Question Audio has started popping and crackling out of nowhere ?

[Voidcraft]

Also, I'm downloading Linux Mint Cinnamon right now - just to be sure, I boot into BIOS, change boot order to look for USB devices first then restart which will then boot up the linux distro? Again, I've never really done much of anything like this before so it's all new to me. Interesting experience, for sure.

 

[Aeacus]

just to be sure, I boot into BIOS, change boot order to look for USB devices first then restart which will then boot up the linux distro?

Yes.

Once you boot from the USB drive, you should be greeted with this image:

Direct link if image doesn't load: https://fostips.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/mint-liveusb-menu.jpg

Rather than installing Mint onto the drive (OEM install), select the "Start Linux Mint" option, where entire distro is loaded into RAM. It takes a while to load, but this way, you can boot into Live Linux Mint desktop without installing it.
Heck, you can disconnect all other storage drives as well, if you're worried overwriting your data.

(I have the same bootable Linux Mint configuration on my USB thumb drive for data recovery purposes.)

 

[Voidcraft]

Alright, thanks. When I get around to it I'll post an update!