Partitioning for multi-boot, help please?

I'm getting a new laptop and I'd really like to play with multi-booting into several OS's, just as a challenge for myself. I'm not an expert at this kind of stuff but I enjoy little projects like that. Anyway I'm getting a 500gb hard drive and am thinking of putting on 3 or 4 OS's, Vista (comes with the laptop), Windows 7 (7057 or whatever is the newest build), Ubuntu.
What my question is is how do you recommend I partition the drives? Equal size each? Can they all share one big partition for files?
Also, if I get tired of the OS's I can always resize my main partition back to the full hd size cant' I?

 

I'd need to write a book to answer your questions. Not to be disparaging, but I don't think you'd enjoy or are prepared for the hassles that come with these sorts of tinkering. Do not try this especially if this is your primary computer. Ubentu is close enough. Just dual boot Ubentu and Vista. There are great guides on this if you could GOOGLE.

 

I have googled it, in fact I've dual booted between Windows 7 and XP, and between XP and Ubuntu before. I just was wondering what you guys thought. Especially about sizes of partitions. I'm definitely putting on Windows 7 anyway so I'll do a dual boot, Vista and 7, at least.

 

You could theoretically find out roughly how much would be a good size for each OS partition + updates, then part accordingly and have a seperate partition for data/programs etc...

Just remember that Ubuntu uses a different file system, so you won't be able to access files on your ubuntu partition from windows. (though obviously can access the NTFS partitions just fine). Ubuntu's partition will need to be big enough to hold all your apps, and anything you want to appear in Ubuntu's My Docs/Pics/Vids/etc.

8 gigs + documents space should be fine, but since you've got 500Gb to play with you might as well give yourself some breathing room.

Don't know how the seperate registries for the windows OSes would work with programs, but it's no biggie to try it and find out lol.

If you decide it's not what you want, yes, you can wipe it and start over with a single partition.

 

I have a 320GB drive and tri-boot XP, Vista, Ubuntu. I gave Ubuntu 40GBs, Vista 160GB, and XP 80GB. That puts the total around 280GB leaving 40GB for the recovery partition + formatting differences (320GB drive shows up at around 300GB because of different counting methods.)

The sizes of the partitions are a personal preference. I gave Vista a lot more because it's a resource hog and all my data, music, and videos are on that partition.

 

I'd give probably 400GB to Vista, and 50GB each to 7 and Ubuntu. Of course, when you get a 500GB hard drive, you're not getting a 500GB of space, but you get the idea. Give the most space to Vista. It won't expire like Windows 7 (though it doesn't matter too much, since Vista can see the 7 partition). The file system used in Windows 7 and Vista can be read by all the operating systems. Ubuntu, however, uses ext4 (for most people), so Vista/7 can't read it without modification.