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I have win10 on a couple computers and it turns out they can't be updated to win11, which is fine I hate windows. I only needed windows to run a few programs for work, namely QuickbooksPro and UPS Worldship, neither work in Linux. I have Ubuntu installed on a couple of my laptops and have never had a problem. The last time I installed Ubuntu was a couple years ago and it was version 18... and have never had a problem, everything just worked right out of the box, but now I am retired and no longer need windows, so I took my 3 yr old Dell Optiplex that has win10 that can't be upgraded and wanted to install Ubuntu. The latest version is 24....but it would NOT install. After reading thru the forums I wasn't the only one having issues. I tried everything changing settings in CMOS but nothing worked so I downloaded an older version of Ubuntu 22... and it installed just fine but it did an update and broke a bunch of stuff then asked me if I wanted to upgrade to 24 that wouldn't install originally, so I did and it broke more things. Turns out they were still there just no link to them, some I had to delete and reinstall to get working. The software channel, settings page, control center,.... I managed to get everything back up like it should be before Ubuntu updated screwed it all up but thats because I am not new to linux, been using it for many years and NEVER have I had problems like this. The forums helped but the Ubuntu teck guys were useless and told me and a few others that we needed new SSD hard drives. That was NOT the answer, it is almost as if they hired a bunch of clowns that used to work for microsoft to start writing their code, and I would bet on it because in all these years Ubuntu never had this much stupid built in. Not sure what they were thinking but as far as I am concerned they screwed the pooch big time and refuse to admit it. So those looking to dump windows like I did, I don't think you will like the New Ubuntu as is, it isn't ready for prime time and won't be until they fire these idiots and do a complete re-write and go back to the way things were when it all Just Worked. The last version I installed with zero problems was 18 and it is still on their download site. but be careful when you do updates because the updates were created by the same idiots that screwed up the new version. If you computer literate and can follow instructions, all of it can be fixed in Terminal using command line but you will need to go thru a learning process to get the feel of using command line for stuff that used to work right out of the box. Not sure about any other flavors but I know Mint and most others use Ubuntu's Repositories, so you get Ubuntu code which in my opinion is really screwed up now. So sad to watch them go down this road to a slow suicide.

I’m suspicious about Microsoft’s interest in Canonical:
According to AI:

No, Ubuntu has not been purchased by Microsoft. However, there have been discussions and speculation about Microsoft acquiring Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. Despite these rumors, Canonical remains an independent entity. Microsoft has integrated Ubuntu into its Windows operating system through the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), allowing users to run Ubuntu alongside Windows, but this does not indicate ownership.

FWIW, I was using MINT 22.1 without problems until I fell for the suggestions that I should install it alongside Windows 10. Kids, do NOT try this at home!

I will repurpose an old laptop to run Mint in stand alone form. It WAS working. Not sure I will upgrade beyond 22.1 if it’s all gonna fall apart.

Sorry, hard to figure out what the exact problem is with your install based on your post, other than Ubuntu 24.04 wouldn't install on your computer for some reason, and you performed a bunch of changes to your computers settings.

I have Ubuntu 25.10 running just fine on a 13 year old AMD FX-8350 on a Samsung SSD, 32GB of memory, a WiFi network adapter and a low-end video card -- all of which Ubuntu 25.10 recognized at setup time and installed flawlessly.

I've run every version of Ubuntu since 14.04 on it with zero issues, and even upgraded the WiFi Network Adapter and SSD several times w/o issue.

Let me suggest the following:

1. Boot your computer and get into the hardware settings by pressing DEL or F2 during bootup.

2. Set your system back to its default settings.

3. Try re-installing Ubuntu again. Preferably with 24.04LTS.

That’s one eye-catching headline, I must say.

I just installed Debian 13 on a HP laptop this evening. I am in the middle of finishing installing a few programs on it. I had no problems installing it, or getting things to work (so far). I myself prefer Debian, but have used Mint in the past. I do not dual boot. I run VMware if I want something for Windows.

I solved it by installing Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC that is supported until January 2032. Everything I need runs just fine.

Using Windows 10 Until 2032! - LTSC Installation & Demo

Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (English) x64 download

Microsoft Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019 – Lifetime License $9.99

You want this license for 2021, not the 2019 license.

https://flixeasy.com/product/microsoft-windows-10-iot-enterprise-ltsc-2021-lifetime-license-for-1-pc/

Windows 10 will continue to work just as Windows 7 does. Linux Mint is good. Install to dual boot and you can decide which to use. I’ve got Win 10 running on one of our desktops and 11 dual booting on my main system. We have had no issues with Win 10 and plan to continue using it until the wheels fall off the machine it is running.

