Finally solved the previous 'Crash dump' problem by buying another machine. UNFORTUNATELY, it has W10 installed!
Even more unfortunately, it is the latest version which has sunk even lower in the grubby stakes by preventing any access to the bios for dual boot installation. Any attempt to boot from the Linux Mint dvd just brings the machine to a halt and blanks the screen. Does anyone know of a simple (hopefully!) workaround so that I can regain control of the machine which I purchased from the expletive deleteds at MS!!
