Computer Help and Support

So here's a link that will help guide you through making a bootable USB rescue drive.

As for getting away from Micro$haft, I enthusiastically recommend you take a look at Zorin OS. It's a custom Linux distribution (which is pretty much what Mac's iOS is), but it is uniquely designed to be able to mimic the GUI of either Windows, Mac or Ubuntu, so the learning curve for switching OS isn't all that bad.

It also has WinE (a windows emulator) installed, so it can run Windows applications, and the paid versions come with a host of useful applications pre-installed. I just recently migrated a friend from Windows 10 for exactly this same reason. And with the flagship Ultimate version running about $25 USD (19 euro), it's a far sight cheaper than buying a Mac, and will work surprisingly well on older hardware like your laptop.

Feel free to PM me if you need some more personalized assistance.