A query about ISOs

[norm.h]

Only a query, not an issue.

In the past I have downloaded the LM19.3 to DVD and more recently to a USB stick.
I can't remember which of the 3 sites available I used for which download.
Installing from the DVD to 2 different laptops, overwriting an earlier version of Mint I had no issues, but I did have issues installing to a new laptop with the USB stick.
The main issues [subsequently overcome] were a much earlier kernel and version of Firefox.

So my query is, if there are a number of possible sites to download an ISO from, will those ISOs be identical, or could there be subtle differences, such as different versions of an app, or different kernel?

[SMG]

So my query is, if there are a number of possible sites to download an ISO from, will those ISOs be identical

Yes, they should all be identical.

[absque fenestris]

...
Installing from the DVD to 2 different laptops, overwriting an earlier version of Mint I had no issues, but I did have issues installing to a new laptop with the USB stick.
...

I can only agree with you about using a DVD as installation media.
In my case, I still have a few DVD-RAMs in stock, which also somehow look and feel more "high-end" and are accordingly very suitable for installing Mint.

... noblesse oblige

[Rocky Bennett]

Since my system is UEFI, I had to quit using DVDs as an installation media about 7 years ago. USB sticks work best for a UEFI installation. Of all of the hundreds of sites that are listed at the Linux Mint official site to download from, they are all the same ISO.

[absque fenestris]

And my installation of Mint 20.0 Cinnamon on a laptop year 2019 was done via external DVD drive and the burned installation ISO DVD...

Well... Linux Mint can not do more than work and since it works, I see no reason why I should change my preferred installation mode.

[norm.h]

Thanks for the clarifications

I'm seriously considering forking out for an external DVD drive.

[absque fenestris]

Thanks for the clarifications

I'm seriously considering forking out for an external DVD drive.

You might be interested in these postings regarding current drives:

viewtopic.php?f=48&t=348859

[Rocky Bennett]

Thanks for the clarifications

I'm seriously considering forking out for an external DVD drive.

Here in the United States, blank DVDs are cheap by the hundred. I always buy a pack of 100 Memorex discs real cheap because they come in handy.

[AndyMH]

While most of the time booting in UEFI mode from a stick just works. I have a problematic desktop that will only boot from an NVME drive in UEFI mode and will not boot a linux iso from a stick in UEFI mode. It did happily boot from DVD and that was how I installed both win and mint.