The best way to change desktop environments with Mint is to backup all your data (documents, images, videos etc.) and then freshly install the new version of Mint, restoring your data afterwards. You *can* install multiple desktop environments at the same time in Mint but the results can be shaky, particularly regarding system menus (the different desktop environments have several different default applications).

I would recommend trying MATE as well as it is also less resource-demanding than Cinnamon and I find it solid and flexible. Why don't you try booting both MATE and Xfce off a live media to test them?

Okay. I am not attached to what I have. It is what someone installed in a shop about 40 minutes drive from here. If I could do this myself I gladly will. I am backing up my things. How do I do this you recommend?
Mark

I would manually copy the files that you want to preserve to two external media (USB keys or external hard drives). If you have any files that need to maintain their Linux file attributes, then it would better if these external media were ext4-formatted, but if all you have is e.g. office documents, text files, images, videos etc., then that won't be necessary.

You could also think about backing up your entire partition(s) to an external media using e.g. CloneZilla. That way, you can restore the disk to how it was if you want to go back to Cinnamon. Alternatively, you could do a complete system snapshot (home directory included) with TimeShift for the same purposes.

Another option is to create a new partition on your hard disk and install MATE/Xfce there. That way, you can dual boot between Cinnamon and that distro until you're happy with one or the other. The concept is expandable to more than two distros.

Try the live boots first though so that you can see how reactive the different desktop environments are and whether you like the look and feel of them.

Remember that Cinnamon may not be what's causing your freezing issues. Perhaps you should first obtain more details on the freezing and post the issue in the Linux Mint forum, along with details of your hardware setup, and see what they say there.

Look in your Software Center for XFCE and install it. If it's not in the Software Center you could install it using the cmd-line.

https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=246382

OR> perform a fresh installation of Mint 19 XFCE.-:

I saw on forum.linux to try Mate to type in the Terminal: sudo apt-get install mate-desktop.
I did this but when I restart and choose the Mate option to login it doesn't accept my password so I can't enter. Was this the wrong way to do it? Or is there something I don't understand?

Mark

What you needed to run was :

If that doesn't fix things for you than a fresh installation of Mint 19 XFCE is best.
That way you will have all the lib's, dependencies and pkg's that the system needs.

https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

Okay, I have been playing around. I don't know why but Mate doesn't accept my password. It just doesn't open. So I am running on XFCE now. So far it is working great!

I don't know what you call this but the three, Cinnamon, Mate, and XFCE are options when I log in. As I said Mate doesn't open. I want to try it some more and if I like it would it be better to take the others off. Or how do you recommend I do it?

Also, on XFCE I miss not having the option to open programs and shutting down on the taskbar. I have to right click in my desktop to access these. I am sure there is a way to set in on my taskbar but I haven't found how yet.

Thank you, thank you. I am having fun with my Linux learning.
Mark

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It sounds like Mate is missing something and as a result that's most likely why it's not responding.
If it's not working than yes, If it were my machine I would remove it.

For the taskbar, right click on the panel and choose > panel > add new items.

Thank you. Two questions.
I was at that place to add items, but what do I add? I probably don't understand it but I didn't see it. What is it called?
How do I remove Mate and Cinnamon?
Mark

You're Welcome-

If you wanted to add Firefox you would type firefox and the add items mgr should find it in the list.

To remove Mate:
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=99565
https://askubuntu.com/questions/7849...ntu-mate-16-04

To remove just mate-desktop package itself:
To remove the mate-desktop package and any other dependant packages:
If your fresh installation was 'Linux Mint Cinnamon 19' removing Cinnamon might not be a good idea because it's part of the framework of your install. Removing Cinnamon could remove libraries and other dependent lib's that the os is dependent upon. I'd do some research on it before removing Cinnamon.

I would highly recommend Mark that you install Mint 19 Xfce from afresh.

I completely agree hydrurga.-

Mark if you'd like to do a little experimenting and testing with Linux I recommend running Debian Sid on another machine that you can use as a test bed. Tiger direct has refurbished laptops if you don't want to spen a lot:-

Thank you both for all your help!
So you recommend installing Mint 19 Xfce from fresh. Do you think I can do that? Will I lose my settings? I do have a backup of my files, videos, etc. How complicated is it to do it?
I think if I can get this set up and running good I will be fine.
Mark

Yes:-

Yes.
Go here and download Linux Mint 19 XFCE. Just make sure you download 32-bit if your machine is 32-bit or 64-bit if your machine is 64-bit.
https://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

Once LM 19 XFCE is downloaded check the integrity of the file and than burn the .iso image onto a CD/DVD or USB.
Once LM 19 XFCE is on a Live CD/DVD you can proceed to perform a fresh installation.

If you have your data already backed up then all is good. Yes, you'll have to redo some of your post-install settings, but that will give you the chance to make a note of them somewhere (always useful if you have to do a reinstall yourself or an install for someone else).

I gave you a wee warning earlier that I advised against installing multiple desktop environments in the same Mint installation (you would have been better testing them off live media) and you went on to experience some of why I gave that warning. It's better that you now ditch that slight "Frankenstein's monster" and get back to a single clean desktop environment.

Here is Mint's installation guide:

https://linuxmint-installation-guide....io/en/latest/