Problem is, Linux Mint installer says nothing about that as far as I recall, and just offers a convenient slider to allocate space between Windows and Linux.

And that was my first computer. Yeah, I am relatively new to computers.

But hey, I only lasted with Windows for 2 days. In Windows 10 I couldn't even wrap my head around when to use Control Panel and when settings, because look, mature OS, we have Settings 1 and Settings 2.
In comparison, Linux Mint 20 MATE was far simpler, so having really used neither, I went with the easier one. However, that doesn't mean I had any idea what I was doing. I didn't even understand the concept of partitions.
Just imagine a total newbie.
"Where is the file stored?"
"On... the computer...?"

There's no such thing as ‘Windows partition table’, unless MS came up with some new nefarious bullshit. The partition table is global for everyone, and any partition manager program modifies that.

What is this con-cent you speak of? Some kind of... negative currency? A bad smell?

• Microsoft, allegedly

During my distro hopping phase of 2011, I tried out a distro called IP Fire. It wiped out my whole drive on boot.

I still have that laptop, hoping one day I'll retrieve that data.

That is a shitty design and for an outfit a big as Microsoft, I feel that it is intentional