Well. Maybe this costly event increases the chance for a sudden moment of enlightenment.
Don't trust neither Microsoft's words, nor the settings in their software. Your system does not belong to you anymore - it belongs to them. Your privacy as well. Because YOU are the product now.
Welcome to the brave new world. - Go Linux. Apple, Google are not any better than MS - MS trails them.
Linux Mint has been developed to be as similar to Windows as they could make it, by this helping the migration from Windows to Linux. Its the Linux distribution of choice, if you are new to Linux. Saving an ISO to a bottable USB stick allows you to boot with Linux and check all its offers without needing to install it on HD. You can also test whether your laptop likes it or not. Testing several drivers for gfx card may be needed. Before installing to HD, mayke sure you got some edcuation on how to partition the HD best for Liunux, and how to avoid messing up the boot loader in case you chose a dual installation with Windows. Also, UEFI and BIOS need different procedures - UEFI was pushed by MS last but not least to make it more difficult for Linux advancing into Windows territories.