Olds - you are on the horns of a dilemma here, friend
1. If you are still operating from a USB stick (Live) without Persistence, any changes, any downloads or updates - these will vanish once you reboot. You will be back to square one.
With Linux operating systems, if you do not want to install on your hard drive, at least right away, there is the Live USB. However without persistance, it will not be written to.
I found some time ago, that Linux allows you to create your Linux System on the USB. I do this when testing Linux distros or If I am trying to choose between a couple distros. Your USB will act like a HDD, accept changes, accept programs, just as normal on the HDD. You have to make sure you have a large enough USB, I would not go smaller than a 16BG and recommend a 32GB. If you plan to run for a long period of time on the USB, GET A LARGER USB DRIVE.
Be very careful if you chose to go this route because the installer will show the system drive as well as the USB drive. When you install to the USB as system, If possible, I recommend pulling the plugs on the system drive during the install, so you only have the USB to deal with. Cannot error if only one drive in the picture.
The usb will act like the normal drive. Make your data saves to a different drive.
You will experience all the features that distro offers.
AFter installed, the Distro will give you full access to the distro, something that does not happen with the Live USB as certain things need to be assigned to work on the drive. If you have a problem when booted up, you may have a setting to change.
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