RE: crashtech
Your response led me to the realization of glaring omissions in my initial thread. Let's back up and start from the beginning. To start: I intend to install (not live) LinuxMint 19.1XFCE onto the second partition of a 256Gb 3.0 pendrive. Reason for the second partition; - 1st partition is/has aprox. 126Gb of files already on it. Using the 3.0 drive, I've been told, would "optimize" the O.S's performance.(?) --not so sure about that)??? The first partition is file sys. NTFS, primary and active. Second partition was .ext4, active and primary w/ flag set to "boot". Obviously, but not most important(IMO) is, MSWin 8(main O.S. on HDD) or any MSWin O.S. does not recognize a second. third, .etc. partition of a pendrive. The second, and IMO, the foremost was, the second partition did not have a drive letter designation, nor could I assign it one. I do have a few folks seeking a work-around for the "MSWin does not recognize second partition". Third: MSWin does not recognize an .ext format! Now, what I've done...and subsequently failed at; Getting that second partition to boot up. There must be some way to get it to boot, irregardless of and independent of MSWin(?) Some have suggested I do the install to the first partition, YES, that makes sense, but would require my "moving" 126Gb's of data to another storage, re-partitioning the drive, then putting the files back on the second partition, and to which I'd have the same problem...MSWin recognizing a second partition. So, I think you can see why I don't feel "moving" the 126Gb's is the correct procedure. To answer this; "I suppose I'll need to install Mint 19 to a USB stick to see if the installation GUI gives the option to manually partition the drive or not" --the answer is YES, in the process of the install, there is an option for "something else" within which the ability to manipulate the partition(or pendrive) is presented. And you are correct, it is automated and converts the file system to .ext4(Unix/Linux). Forgive me if I'm wrong...but I don't believe linux/unix will operate from a exFat file sys. Oh, and just to "cut-you-off-at-the-pass" so to speak...full install is not the same as an install from say Rufus, Pendrivelinux, Multibootin...etc; those programs can only perform a "live" install. A full install is running the O.S. to it's full potential, just as if it were on an HDD/SSD. A live install makes a bootable image of an .iso and the O.S. is restricted from it's full potential... a "live" version is for "testing" the O.S. I hope I explained that to your understanding.(?)
Well, I've read this over a few x's and I believe I've said what I want to and what info I believe you need to understand what I'm trying to accomplish.(???) I would appreciate any advice/help/direction you may be able to offer.
THANX