Installing Linux on a Intel64 Family 6 Model 55 Stepping 8 CPU
 

Basically I want to make sure I don't screw myself up here. I bought a Toshiba laptop with Windows 8 and an Intel64 processor and now I want to install Linux. Does anybody have a recommendation for which distro I should use that would work with that kind of a CPU?

I think you need to be more specific as Intel makes a lot of processors and much depends of the graphics system as well. The full model number from the label on the bottom would be helpful. Also, since it's Win 8 it will likely be UEFI vs BIOS and that also complicates the process - it's doable if you put in the effort but it's not "plug & play"...

I am rapidly finding that out... Basically what I know so far is that it's an AMD64 processor, I found UEFI and I've tried to tweak the bootup settings but for some reason, UEFI doesn't seem to recognize USB on startup.

For whatever distro you've chosen, hit up their website and look for an installation guide for UEFI. Also there is precious little standardization regarding UEFI setups among the hardware vendors. There should be a boot order buried somewhere and you want to set it to USB first.

A few years ago, Toshiba built some laptops that were near impossible to boot Linux on - the UEFI was basically locked into Windows. If yours is new it likely is OK but it will be a challenge...

If you don't want to use a dual boot then these are some ideas.

If you can use a free virtual machine, I might go that route. This also kind of assumes you have enough resources in the little laptop.

If you want to save your windows then backup now.

You could create a uefi usb maybe too.