I took out the old HDD and threw in a new (small 120GB) SATA SSD, and then I installed Debian Linux 9.5 using a Net Install CD.

The issue I am running into has to do with letting the laptop go to sleep, and powering the external display. I don't really use my laptop as a mobile device, it is pretty much always at my desk. I prefer laptops because they are quieter and come with a backup battery. Plus, I use a 32" television as my monitor.

1) When the laptop goes to sleep, it never wakes up right. This was an issue when I was running Windows 7 as well, but I would just set it so that it would never go to sleep as long as it was plugged in. I don't know how to set this, or where.

2) I also don't want the laptop to sleep, shutdown or anything when I shut the lid...

3) and I want the laptop screen to be duplicated to my external display (and not to extend my 'desktop') so that I can see what I am working on on the external HDMI display.

My whole mission was to get FontForge installed and going, but the tiny 14" screen is too hard on my old eyeballs, so I need the external monitor so that I can finally play with the program.

Thanks so much, this is my second attempt to get a working Linux Distro.
-DP

which desktop environment?

in any case, there should be a battery icon in the system tray, which lets you access power management settings.
everything can be set up from there.

Thanks. Cool. I'll check it out (I was looking all over for something).

I loaded everything up that had a checkmark, so whatever you boot into when you checked it all during installation.

i see.
unfortunately, debian keeps changing its default DE; i think the default for stretch is Gnome.
but it seems you found the battery icon. be sure you check all options thorughly and understand that they can cancel each other out and overlap.