The install is carried out by "attaching" the Linux download (called an .ISO) to a thumb drive
you can use
Rufus to attach it. (rufus works on win 10)
The download will depend on the choice you make.
Linux mint has three different desktops....Cinnamon, Mate, XFCE
Cinnamon is considered full featured
Mate is middle of the road
xfce is lighter and is considered quicker
If you wish to experiment, you can download each one, attach them one at a time to the usb stick and just take each one for a run to try them out
Note this is done separately for each desktop version
attach via rufus.......then
boot the pc to that thumb drive....sometimes just the 'look' is enough to make the decision.....other times you may need to click on everything in sight to help you get a 'feel' for the actual distro/desktop
The linux that you try out/have a look at will not be actually installed until you click on the desktop icon to Install Linux Mint
As soon as you either reboot or take the thumb drive out, win 10 will still be there.
After you click on Install Linux Mint, ......win 10 will be gone....forever.
Just to be clear....there are literally hundreds and hundreds of Linux distros (os's) that you can put on a thumb drive and take for a run or fully install
I chose Linux mint simply because it has a LOT of support. It is arguably the most popular distro and the one that is the better known in forums.
The terminology will blow your mind until you get used to it.
Linux Mint is the distro (distribution)
Cinnamon/mate/xfce, are the desktop environments within Linux Mint (commonly called DE's)
Because your laptop has win 10 on it you may need to
turn off secure boot. You will find instructions on how to do that online
before you start trying to boot Linux.
When you have booted the laptop to one of the DE's in Linux Mint, you will eventually decide which de you are going to go with.
On the desktop there will be an icon "INSTALL LINUX MINT".......click on that and follow the prompts. Tick the box etc to use the
whole disk. The Linux Installer will take care of partitioning etc etc for you.
Get your ducks in a row. Write it down if it helps.
Ask as many questions as you like. There is
always help here.
A good read.
Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.
linuxmint.com
(the only piece i would argue with on that page is that they say that mate is more stable than cinnamon....I disagree,)
Downloads are on that page