Hey everyone! I just finished installing Linux Mint and am getting used to it. This is my first time using Linux, and I'm curious about how I can install programs on my second drive. I have two drives: a 500 GB boot drive and a 3 TB drive that I want to use for games and applications like Discord and Steam, since it has the most storage. Any tips on how to do this? Thanks for your help! P.S. Sorry if my English isn't perfect; I'm not a native speaker!
4 Answers
I'm curious why you're looking to do this! Generally, you'll have the main software on the SSD and files on the HDD, which seems to be what you have. Unless you have a strong reason to do it differently, I think it's fine as is.
In Linux, applications don't install like they do on Windows—there isn't a specific folder for that. When you install programs, they integrate with the system and can be spread across different directories. If you're using Steam, you can easily add a new library location on your second drive from within the Steam application, which lets you choose where to download your games.
You can technically install software on another drive, but it’s not ideal for beginners. It requires setting up a separate binary directory, adding it to your system path, and possibly tinkering with configurations for desktop integrations. It might be easier to stick with the default methods for your first few installs!
Whether you can install programs on your second drive depends on how you're installing them. If you’re using the package manager (like apt in Mint), you usually can't direct installs to that drive. Most Linux apps will end up on your primary OS drive, so make sure you have enough space on it!
Absolutely! While it’s usually possible to customize your setup in Linux, it often involves more work and understanding of the system. Take your time to learn the basics first!