Yes, Linux can be plug and play.
Yes, Linux can be plug and play.
Linux Mint Cinnamon works well on other systems using the same USB 3.0 SSD without needing a full reinstall. Drivers should function properly if you use the Retropie plug and go x86 version for compatibility across laptops and desktops.
It shouldn’t be too much of an issue to try a live version; a persistent bootable USB can be very helpful.
I’m starting up from a budget Monster SSD. I plan to test it on my laptop. It runs slowly on the machine I put it on because it uses USB 2.0 with older hardware. My main worry is swapping to another PC since it’s running a Nvidia GPU. I’ve heard issues with Nvidia and Intel graphics support. The Nvidia 390 driver works well on my desktop, but a custom driver is needed for the Nvidia card. My setup is a GTX1050ti installed fully bootable on C:. I transferred it from a thumb drive using the Mint Image installer. Then I added Retropie to a 128GB SSD with ROMs. I’m hoping it will perform well on my Intel-based laptop (3630QM with built-in graphics). I’m unsure if it will work, especially since it was installed on an AMD Phenom 955 and GTX 1050 Ti. I’d like to try without modifying Windows 10 on the laptop.
The USB SSD functions as the main boot source containing applications, rather than serving as an installation medium.
This guide walks you through setting up a persistent USB drive using a user-friendly interface. It explains how to use the installer, which functions like any standard app. You can simply run `sudo unistall` if needed. For a more reliable setup, consider using a virtual machine, booting it in Linux, connecting the USB, and following the installation steps. Using USB directly for OS installation isn't recommended because USB drives aren't designed to host operating systems, which would cause performance issues and slow down your system.
Yes, this should function, but be aware that certain distributions often include their initramfs with the modules and drivers already loaded. Since the live installer supports many different systems, it may work well on various setups similar to yours if you're opting for a pre-installed Linux distribution instead of a standalone storage solution.
I connected it to the laptop and it started up. Retropie sometimes shuts down unexpectedly. It doesn’t always return to the desktop in Mint Cinnamon 19.01. It required several updates. The two setups are quite different. My machine uses an AMD Phenom 955 with a GTX 1050ti, while mine has an I7-3630QM with Intel graphics. It boots on the laptop, so I’ll check the desktop next. Both have 8 GB of RAM. It’s surprising it works at all. I’m curious if it can switch drivers between the two PCs. The performance is slow due to USB settings. The laptop boots quicker thanks to USB 3.0. This makes Mint portable. I had to adjust the BIOS on the laptop to enable dual booting when the USB SSD is connected. I also needed to turn off secure boot and another setting I don’t remember. There’s a YouTube guide for configuring the Asus K55A, which seems to work well. Once set up, it delivers strong Retropie performance. The Mint OS is fine too.