If you have a free USB stick, format it and follow the installation guides.
Trying on a USB stick will allow you to see how it works without committing to a full install.
Both Linux Mint and Ubuntu are Free.
Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.
linuxmint.com
Ubuntu is the modern, open source operating system on Linux for the enterprise server, desktop, cloud, and IoT.
ubuntu.com
On my older laptop the hard drive is knackered. I still have it in use via the Mint operating system on USB. It works quite well.
Persistence mode on Ubuntu will allow you to save settings - although it will be a bit slower. Unfortunately Mint doesn't currently offer this feature.
In response to your comment. All technology becomes slower over time. File sizes become larger and hardware requirements become more demanding for modern software. This is more true for the Windows operating system which becomes ever more bloated with crap.
Android and Apple OS used on mobile phones and tablets, are a fork of the Linux operating system.