Every time I remove my USB Flashdrive/SSD that has Mint OS instailed on it, it deletes anything.

[runic plover]

Hi Apolgies, I am new to Linux. I got Linux Mint Cinnamon 22.3 installed on an Extenral USB Flash SSD, and while plugged in it works on both my laptop(s) with windows and my laptop that has Mint (Cinnamon 22.1 I think) installed on the laptop itself. It is fully usable if a bit slow. However whenever I shutdown and unplugg the drive, whatever images, software, or passowrd/accounts i set all get deleted accpet the base OS.

I think whatever I'm instaling is downloading to the interal storage of either laptop(s), rather then the drive its self, so it works off of that, then when unplugged/restarted somehow deletes of the OS, and i need to redo it evertime i plug the drive in. But no idea how to move it tothe drive.

Im not sure how to reproduce this?, same thing is happening with the other USB flashdrive SSD I own.

[cyan ibex]

you're not using the OS properly

the live ISO is just a test environment and installer

it does NOT keep any changes on reboot.

you must install to a permanent drive if u want a permanent lasting installed OS, not a live system

[runic plover]

So would my USB flahdrive not be able to get the OS permanently installed on it?, I thought you could from what i researchd (Again apolgies, I am new to this, thank you so much for the help)

[cyan ibex]

not unless you had a second USB stick

[runic plover]

I do have a second USB stick, i installed mint on another flashdrive to make sure it was not just something wrong with my orginal one

[cyan ibex]

you should have a real SSD to install onto, not flash stick. usb flash only for very short term use, or live mode installation

and try to do it on a computer you can disconnect the internal hard drive from. that way you are guaranteed to get the bootloader setup on the external SSD