depending on how complicated it is to swap out the hard disk, i’d swap out the windows drive and put in a new one (preferably an ssd, they make a big difference even in older computers) - this way you’ll keep the option to put it back if you’re really lost, you can back up stuff there
mint is a good place to start, no need for coding.
you do need to get adjusted a bit, the complaints about “how difficult it is to do things on linux” is often because people try doing stuff exactly like they did on windows, and sure, you can do exactly the same thing but you need to set up, sometimes compile tools for it - or you can search in the software manager or search on the web for “xy linux alternative”
for instance file sharing - yeah linux supports samba (the windows file sharing protocol), it works, but imo it kinda sucks (but tbf it sucked on windows too), so i started looking for alternatives and just allowing an ssh connection allows you to directly connect to machines with your username, and also allows sftp file transfers, and it works so much better

specifically one of the kellog brothers, the one who did the marketing part. the other wanted to sell cornflakes so that people don’t masturbate

just buy an extra ssd (i’d recommend 200 gigs at least, but if you’re gaming, obvs more space is needed), and install linux mint or pop os on it. imo pop is easier, but mint is more windows-like
set your bios to boot from the new ssd, and make sure you install everything on the same drive
and just keep the windows install, so if you need it or linux is too hard, you can go back easily
i think you have physical space for several more sata drives, so if you need even more space you can get a larger regular hdd, for linux stuff

fyi, while most games will happily run on linux, but you can’t use the same steam library folder, i’ve tried lol, so take that into consideration (however other loaders, like heroic launcher and lutris can run stuff installed on a windows partition, as long as the prefix is on a linux one. technically i guess you could use drm free steam installs too, but i’m already getting into the weeds, for simplicity’s sake, just use a separate drive)

you can use ntfs (windows) partitions, for example i use two for downloads, movies, music and other platform agnostic stuff

i’d be happy to help if you need it

if we’re being paranoid, unplug or swap out the linux disks while running windows
i wouldn’t bother though, windows itself doesn’t mount non-ntfs partitions (again, unless we’re being paranoid and assume that they do, since it is relatively easily done, it’s open source, technically they could be able to do it)
also people in this thread are not doing dual booting right, i have multiple pcs with windows and various linuxes, the latest machine has two distros as well, and i never had an issue, in many years (the oldest is an athlon x2 with windows 7 and mint 22.1)
i think the key to my success is that i install them on separate drives, so windows has its own boot sector and everything, and then the linux bootloaders find it and do their own thing

it has though, at least according to most phone makers
the average person (me included) isn’t bothered by the minimal loss of quality and latency, at least on the move

Bluetooth has replaced the aux port
i held out for quite a while, but i got a shokz bone conducing headset about five years ago and i had to admit, the sound quality is pretty good, so i got a fairbud xl more recently and they both work great with my phone. i still use a wired headset and mic with my pc though

depends on the context, on the bingo, i interpret it as “i don’t want to go vegan, i only eat a little meat anyways”