I’ve had a couple of issues, especially with trying to change the order of priority booting with Grub (Linux). I have been unable to get it the way I want, but I have good control over what boots now.

My BIOS now controls the priority and defaults to Win11. I just have to hit the F12 key when booting to get Linux to run.

I get free access to Microsoft Office 365 Pro version from my former employment (retired) and use some older Windows programs, some that go back as far as 1995 (Paintshop Pro for one). I run Access and some Windows finance software most days on the Win 11 machine. My wife runs Quickbooks Pro on the Win 10 machine. She would not look favorably on changing the OS she’s been using since the late 90s.

I love having multiple OS. More toys to play with.

Interesting. I don’t do a great deal with Mint, but never have had a problem. Command line can be intimidating, but I have a couple of forums where I’ve gotten good help.

I’ve been Windows free for 10 years. No regrets.

Tips for Linux OS users

Understanding Linux Directory Structure and Important Files
Linux OS directory map
10 ways to use the Linux find command
What is the most resilient and easy to maintain Linux OS?:
Debian-based, long-term supported (LTS) distros are typically the most resilient and easiest to maintain for most users. Ubuntu LTS, Debian Stable, and their close derivatives are common choices due to conservative release cycles, extensive documentation, and broad hardware/software compatibility.
- 'https://www.perplexity.ai/search/what-is-the-most-resilient-and-ss0MFfKUQf6bPsFn7HrbEw'
Advice on how to decipher Linux OS man pages:
- 'https://www.perplexity.ai/search/any-advice-on-how-to-understan-qsByauzwT1ygneRc5zKHvw'

For matted it for you:

I have Win10 on a couple of computers, and it turns out they can't be updated to Win11, which is fine—I hate Windows. I only needed Windows to run a few programs for work, namely QuickBooks Pro and UPS WorldShip; neither work in Linux. I have Ubuntu installed on a couple of my laptops and have never had a problem. The last time I installed Ubuntu was a couple of years ago and it was version 18... and I have never had a problem; everything just worked right out of the box. But now I am retired and no longer need Windows, so I took my 3-year-old Dell Optiplex that has Win10 (that can't be upgraded) and wanted to install Ubuntu.

The latest version is 24..., but it would NOT install. After reading through the forums, I wasn't the only one having issues. I tried everything, changing settings in CMOS, but nothing worked, so I downloaded an older version of Ubuntu 22..., and it installed just fine. But it did an update and broke a bunch of stuff, then asked me if I wanted to upgrade to 24 (that wouldn't install originally), so I did, and it broke more things. Turns out they were still there, just no link to them; some I had to delete and reinstall to get working—the software channel, settings page, control center...

I managed to get everything back up like it should be before Ubuntu updated and screwed it all up, but that's because I am not new to Linux. I've been using it for many years and NEVER have I had problems like this. The forums helped, but the Ubuntu tech guys were useless and told me and a few others that we needed new SSD hard drives. That was NOT the answer. It is almost as if they hired a bunch of clowns that used to work for Microsoft to start writing their code, and I would bet on it, because in all these years Ubuntu never had this much stupid built in.

Not sure what they were thinking, but as far as I am concerned, they screwed the pooch big time and refuse to admit it. So, those looking to dump Windows like I did, I don't think you'll like the new Ubuntu as is. It isn't ready for prime time and won't be until they fire these idiots and do a complete rewrite and go back to the way things were when it all just worked. The last version I installed with zero problems was 18, and it is still on their download site. But be careful when you do updates because the updates were created by the same idiots that screwed up the new version.

If you're computer literate and can follow instructions, all of it can be fixed in Terminal using command line, but you will need to go through a learning process to get the feel of using command line for stuff that used to work right out of the box. Not sure about any other flavors, but I know Mint and most others use Ubuntu's repositories, so you get Ubuntu code, which in my opinion is really screwed up now. So sad to watch them go down this road to a slow suicide.

Get the free Oracle VM VirtualBox program.

Now you install Linux. You can run it in a separate window at any screen size and check out if you like it enough to use full time.

The nice thing is all you have to do is minimize VirtualBox and you still have Windows 10. No worries about not being able to boot up. In Windows 11 and using bitlocker you will have problems doing so.

Google for how to’s: install Linux Mint in VirtualBox