Is there a FREE virtual thing to try various Linux distros?
 

I am new to Linux and would like to try distros without the usual install

This virtual business sounds like just the ticket

Point me to a tutorial somewhere please

nevermind - I found this

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads

You could try them in VirtualBox but perhaps the easier way would be to use a Live image and boot that from USB stick. A Live image will run from the USB stick and not need installing. It's great for testing.

Here is a good tutorial for burning a USB stick for use with Ubuntu:

https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutoria...stick-on-macos

However, the same method will work just fine for Linux Mint as well.

http://releases.ubuntu.com/bionic/

https://torrents.linuxmint.com/

Those are the two main beginners' distros. The primary difference between various distros is which set of defaults have been chosen. Know that by adding or removing programs and / or changing their configuration you can morph one distro into another. So try a few out and keep notes on what you like and don't like. Then go back an install the one you liked best and tune it accordingly to make it "perfect".

Hello again my new friend RickM! :)

I'm not a Kubuntu user, but I wonder if the application Boxes is available?

I use Fedora with Gnome desktop. Boxes is the most user-friendly virtualization software I've found. Easier even than VirtualBox.

https://www.lifewire.com/guide-to-gnome-boxes-2202073

(But if you can't use Boxes under KDE for whatever reason, that's okay: VirtualBox is also quite excellent. :))

thanks - much to explore from the two above helpful posts (with links!)

crazy but after my download and install of VirtualBox I can find nowhere to launch it

finally found the launch menu item for VirtualBox

well VirtualBox had to go back to 5.2 from 6.0 and still gave nothing but an unsolvable error with Ubuntu KDE so I went back to Ubuntu Gnome to take advantage of Gnome Boxes

Gnome Boxes failed miserably here
further Windows host of VirtualBox almost fried my windows 7

So in short it is way easier either to run the distro from a USB stick (the ISO)

or just plain installing the distro
most but not all will just leave previous distros for dual (or quadruple etc) boot

You may still be best served by using a free virtual machine. Not sure what the problem is but if you wish to save any data on this host you may need to make a full backup before you attempt any dual boot install.

There are a few ways to install the USB installs and they tend to be somewhat safe they would be less safe than a VM to a new user.

not sure what you're saying there, but virtualbox works well for many, many users.
as a Linux user, you should make a habit of doing a few online searches to solve your problems.
rule of thumb: you are not the only one, it has happened to thousands, and a few of them most certainly wrote something about it online.

well I have finally gotten to Mint 19 Cinnamon and it is by far the best distro I have installed (looks like I am going to keep it)

better yet it has VirtualBox included as a quick addon and this is the first time it worked

still one problem with it since it cuts off the right 15 pct (estimate) of my screen
I believe I have tried all the settings

Right now I am using the HDMI output from the Gigabyte GA-B250M-D3H motherboard
I am getting a video card - perhaps that will do the trick