Bit late to the party, but I'd install Proxmox PVE and then install Node-RED using these helper scripts Proxmox Helper Scripts | Proxmox Scripts For Home Automation
Key benefit, automated snapshots!
And you will probably find you can run lots of other things as well on the same laptop. 
Welp, I don't know if I necessarily came up with the "Best install procedure for installing Debian..." however it's working (i.e. Debian is loading without hanging at the GRUB screen on startup). The solution to that can be found here: Stuck at GRUB command line - Debian User Forums Hopefully this can help someone who has a similar problem in the future! Many thanks to all who helped along the way!! Now on to install node red! Also, I might add that I ended up installing LXQt.
This topic was automatically closed 14 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.
Copyright OpenJS Foundation and Node-RED contributors. All rights reserved. The OpenJS Foundation has registered trademarks and uses trademarks. For a list of trademarks of the OpenJS Foundation, please see our Trademark Policy and Trademark List. Trademarks and logos not indicated on the list of OpenJS Foundation trademarks are trademarksā¢ or registeredĀ® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.
The OpenJS Foundation | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | OpenJS Foundation Bylaws | Trademark Policy | Trademark List | Cookie Policy