Linux Reaches 5 per cent in the USA - The Year of the Linux Desktop_

Linux has gotten SO much better over the last 25 years......
The ready to go operating systems with all the necessary software in them...
My recommendation - back up all your work.
Get your good operating laptop - keep it as is.
Do a full install of Linux on your desk top - and use the laptop to help sort out things that you may not understand on your desk top.
Easy Peasy - you learn by doing.
The spare operating laptop, gets you access to all the things if you do something wrong on your desk top.
You can look up answers, how-too's, manuals, etc..