Hi all,
starting down the track of getting up to speed on Linux as an alternative to blue screens of death.
I'll do some background reading before I ask any questions.
Cheers,
Pete G.

Greetings Pete.

Hi linustalman, thanks for the welcome.
I didn't think I'd be asking questions quite so soon...
I installed Mint 17.3 Mate to the wrong place (now sitting side by side with W10 on a Dell) and I can't seem to find anywhere either in the software or on the forum (so far) to help me uninstall it.
Grateful for your advice as to which forum would be the best place to ask such a question?
Kind Regards,
Pete G.

Howdy and Welcome. Having started out using computers back when XP was long in the tooth.

I learned eventually a flash drive install beat the hell out of dual booting. Windows breaking seemed a usual occurance back then also.

That way. You just insert sd or usb drive and Windows is clueless.

https://www.pendrivelinux.com/

Maybe start a thread for the Mint uninstall question.
I'd approach it as

Backup what I want to keep from Windows.
Backup what I want to keep from Mint.
Google for a system restore for my laptop to bring it back to virgin state.
Insert my Windows backup files so to have it like I had it.

May take more time than reinstalling Windows bootloader. Deleting Mint partition then afterwards using Windows type of tools or Gparted in a Mint live dvd. Make the Mint partition now Windows compilable. The only reason I mention all of this. Windows 10 hardware is pretty much a mystery to me.

Edit: Oh yeah. There is Mint section in this forum you can start a thread at.
LINUX - DISTRIBUTIONS - you will see Linux-Mint in that bunch of distros listed.

Hi rokytnji,

actually, that's what I was trying to accomplish, using the software from the link you provided!!

But somehow, ended up with Mint and W10 on Dell and a fried flash. Go figure! No idea (yet) what I did wrong.

Fortunately the Dell is a 2nd hand throwaway laptop, purchased for the sole purpose of getting up to speed on Linux without upsetting my other devices/systems, so nothing needed / nothing lost off the Dell.

W10 is as new to me as Linux, so double the fun and games really when things don't turn out as expected!!

As they say - you can't teach an old dog new tricks, which means the best way to not become an old dog, is to keep learning new tricks!!

Many thanks indeed for your help. I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers,
Pete G.

ps: Yup - found the Distribution forum.

Hi Pete G and welcome to LQ!

Hi rtmistler and thank you.
Already getting very warm vibes from the community.
I'd insert a smiley face emoji at this point, but not sure what I just clicked on is going to work.
Be gentle with me!
Cheers,
Pete G

hmmm... no, the emoji thing didn't happen it seems..

I know you have your own reasons for wanting to keep Windows 10 on that unit then. But if me.
I'd nuke the laptop hardrive and just run Linux on it then.
I only use #Windows 10 to tune motorcycles.

That way. When you want to uninstall a Linux operating system because of what ever reason.
You can just run the new Linux installer and write over the previous linux install.

It is how I roll now. Seeing as I get free computer gear from when it becomes obsolete from local govt. agencies.

hehehe !

No - I have no reason at all for keeping W10 on the Dell, but if the general populace are going to embrace W10 then I'll need some degree of familiarity with it. Same rationale by which I bought my first iOS platform some years back.

I'd have preferred W7 or XP for this particular exercise - since I have a better degree of familiarity with how they perform. The Dell with W10 was just what I could get my hands on at the time (at a cheap price), not being entitled to government surplus handouts.

Tell me, how do you tune motorcycles with W10 - that sounds quite intriguing. Or was that just a throwaway line?

Sure - that's one option. Go completely Linux on the Dell and overwrite any mistakes with a new Linux install (or should I say "distro" instead of install?) Not sure. I don't yet have the confidence or the knowledge to make that leap of faith.

Cheers,
Pete G.

It is drm software that is high dollar and requires certain harness/cable hookups.

Google "SERT Maps" and "TTS Harley Davidson how to" if curious.

Here I thought. You had other Windows 10 gear to fall back on like my Samsung Laptop I use for tuning bikes.

Hi PG.

Probably try the 'Linux - Software' section: https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ux-software-2/

Hi linustalman,

on rokytnji's earlier suggestion I posted it in the Mint section of Distributions.

In the meantime, I kept looking around and found this:

https://www.howtogeek.com/141818/how...your-computer/

which I was successfully able to work through. So now I have W10 alone on the Dell, and I managed to figure out the vital step I missed the first time around using the pendrivelinux.com software, and I have Mint where I want it, on the USB.

I'm just about to head back over to the Mint section of Distributions and post an update.

So - let the fun and games begin. I'm sure there'll be more questions along the way.

Cheers,
PG.

Mint huh. Better download of these and put it in my documents. Read in pdf reader in Mint when lost and confused.
It can't hurt.
https://linuxmint.com/documentation.php

Glad you got a solution Pete. HTG is a handy website alright.