I have a i386 64 bit PC, it has 3 gig ram and a nearly 250 gig HDD

The Live usb works as "advertised", but the resident install only give me a guest account and none of the "solutions" I've found are working for me. Consequently I can save no files or any such functions. Also experiencing frequent freezes.

I am simply trying to utilize an older XP machine to browse the net and such, no gaming(graphic intensive anyway), I listen to youtube as well.

I have considered Bohdi because it is "lighter" but I'm having issues installing from Terminal any help is appreciated

i'm pretty sure that i386 means 32 bit.
so which is it?

any information you provide to help us help you will be appreciated.

Download & run a distro 'live' to check your systems hardware is fully supported, then install it.

(My recommendation is AntiX or MX Linux.)

Typically live versions do not have persistence i.e. you can not save files or changes.

The freezing could be caused by slow USB speeds and you should go ahead and install the operating system to the hard drive if you plan on erasing XP anyway.

As stated we need to know the hardware specifications of your computer. Make and model number if known could help.

Ok folks

This machine is a Dell Precision 390 with-Processors-
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz : 2660.15MHz
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz : 2660.15MHz

3 Gb of Ram
Live version of Lubuntu in LXDE enviroment
Installed on HDD?

-Version-
Kernel : Linux 4.4.0-124-generic (x86_64)
Compiled : #148-Ubuntu SMP Wed May 2 13:00:18 UTC 2018
C Library : Unknown
Default C Compiler : Unknown
Distribution : LXLE Eclectica 16.04.4 64-bit
-Current Session-
Computer Name : qwerty
User Name : qwerty (Live session user)
Home Directory : /home/qwerty
Desktop Environment : LXDE
-Misc-
Uptime : 15 hours, 53 minutes
Load Average : 0.00, 0.43, 1.06

Hope this helps... BTW XP is long gone it wiped trrying to install LXDE

So what happened when you tried installing lubuntu?

I am using lubuntu via a Live USb(no Persistence of course). Repeated tries to permanently install Lubuntu haved consistently crashed. I understand that particular issue is a bug, but I haven't been yet able to solve it. Most of the solutions I have seen are out of my skill set.
After trying to "tweak" the Live USB, it has resulted in much frustration, even to the point of "torching' the damn PC(LOL)

I did initially install Ubuntu 18 LTS and it worked really sluggish. My guess is I dont have enough RAM. I tried using Lubuntu under LXDE because they were supposed to be "lighter" but even the Live USB still runs up CPU usage to 100%. Any help is appreciated.

This machine is an old XP unit that Im trying to repurpose as opposed to buying NEW

Your system appears to be sufficient to run Lubuntu. My wife's Dell Optiplex (E6550, 4GB RAM) isn't a speed demon, but runs Fedora or Ubuntu Mate just fine. Our previous Optiplex (Athlon 5400+ 4GB) performed marginally to not at all with a 64-bit Linux, but would quite happily run a 32-bit Linux. If no better suggestion comes along, you might try a 32-bit Linux

Best choice to create a new install? Live USB/DVD? recommended DL mirror? Recommend DE? Not real impressed with LXDE, kinda hard to navigate

Can this be done via terminal using the Live USB?

https://mxlinux.org/mx-171-released

https://mxlinux.org/user_manual_mx17/mxum.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vF_dw6Kpo8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_ZzJuUA9t0

for

Monthly current snapshots isos are also available.

Mirrors for isos

https://mxlinux.org/download-links

Another wrinkle....

After using Unetbootin to make a Live USB.....Now on reboot no operating system is seen.... bad USB stick maybe

What distribution are you now trying to install? Some distribution/ISOs work better with rufus versus Unetbootin.

Might want to start with a "clean flash" drive with a single FAT32 partition.

don't use unetbootin, it's broken.
use dd (on linux) or rufus (on windows).

that still isn't very helpful, but it might not be your fault (the installer is deliberately hiding informative messages).

all in all i would recommend you try some distros that are for old computers, and NOT based on ubuntu.
unsurprisingly, AntiX comes up first.

PS: always read the distro's website's instructions before attempting an install.

I have downloaded 'iso files for both AntiX and MX Linux. Irregardless of "flavor" of Linux, the result has been the same. Attempt to boot to newly made USB(via Unetbootin) and PC says 'No Operating system found'

I have tried to DL "etcher" and "Start Up Disk Creator" with no success. Ideas? Preferably a terminal script.... The dd thing makes me nervous. I have read where unlearned users(Like Me) have thrashed Hdds be cause of a misplaced syntax. I have used Gparted and set one huge partition for the HDD as ext4 after readiung that the LXDE installer likes that better.

I have also seen that the Nvidia drivers may be an issue for that particular installer, I tried to nomodeset install as well, to no avail.

AntiX & MX Linux .iso files are hybrid, which means they can be imaged to either an optical media or a drive/pendrive.

Using 'dd' is the most efficient way to image a pendrive, but you can also use 'cat' if my memory serves me right, but you will still need to check what the system thinks your pendrive is.

After inserting your pendrive, run
that will tell you what the system sees your pendrive as - usually /dev/sdb.

So, you use
As long as you don't put your internal disk designation as the 'of=' no harm will come to you.