With the dual boot if you're not paying attention when the 'Grub Loader' appears you wind up not going into the os you want.
A stand alone machine is the best way to go about it, actually Linux Mint 18.3 is as close to W7 as you can get and just as easy to use. I'll be going with the 18.3 XFCE as it has all the stuff I need and then a wee bit more. Make a 'Live CD' of Mint and give it a try, it doesn't affect the OS that's in the machine already.