@fencritter @captain-sensible
Howdy Fen and welcome to the wonderful world of Linux.
I have been using Linux Mint 19.3 for quite a while now and confident that you will have an easy transition from Windows 10 to LM 19.3.
Please do yourself a favor and take the time to digest what I am going to show you.
I will give you the steps to use to install LM 19.3 on your computer in two separate stages. Please remember that you must complete the first stage before beginning the second stage.
Stage one involves the downloading and putting LM 19.3 iso file onto a USB stick.
Stage two shows how to actually install LM 19.3 onto your computer.
First things first -
Stage one. I will show plenty of screen shots to show just what you should be seeing with each step along the way with written notes to go with the pictures.
Let's begin with
Stage one.
Please go to -
https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=INCOH2&PC=IFJ1&PTAG=ICO-c9d0fc87&q=Linux Mint - and download Linux Mint 19.3. When the download is finished, you can find it in your 'Downloads' folder.
At this point what you see is different from what Cap showed you. I prefer Balena Etcher to burn the iso file onto the USB stick. These next steps show how to do that.
Next go to Balena Etcher -
https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=INCOH2&PC=IFJ1&PTAG=ICO-c9d0fc87&q=Balena Etcher - and download Balena Etcher and install it on your computer.
When you get to this screen, click on 'I Agree'. The installation will then continue until finished installing.
When it is completely installed, there should be an icon on your desktop that looks like this:
The next step is to insert a USB stick in the computer.
Then you need to start Etcher by left clicking on the green icon on the desktop.
The next screen you see, should look like this:
The next step is to click on 'Select image'. Go to your 'Download' folder and locate the LM 19.3 iso file and 'Open' it. The next picture you see should look like this:
At this point you need to make sure that the USB device that shows up is the one that you want to install the LM 19.3 iso on. Once this is set, the next step is to click on 'Flash'.
At this point, Etcher will start 'burning' the iso file onto the USB stick.
This step should finish in about 3 to 4 minutes. You will then see the screen that tells you that your burn is finished. Your USB stick now has Linux Mint 19.3 iso on it and ready to install on your computer.
This ends
Stage one.
If you have any questions about
Stage one be sure to ask them now.
I will be back later with
Stage two, which will show you the steps involved in installing LM 19.3 on your computer.
Old Geezer
TC