to install Linux on my computer? I would really appreciate it if someone could explain this in simple terms, as I'm feeling a bit lost.
4 Answers
I suggest looking into using two USB sticks: one for the Live environment and another for storage to achieve persistence. Alternatively, if you have an old SSD that you could use externally, that would give you more reliability and performance. Just be aware that USB sticks can wear out more quickly if they're used excessively for installations.
You're looking for "persistent storage" to save your settings on a Live USB. You can follow guides similar to this one for Ubuntu, which will work for Mint too. Just Google "persistent live mint" for some easy-to-follow resources.
What you're experiencing is normal for a Live USB; it doesn't save changes by default. To keep your settings, you should create a Live USB with a persistent storage option. This allows you to store changes like your WiFi password and keyboard layout. If you really want to dig into it, you can also consider using a USB SSD for a more stable installation, just be careful with the boot loader settings.
Check out the term "persistent live USB"; that’s the route you want to explore. It seems straightforward based on a quick search, and many guides out there explain how to do this for Linux Mint.
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