Should I Store My Data on a Separate Partition or Keep It All Together in Linux Mint?

I would strongly advise against moving your home folder to a different drive since that can cause issues with your user settings and account. Instead, you could keep your data organized within the existing structure. Linux manages mounted drives pretty well, so as long as it's mounted correctly, your data can sit wherever you want it without major issues. For instance, I've had success using symbolic links for certain folders, but remember it can lead to some compatibility quirks with apps.

The choice mostly boils down to your setup and preferences. Installing with a separate partition for /home can make things easier when upgrading or changing distributions. That being said, if you're only using one drive, it's generally fine to keep it all together, especially if you're new and not comfortable with the terminal yet. Also, Timeshift will help manage backups without needing separate partitions, so you could just use that approach until you feel more confident.

Honestly, you’ll find mixed opinions on whether to separate /home or not. I've always had a separate partition, and it’s worked well for me. Still, if you allocate too much space to one partition, resizing can be tricky if you need more room later. For newcomers, it’s simpler to stick with a single partition on a single drive to avoid those complications.

With Linux, you can actually keep your data wherever you like as long as it’s properly mounted. So, if you prefer the OS and data separate like in Windows, then go for a separate /home partition; that mirrors your previous experience well. If you’re uncertain about terminal commands or synlinks, starting simple with everything on one partition may save you future headaches.