I am not afraid of computers but am not particularly sophisticated. I have a Windows laptop that I use mostly for streaming and minor tasks. I want to try linux out on it as a dry run.
I'd like to install some user-friendly version of linux and retain Windows (I believe this is called dual boot).
What is the simplest, most idiot-proof method of accomplishing the above?
@D_J_Nathanson Burn Linux Mint to a flash drive. You can then boot directly from the flash drive and try it out before attempting a full installation.
https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/burn.html
I just went through this process myself, so feel free to reach out if you need help.
@D_J_Nathanson That said, if you want to do a full dual-boot installation, you'll need to repartition your hard drive (essentially, carving out a separate space that Windows can't touch to install on). That can be a bit tricky, but there are good tools to do it without data loss these days, assuming you have the space available.