Any thoughts are appreciated.

I've tried several times to install LMDE Cindy but it always stalls. I get through the partition point, I get to the point that I give it a name, give it the password and move forward. It is at this point that it just stops, no more menus and it goes to the desktop.

I've never run into this before and it happens using either installer.

It is a multi boot machine and the boot loader is installed on the SSD. Works fine with Tara. Over the years I;ve install different OS and DE's on the machine.

This is the kitchen computer, not a workhorse and more like a convenience appliance.

Here is the result while running the live LMDE

mint@mint:~$ inxi -Fxz
System: Host: mint Kernel: 4.9.0-8-amd64 x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 6.3.0)
Desktop: Cinnamon 3.8.8 (Gtk 3.22.11-1) Distro: LMDE 3 (cindy)
Machine: Device: desktop System: eMachines product: EL1352G v: P01-A3
Mobo: eMachines model: EL1352G
BIOS: American Megatrends v: P01-A3 date: 09/23/2010
CPU: Dual core AMD Athlon II X2 220 (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4a svm) bmips: 11252
clock speeds: max: 2800 MHz 1: 1600 MHz 2: 1600 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA C61 [GeForce 6150SE nForce 430] bus-ID: 00:0d.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.19.2 drivers: nouveau (unloaded: modesetting,fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: 1280x1024@60.02hz
GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on NV4C
GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 13.0.6 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card NVIDIA MCP61 High Definition Audio
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:05.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.9.0-8-amd64
Network: Card-1: NVIDIA MCP61 Ethernet
driver: forcedeth port: d480 bus-ID: 00:07.0
IF: enp0s7 state: down mac: <filter>
Card-2: Realtek RTL8191SEvB Wireless LAN Controller
driver: rtl8192se port: e800 bus-ID: 03:00.0
IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: NA (-)
ID-1: /dev/sdb model: SanDisk_SSD_PLUS size: 120.0GB temp: 29C
ID-2: /dev/sda model: Hitachi_HDS72105 size: 500.1GB temp: 40C
ID-3: USB /dev/sde model: Cruzer_Glide size: 32.0GB temp: 0C
Partition: ID-1: / size: 2.8G used: 54M (2%) fs: overlay dev: N/A
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 22.2C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 186 Uptime: 4 min Memory: 868.7/5719.9MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 6.3.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.4.121) inxi: 2.3.5

It's a shot in the dark, but have you double-checked the integrity of the image/media you are using for the install?

Well I got it to work. Not sure which of these changed anything but this is what I did to get it to install.

I re partitioned the SSD and made one small one at the beginning that was formatted for fat32. The other three were / and /home and linux swap.

The Calamares install provided in the menu (sp?) never worked ever worked. Not sure why because it worked on all other computers?
I used the install link on the screen which is more manual and figured out a few things along the way. It worked.

Now somewhere along the line I messed up my Windows MBR. I now only have a boot into old Mint 17 and my LMDE. Do I want to get my Win disc out to repair the MBR? Not really, I never boot that computer into windows and I don't want to mess with Grub.

So yep, it installed and I'm not 100% sure why but it is like networking stuff....all of the sudden it works.

I used Timeshift as a backup for the Mint 19.3 that was previously installed. Now I have to figure out how to restore only a few things from that backup. If I choose to restore the entire saved file it will probably destroy the LMDE 3 install. All I really want is my chromium and vivaldi profiles, bookmarks, etc.