btw you should list all these bugs here:
https://trisquel.info/en/project/issues
so the developers can try to fix them
"I am trying various linux distros and configurations"
see:
https://www.gnu.org/gnu/linux-and-gnu.en.html
and:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU/Linux_naming_controversy
have you run sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
from the terminal?
if you these may correct some of the problems
"* lots of errors using startup disk creator and disks (once i downloaded
disks), managed to make a usb live disk eventually, but it was a big contrast
with Mint, where it worked first time."
its not rely a solution but there is a alternative program:
https://notabug.org/tomlukeywood/FreeNetBootin
"* Icecat and Icedove available in synaptic, but not in add/remove software!"
this is weird i only just noticed this as i normally install from the
terminal or synaptic...
