I tried dual booting Linux Mint with Windows, but I may have booted the installers in different modes and had trouble getting back into Windows. Mint also had laggy video and intermittent HDMI audio to my TV.
Would something like Zorin be easier, or should I troubleshoot Mint first? I don't want to risk the Windows installation again.
Before trying another installer, check how Windows currently boots and make sure the Linux installer uses the same mode. A Legacy Windows install and a UEFI Linux install can make dual boot confusing. Changing the firmware setting alone may leave Windows unable to start.
Back up anything you care about and keep a working Windows recovery USB handy. If Windows is already booting in UEFI mode, boot the Linux USB in UEFI mode too. If it's in Legacy mode, look into the options for that setup before changing partitions or converting anything.
I wouldn't count on Zorin fixing the HDMI audio just because it's a different distro. Video lag and audio dropouts could involve graphics drivers or hardware compatibility, but there's not enough information here to pin either one on a particular component.
Post the PC model, graphics hardware and how the TV is connected. It would also help to know which graphics driver Mint was using and whether the problems happen with another display or audio output.
q.650~bramblegasket:
So the distro name alone can't really confirm whether the TV audio will work?
_c71+buttonrivet.4:
Right. The hardware, driver and display setup all matter, so another distro might behave differently but isn't a guarantee.
Try a live USB before installing again. You can test Mint, Zorin or Fedora without committing to a disk install, and check video playback and HDMI audio on the actual TV.
It's a useful first filter, not a guarantee that an installed system will behave exactly the same. If a live session has the same problem, note the hardware details before swapping audio components around.
If the PC has room for a second drive, keeping Linux on its own drive is worth considering. It can make the storage layout easier to understand, though you still need to pay attention to boot mode and where the installer puts boot files.
Either way, don't delete those small partitions just because they appeared in Windows Explorer. Figure out what they are first.
Mint gets recommended as beginner friendly, but dual booting and hardware quirks can still make the first install frustrating. There's no need to treat a rough attempt as a verdict on your ability.
Think about what you want Linux for before spending another day on it. Testing from a USB or keeping Windows as your main system for now are both reasonable options.
Answers are reviewed before publication.
h.905+buslatch:
In Windows, System Information shows the BIOS mode. The firmware boot menu may also show separate UEFI and Legacy entries for the same USB.