just re-read your post
that might be a problem if booting from usb is not enabled . usually you can access the bios using maybe the esc key. For a short time before Windows boots up , the info to access BIOS and also boot menu is displayed on the screen.
Regarding wiping the drive- if you install a Linux OS , if you choose "use whole drive" during installation then everything that was on the hd would be wiped clean anyway.
you might try some likely linux distro candidates onto a "ventoy" formatted stick .
The advantage of ventoy is that you can just "drag and drop" linux os .iso files onto the specially formatted stick. here's a example of what i have on one stick :
(06-26 21:57)
ventoy
├── ISO
│ ├── debian-live-10.9.0-amd64-xfce+nonfree.iso
│ ├── endeavouros-2021.04.17-x86_64.iso
│ ├── linuxmint-20.1-cinnamon-64bit.iso
│ └── neon-user-20210325-0946.iso
├── Mint-persistence.dat
├── persistence.dat
└── ventoy
└── ventoy.json
There are versions for both Windows and linux
https://www.ventoy.net/en/index.html
There is also a thread on this site about ventoy
The advantage of a linux OS running from a usb stick is that it uses the OS from the usb stick; but makes use of hardware from the PC from which the usb is attached to. Thus it gives you an idea of how things would work out IF you installed that OS to the hd on the PC
i'm guessing your PC mught be 32 bit- lubuntu might be worth a try
Download lubuntu, a fast and lightweight Linux operating system. Lubuntu uses LXDE/LXQT and a selection of light applications. It focuses on speed and energy-efficiency. Because of this, Lubuntu ha…
lubuntu.net
So basically don't wipe anything yet. Get a usb stick something like 16gig. have a go using your windows and ventoy Windows version to format it. Once formated you won't see anything visually different. But drag a linux iso on stick and then boot from stick .
Take it step by step.
to confirm whether its 64 bit or 32bit you have to poke about in menu and somehow arrive at system info ; somewhere there will be a mention.
you need this information because there for instance are both 32 and 64 bit versions of Lubuntu
you can try this old hack : hit window icon key on keyboard + R key.
type in where it says run the text , msinfo32
or read :
https://www.l3harrisgeospatial.com/...cles-Detail/ArtMID/10220/ArticleID/18933/4040
Any questions ask away ...