Everything in parentheses below was the original post. Now that I figured out I was using a dash instead of a dot in "./" I have progressed to step 5 in the unetbootin instructions which says
"Type sudo ./unetbootin-linux-*"
For that command I get the following error
"./unetbootin-linux-latest: error while loading shared libraries: libSM.so.6: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory"

When I installed Ubuntu I was using an ISO file on a CD. I have an ISO file on my flash drive. So can I boot from it and do the install that way. This is a Linux PC partitioned and set up for Linux (NO WINDOWS!)

(Downloaded ISO file for Linux Mint onto a flash drive so I could install over Ubuntu 10.04.
Instructions say" Open a terminal (applications > accessories > terminal)
Type wget unetbootin.sourceforge.net/unetbootin-linux-latest
Type chmod +x ./unetbootin-linux-*
Type sudo apt-get install p7zip-full
Type sudo ./unetbootin-linux-*

Trying to run step 2: Get error "no such file or directory"
Tried putting file in my personal directory using unet bootin /robert/linuxmint/ unetbootin-linux-latest.par2 and run chmod +x _/robert/linuxmint/unetbootin-linux-*
Error received is "chmod: cannot access `_/robert/linuxmint/unetbootin-linux-*': No such file or directory"
When I saved the ISO file to the directory unetbootin broke it into parts, as follows:
unetbootin-linux-latest.par2
unetbootin-linux-latest.vol000+01.par2
unetbootin-linux-latest.vol001+02.par2
unetbootin-linux-latest.vol003+04.par2
unetbootin-linux-latest.vol007+08.par2
unetbootin-linux-latest.vol015+16.par2
unetbootin-linux-latest.vol031+32.par2
unetbootin-linux-latest.vol063+37.par2
I don't know if this is a problem or not

I still have linuxmint-17-cinnamon-64bit-v2.iso sitting on the flash drive as well. I just don't know where to go from here.)

Is this a server or Desktop? Have you tried simply which gives access to root? Also to chmod a file you probably need to use "sudo" in Ubuntu.
Alos don't download to the flas drive you are installing to. Put in downloads folder & direct unetbootin to the iso.

I ran these commands and got an error on the second one.
robert@robert-RK574AA-ABA-a1730n:~$ sudo chmod +x ./unetbootin-linux-*
robert@robert-RK574AA-ABA-a1730n:~$ sudo./unetbootin-linux-*
bash: sudo./unetbootin-linux-*: No such file or directory



This is a desktop AMD 64 bit dual core processor 4600 x 2,
160G and 340G hard drives, 4G RAM. HAS Ubuntu 12.04 LTS installed. I think it has a separate video card but it is not identified.
At this point all I want to do is install Linux Mint from the ISO file and have the opportunity to set up new partitions as well, just as I did when I installed Ubuntu. I tried burning the ISO file to DVD but it wouldn't boot either.

requires a space between o & . in sudo ./un....
Also you would have better luck just installing unetbootin.

If you want to install Mint to the flash drive you mentioned, you will first need to move it from that flash drive to your system.
Where is unetbootin? Generally on Ubuntu, if you download something it will download to the /home/user/Downloads file. Check to see if unetbootin is actually in the directory from which you are running the command and if not, change to the correct directory.

Ran "sudo apt-get install unetbootin " It looks like that installed to /usr/bin.
I now have a copy of "linuxmint-17-cinnamon-64bit-v2.iso" file in the Downloads folder, on my flash drive and burned to a DVD.
I also have a bunch of ".par" files that unetbootin created in my Home(robert)/linuxmint folder. No idea if they are of any use.

At this point all of the suggestions given me don't seem to work. Certain parts seem to but not all so I can't complete the entire process.

I'm used to DOS commands but really don't know how to point to folder/files in Linux when running commands. So to tell unetbootin to look in the Downloads folder for the ISO file when unetbootin sits in /usr/bin is totally "Greek" to me. I can get to /usr/ bin using "cd /" command and presumably run unetbootin from there but can't seem to get it to look in Downloads to run/load/execute the ISO file. Tried running as follows:
"sudo ./unetbootin-linux-*" or "sudo /unetbootin-linux-*" or "sudo unetbootin-linux-*" nothing works, either "command not found" or "no file or directory" error.
btw as far as I can see the ISO file is an executable.

You have to give path to the iso look for the button with 3 dots. Also make sure that you install to the right drive http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net

Try running the command below to open unetbootin:

Then click on the tab in the lower right which has three dots ( ... ) on it and it will open a window in which you can navigate to your Mint iso.

Was able to boot from Live USB but Linux wouldn't recognize mouse nor keyboard (both USB) tried both wireless and direct connect, neither would work). When booting got a lot of script errors and had to enter "exit" command to force it to continue. Probably not a good thing.
This whole exercise started because upgrading from Ubuntu 10.04 to 12.04 gave me an error that the boot sector was too small and I needed to enlarge it or clean it up. I decided I wasn't that thrilled with Ubuntu to go there so I would try Mint instead and while installing it I would repartion my drive and create a larger boot sector at that time. This has so far been a very frustrating exercise. It certainly tells me that Linux is not that "user friendly" if one has to go through all these "contortions" just to get it installed.

When I can't even get an install to work from a DVD .ISO file and a keyboard and mouse to be recognised from a "Live" install, then how am I ever going to get away from Ubuntu?

Enough of the rant! I'm going to try to burn the ISO to DVD again and see if I can't do a straightforward install from DVD.

If anyone has any further suggestions it would be appreciated but at this point I plan to start over so we might as well consider this post as closed. I'll start a new one if need be. Thanks all for your help