Setting up Mint Linux involves downloading the ISO, creating a bootable USB, and following the installation prompts.
Setting up Mint Linux involves downloading the ISO, creating a bootable USB, and following the installation prompts.
Using a new SSD after removing the old one in Windows 10 is possible. Linux can access data from other drives, including games and media files, as long as they’re stored there. You’ll need to reinstall most programs, but essential files should be readable. Just ensure your storage setup matches what you want to test.
I would turn off all drives during the setup process. After completion, you can reconnect everything, including the Windows drive.
Disconnect your Windows disk, set up Linux, then reconnect it. This ensures your Windows drive and its files stay protected from accidental changes. Use the BIOS boot options to choose the operating system for each session. If you always switch between both, make sure the bootloaders work together so you can select the OS easily without manual steps.
Linux Mint comes with the ability to read NTFS filesystems out of the box, so your files should be accessible and you should be able to play your games if they are supported in Wine/Proton. But do note that reading and writing to NTFS filesystems is not actually natively supported by the kernel. On rare occasions, you can have issues. It is miles better than what it was a decade ago. If this were 2013, I would probably advise against doing this without backing up your data on those drives first. But in 2025, you're probably fine. If it's anything super critical, you should still have a backup, but just because that's good practice. Not because there's a high likelihood that Linux will bork your data.
I prefer not to dual boot, I just need it to access my non-OS storage (there are four). Yes, I thought that was the idea since otherwise it might accidentally format those drives... It's really tricky to get them off, but I don't want my Windows drive in there—just some videos, a few programs, and a big "PlayStation Home" version!
I've never let Linux test my confidence by handling unusual drives during setup. I usually perform manual partitioning myself. Perhaps an automated install might cause a problem, but I'm skeptical. Even if it does, it will show a page describing its actions before proceeding. Unlike Windows, I'd prefer trusting Linux Mint in this situation. Assuming you configure the partition layout or can at least interpret its output when it explains what it's planning before installation.
You could easily grab an Optiplex or similar device for testing purposes. It seems someone might be looking for a NAS solution.
I could also assemble a second machine (I have everything except the hard drive...). That’s not such a bad plan, actually. To be honest, I’m just a bit unsure about a couple things with Linux—how will my Nvidia card perform and can I set up mods like on Windows? I don’t usually play games without modifications; if I did, I could just purchase a PS5. OW is the only one without mod support, though there are some for UI purposes. Honestly, I mostly care more about the gameplay than the interface, so why bother with all that?
Mint supports a stable USB installation. You can rely on the flash drive for all your needs during a short period, mimicking a full installation but using a portable storage device. If you prefer continuing with Linux, you can generate a live ISO from your current setup and transfer it to an internal drive, allowing you to install without redoing everything. This approach should closely resemble a direct clone. You can retain the passwords and data you entered during testing, ensuring your efforts aren’t wasted. Be cautious, as mistakes on the ISO will affect the final result. I found a detailed guide for dual boot configurations, originally aimed at MX Linux but likely applicable to other distributions. Someone familiar with Nvidia and Mint might confirm its suitability. I don’t use Nvidia, but I’m aware of OS-specific requirements for certain tools. It’s possible you’ll need to apply updates since Mint is based on an older Ubuntu version. Whether built-in backports exist isn’t clear, and unless your drives are M.2, simply disconnect the cables without removing them.