After many years as a programmer (Algol60, Fortran, Algol68, Pascal, Turbo Pascal, BBC Basic, C and Basic) on mainframes, windows PCs and Unix boxes (Suns) I've retired.

Now mostly using Windows (XP, W7 and 10) I had Ubuntu as a second OS for some time but one of the updates when very wrong and (for various reasons) I didn't bother re-installing it. I am, however, considering once more venturing into the land of the penguin and can foresee I'll need help - and I'm pretty certain you guys (and gals, I'm sure) will be able to do that.

Keith

Greetings Keith.

Hi Keith, welcome to the forum

KeithHF,

Welcome to LQ Forums.

Since you are familiar with using Ubuntu, you should have few problems.

Have a look at DistroWatch for reviews of various alternative distributions:
http://distrowatch.com/

Major distributions:
http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major

Subject to your hardware, Linux Mint 18.1 is an obvious candidate and can be downloaded from here:
https://linuxmint.com/download.php

Personally I would recommend using either the MATE or Xfce Desktop Editions.

Good luck with your venture into Linuxland.

For the OP, a couple of helpful sites concerning Linux Mint...

https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/mint

https://www.linuxmint.com/documentat...glish_18.0.pdf (Cinnamon)

Regards...

Thanks for the welcome...

I've decided to try Mint - I've got an (old) version on CD (or is it DVD - I'll have to look). Only question is whether to install this and then upgrade or to download the latest version (64-bit with Cinnamon), transfer with Unetbootin or Unibootem to a USB stick and install that "from scratch". Busy at the moment (this retirement lark seems to take up all my time) so will have a think about it.

Keith

KeithHF,

Definitely use the 64 bit version of Linux Mint 18.1.

I would always recommend a fresh installation instead of on in-situ upgrade.

I have seen so many reports on LQ forums and elsewhere of people choosing the second option and coming to grief.

Hi KeithHF and welcome to LQ!

Got a few spare moments and downloaded/installed Unetbootin. Already had the mint iso on the trusty rusty. The transfer of the iso to the usb stick took quite a lot of time. Partly my fault - I had the USB stick in a slow USB port. Still, as I was able to continue doing other things it didn't matter. Finally done and, tomorrow, when I boot up it should be from the usb stick (now put in the right place(!)). Got to go now....

Keith