I'm Scared

[Moreach]

I let my system go, so am now stuck w/ Mint #2, Betsy. I desperately need to upgrade but am near paralyzed w/ fear of bollixing entire PC, which I need as my phone is not smart. I have very spotty learning of computers, so probably should be considered as a beginner as there's lots of holes in my knowledge.

Current status:
To list what's going on in Betsy:

Code: Select all

inxi -Frxzc0
Result:  Host: suzecomp Kernel: 3.16.0-11-amd64 x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 4.9.2)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.4.6 (Gtk 3.14.5+4)
           Distro: LinuxMint 2 betsy
Machine:   System: Dell product: OptiPlex 755
           Mobo: Dell model: 0GM819
           Bios: Dell v: A09 date: 03/11/2008
CPU:       Dual core Intel Core2 Duo E8200 (-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 10640
           Clock Speeds: 1: 2000 MHz 2: 2667 MHz
Graphics:  Card: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] RV610 [Radeon HD 2400 PRO]
           bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.16.4 drivers: ati,radeon (unloaded: Fdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1280x720@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD RV610
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 10.3.2 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: ALSA v: k3.16.0-11-amd64
Network:   Card: Intel 82566DM-2 Gigabit Network Connection
           driver: e1000e v: 2.3.2-k port: ecc0
           bus-ID: 00:19.0
           IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full
           mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 540.1GB (45.1% used)
           ID-1: /dev/sdb model: WDC_WD5000AAKS size: 500.1GB
           ID-2: /dev/sda model: ST340212AS size: 40.0GB
           ID-1: / size: 9.1G used: 7.1G (83%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: swap-1 size: 8.00GB used: 1.66GB (21%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda2
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 39.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 66.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Repos:     Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
           deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
           deb http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/linuxmint-packages betsy main upstream import
           deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ jessie main contrib non-free
           deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ jessie-updates main contrib non-free
           deb http://security.debian.org/ jessie/updates main contrib non-free
           deb http://www.deb-multimedia.org jessie main non-free
           deb http://extra.linuxmint.com betsy main
           Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera-stable.list
           deb https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free #Opera Browser (final releases)
Info:      Processes: 205 Uptime: 6:03 Memory: 1559.3/2007.4MB
           Init: SysVinit runlevel: 2 Gcc sys: 4.9.2
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.301) inxi: 2.1.28

<end>

[Moem]

Mod note:
Moved the topic to the LMDE area, since you are talking about Betsy, not Main Edition.

[Pierre]

do you wish to remain using the LMDE system ?
or move to the Main Edition ?

it is fairly straight-forward to do any upgrade,
https://itsfoss.com/install-linux-mint/
is an slightly older Tutorial, but the method, remains the same way.
except it uses the Windows System, as it's starting point.

you can also confirm, each step, one at an time, if you wish to do that, too.

you can do this, all in the one session too, with some on-line forum help.