I have 2 laptops which I would like to have compatible Linux overwritten over both of their current OS. One is a Ubuntu 14.04 and the other is Win 7 pro. While my name is on both I never put a password on the Ubuntu, yet it demands a password and the Win 7 was prompted to convert to Win 10. When I told it to go ahead it then told me the registry is corrupted. So I then tried to just keep it and update. It then said it would not update because the registry was corrupted. I put both under the bed and ignored them. I bought both used in 2014 from eBay sellers. I would be willing to pay shipping both ways and also pay a modest fee to have both overwritten to a Linux distro. My needs are internet browsing and for the future to learn come limited Linux programming, some C programming, and come Python programming. Nothing in depth.

Welcome to the forum! You should be able to download an appropriate Linux distro and install without shipping and consulting - the process is usually very straightforward. I use elementary OS, which comes with the attractive Pantheon desktop and, despite (or thanks to) being simple, has never caused any problems. Just download, burn the iso file to a DVD or make a bootable USB, boot the computer with it and enjoy the process. I suppose you have made backup copies of files you wish to keep.

Welcome.

If neither works for the moment, do you have a third machine you can use to write a USB-stick or burn a DVD? Linux Mint is quite popular and, like Ubuntu, very, very easy to install. I think they all come with a Live option so that when you boot, you can first test the distro to see how you like the defaults.

Pretty much any distro will do well for C and Python. The main difference between the distros tends to be which desktop environment is default, which applications are pre-installed, and what the distro has chosen for other default configurations. However, by adding and removing programs and changing configurations you can make one distro look and act like another, for the most part.

Hello and welcome to the forum

Welcome to the forum.

How do I get around the no password in the Ubuntu?

You can reset the passwords in recovery mode, if that is available. Here are some older instructions: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/resetpassword

However, I'd recommend wiping the machine and putting a fresh installation on it, even if you stick with 14.04

Welcome to the forum BadOldBear!

I recommend if you have further follow-up questions that you start a new thread in one of the forums such as LQ Newbie. Reasons are that this particular forum is for "Hello" introductions, and the threads don't get sorted into the find engine similarly as they do for other questions.

Plus people don't always look in this forum, some do, many do not. Meanwhile a question posted in another directed forum will get much wider exposure.

And finally, I hope you can see the gist of people's thoughts from the way answers have been offered. The main ideas of LQ are that we help people accomplish their intentions with Linux, however people here simply taking systems and re-making them for you, while it is helpful it also does not enable you for the next time you have troubles with your system. Hence many, including myself would recommend you ways to resolve these issues with your own effort.

I agree that obtaining a Linux distribution on a USB stick or DVD, these are things you can download and burn with another computer, even a Windows one, likely also a Chrome system too; and then perform a fresh install.

I typically recommend either Ubuntu or Mint, with my preferences for Mint Debian edition. They are both very good desktop distributions.