I am going with this game plan, courtesy of ChatGPT 4. It aligns very nicely with my goals and the steps involved also seem to coincide nicely with the suggestions made in this thread. Gives me a path forward, which is really what I need now.
Backup Personal Files:
Access your Linux partition (A:).
Mount the Windows SSD (C:) and HDD (F:) within Linux.
Carefully check for any personal files on C: and copy them to F:. Verify that all important data is on F:.
Create a Full Backup of F:
Connect an external storage device with sufficient space.
Create a full backup of your HDD (F:) to this external device. This is crucial to prevent data loss.
Verify Backup Integrity:
Ensure that the backup on the external storage is complete and the files are accessible.
Prepare for OS Installation:
Download the latest Linux Cinnamon 23.10 ISO.
Create a bootable USB drive with this ISO using a tool like Rufus or Etcher.
Remove HDD:
Power down your PC.
Physically remove the HDD (F:) to ensure it remains untouched during the OS installation.
Boot from Linux USB Drive:
Insert the bootable Linux USB drive.
Access BIOS/UEFI and set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
Install Linux Cinnamon on SSD:
Proceed with the Linux installation on the SSD (formerly C:).
During installation, select the option to format and use the entire SSD. This will erase Windows 10 and all data on it.
Post-Installation Checks:
After installation, boot into Linux Cinnamon.
Check that all hardware components are recognized and functioning.
Reinstall HDD:
Power down your PC.
Reinstall the HDD (F:).
Mount and Access HDD in Linux:
Boot into Linux.
Mount the HDD (F:). You may need to install additional drivers or file system utilities depending on its format.
Data Restoration or Access:
If required, restore the personal files from the external backup to HDD (F:).
Alternatively, if the HDD is accessible without issues, use it as is for storage.
Install Necessary Software:
Install any Linux-compatible software that you need.
Final System Checks:
Ensure everything is working as expected.
Make any necessary adjustments in system settings, drivers, or configurations.
Create a New System Backup:
Once everything is set up, consider creating a new system image backup.