Windows 10 support is ending, prompting users to consider alternatives like Linux Mint, which is compatible with PCs running Windows 10 and allows exploration without altering the existing setup. To switch to Linux Mint, users need a Windows PC, internet connection, and a USB stick or DVD-RW with at least 4GB of storage, with an estimated installation time of about 2 hours. Users should back up important files before installation and may need to disable Windows Fast Startup, BitLocker, and Secure Boot for a smoother transition. Linux Mint requires 2GB of RAM (4GB recommended) and 20GB of disk space (100GB recommended), and it can run on older machines. Most modern hardware is compatible with Linux, and many cloud-based applications like Microsoft 365 work on Linux. Users can test Mint in a live session before installation to check hardware compatibility.