PPC
If you have the resources – always have a pendrive (even a older 4 gig model) with antiX installed, to use to rescue your files from a non bootable computer.
You seem to be someone without fear of trying new stuff (I gather as much from how hard you tried to install stuff on your computer, without even knowing how to run the printer driver installed you had already downloaded)
Keep trying to do stuff, we are never too old to learn, and if, you have back up copies, you can break your linux install as much as you want- reinstalling antiX and copying back youre files and folders can be usually done in 15- 25 minutes. You you create a copy of your system to a pen drive, it’s even faster!
Oh, and read about frugal installs! They are great for testing stuff, and install in about 1-2 minutes (I kid you not)
P.