@PurpleJillybeans We need to emphasize that (a) you can run Linux from a usb live (or DVD more slowly) and (b) some distros will dual boot with Windows (until you are happy to renounce Windows). There also needs to be a friendly place for questions (other than Distrowatch which is too advanced).
@linuxgnome @PurpleJillybeans everything i have needed so far i got by asking my question here, with the linux hashtag.