Trying To Dual Boot with Windows - Linux FirstThink I Goofed

[websmoken]

Hi Gurus..My 1st post here so easy on me.

I'm yet another Newbie. Got hit with a Trojan on Windows and wiped disked and installed the mint. I like Linux but have some other winblows program that the wifey likes and the few that I do, I am trying to dual boot with Linux first and doing some research on the "how tos".
I've been playing around with G-parted live CD and now have some(2 extras besides the 1 I need for Windows) "unallocated partitions" I couldn't move the swap to the center like it said in the tutorials. It remains between the 2 unallocated partitions that I screwed up and created. .. 200GB total drive Hope you can tell by data below but mainly have 2 big partitions to the left & 3 little 1's all the way to the right with swap in the middle..

|../dev/sda1-93.56G || unallocated-89.89G |unallocated-964.84MB||Linux swap /dev hda5-1GB|unallocated-941.31MB|

I tried to delete them but delete was "grayed out". Do I need to just wipe the disk and start over since I don't have any data that I didn't already backup on ext HD? Maybe do Windows 1st?

Thanks Guys
(Hitting submit and hiding)

[devils casper]

Hi and Welcome !

First of all, its a bit tricky to install Windows OS after Linux and Windows OS doesn't work in a few machines.

I would suggest you to wipe HD, install Windows OS first. 10-15 GB space is enough for Linux. Linux installer will detect Windows OS and setup dual boot itself. You wont have to do anything special. You will have choice to boot up either OS at startup.

[Jonathan183]

Welcome to the forums websmoken

If you intend doing a Windows / Linux dual boot then I suggest you install Windows first. You can either setup the partitions you want before or after the Windows install.

I think it is easier for you to just do a fresh Windows install followed by a fresh Linux Mint install.

[websmoken]

Thanks

I sorta figured that would be the best route to go. I've got HP and they use recovery partition. I had backed up recovery on 2 DVD's. Would I be able to delete that partition or beter to leave it alone. What I'd like to do is get extra HD.

Later, Again Thanks

[Jonathan183]

Thanks

I sorta figured that would be the best route to go. I've got HP and they use recovery partition. I had backed up recovery on 2 DVD's. Would I be able to delete that partition or beter to leave it alone. What I'd like to do is get extra HD.

Later, Again Thanks

I'd keep the utils partition ... if you boot from the Mint live CD you should be able to delete all Linux partitions (may struggle to get rid of swap)

[websmoken]

I'm a gonna take some great advice.

Don't think you've heard the last of me. )