Hi everyone! I'm considering switching from Windows 10 to Linux Mint and could use some advice. I currently have a 1TB HDD for storage and a 200GB SSD where my operating system is installed. I'd like to install Mint on the SSD and continue using the HDD for games and large files, plus use it for backups. Will I still be able to access everything on the HDD after I install Mint? Thanks for your help, and please excuse my English if it's not perfect!
2 Answers
Linux can definitely read and write files from an NTFS formatted HDD, but it's better not to run Steam games from there. NTFS support can sometimes be a bit unpredictable in Linux. If you're going to fully switch to Linux, consider converting your HDD to a Linux-native filesystem for best performance.
Yes, you can access files on your HDD after installing Mint. However, it's not ideal to run Windows applications or games directly from it because they might not work properly without the Windows registry. It's better to reinstall the games in Linux if possible. Your documents and images should be completely accessible, though!
What about Steam games? I read you could find them on another disk using Steam. Is that true?
Great, thanks! So I should back up my files on a USB drive first and then format the HDD?