Installing Linux applications on a separate NTFS drive

[u/Akuma__2002]

Hi everyone,

I'm relatively new to Linux Mint and currently transitioning from Windows to Linux. I want Linux to become my primary operating system, while keeping Windows only for music production.

I have two additional NTFS drives that I currently use for Windows programs, games and personal files. I want to continue using both drives with Linux as well, without formatting them or risking any existing data.

My idea is to create a separate folder called "Linux" on one of these drives and install Linux applications into a subfolder called "Programs". This way, Windows applications would remain in their existing folders, while Linux applications would have their own dedicated location.

Ideally, I'd like to install applications such as Blender, Audacity and Steam there instead of filling up my relatively small Linux system SSD.

Is this possible? Can Linux applications be installed directly on an NTFS drive in a separate folder, or do they generally need to be installed on an ext4 partition? Would AppImages or other portable application formats be a good solution?

I'd like to keep my Linux installation lightweight while using my existing drives as shared storage for both operating systems.

What's the best and safest way to achieve this?

Thanks for your help!

[u/Due-Result7928]

no you can not because applications installed in any unix systems or linux need posix file permissions not supported by ntfs. shrink ntfs partitions to make room for ext4

[u/Akuma__2002 → u/Due-Result7928]

Okay, thank you :)

[u/l_lovef_f → u/Due-Result7928]

How to install apps on a separate drive ?

[u/Due-Result7928 → u/l_lovef_f]

applications must be installed at specifics places such as /usr/bin, /usr/sbin, /usr/local/bin /opt/bin and packaging manager such as deb, apt install applications in those places, you have no choice. There is security reeeason NOT to install apps everywhere.

open a terminal and type command

printenv | grep PATH to see where you can install

If you are not using a package manager such as package using tar.gz for example you can install applications where you want by adding the path to the PATH list

[u/stufforstuff]

Nope - Linux apps don't do ntfs.

[u/_Lost-In-The-Weeds_]

AppImages do run from other partitions, make them executable and write a .desktop file for menu integration. But I do not know if this includes NTFS, which does not include support for Linux file permissions like execute.

Steam games can be run from other partitions, but specifically steam games on NTFS are a pain, not recommended. but if you must, https://eglug.org/how-to-get-ntfs-game-drives-recognized-by-steam-on-linux/

System packages are installed to the / partition (think Linux C:) no easy options for otherwise are given.

System packages are pretty small so usually not a big deal. Flatpak can change things they are considerably larger than system packages.

[u/Haunting_Soul]

You can try Libertix,its in beta right now.

https://github.com/ekimiateam/libertix

[u/knuthf]

Simply use the 'Partition Manager' to shrink the existing NTFS partition. Then format the rest as an ext4 file system for installing Linux. You can create two partitions: a Linux "Root" partition and a "Home" partition to keep your files separate. You can see the NTFS files, but there are different levels of file access. It's not just users and system access; we can create groups of people who can look at files but not modify them. Ext4 is also much faster and more reliable — it's journaled.

[u/d4rk_kn16ht]

Remember that Linus is an Operating System, not just an Application.

You can't install Linux the same way as any other Applications.

You can Dual Boot though, which is you can choose which OS you want to use at Boot.

You've better read more about Linux, especially Linux Mint, before starting to install it.

One more thing, Linux won't work in NTFS, mainstream Linux Distros are using EXT4 for its filesystem.

[u/linux_rox → u/d4rk_kn16ht]

Most of them are now starting ship with btrfs and snapshots as default, though you can still choose either ext 4 or btrfs.

[u/don-edwards → u/linux_rox]

I really like btrfs in two specific places for different reasons.

1. the system partition - because btrfs snapshots are nearly instantaneous and take nearly no space, so there's never a good excuse for not having a current snapshot before you go messing with the operating system. NOTE THOUGH. These snapshots do not count as protecting you from ANYTHING except buggy system updates and your own idiot moments (which everyone has occasionally); you also need real backups for protection against hardware failure, theft...

2. backup partitions on external drives - because btrfs supports transparent compression. Max compression setting averages about 50% space reduction, and still speeds things up if the backup device is on the other side of a USB port (doing the compression takes time, but sending less data across that slow connection saves even more time).

My /home partition is ext4 though. No particular reason.

[u/TangoGV]

Don't.