Factory-Set Dual-Boot Recommendations/Questions

Hey all,

So, I'm basically new to Linux (I've run a few versions on CDs years ago to get a feel) and have always used Windows & Mac OS'. Tomorrow I will be putting in an order for a Clevo P150HM and the reseller I'm working with said they'd be willing to configure a dual-boot for me. I plan to go with Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and Linux. This leaves two questions:
1. Which Linux distribution to choose ( please read below before answering)?
2. Any concerns about letting them configure it for me, instead of doing it myself (e.g. partition sizing)?

About me / technical skill:
I've got my bachelor's in computer science and deal with how-to stuff all the time (e.g. overclocking, undervolting, building bird houses, etc), so I don't necessarily need a super-easy transition OS. I want something I might want to stick with after I become adept with Linux. Additionally, I am VERY security minded (and was considering Lightweight Portable Security [from the Department of Defense]). Why? Because I'm getting my Master's in Information Security and my career revolves around this stuff. So, it seemed about time I get used to OS' other than Mac and Windows. Of course, I could always throw LPS on a USB-key and play-around with it, so it doesn't have to be my "official" dual-boot choice. Whatever I choose to dual-boot with I plan to leave be for a while, however.

Three notes:
1. I'm hoping the Linux distribution you guys suggest will be able to share files with Windows (e.g. a "storage" partition for video games [big Steam fan] and then I would try using Wine [is that the app Linux people use?] to try and run games in comparison to just running Win 7 [although I'm sure Windows 7 will run them better...I'm just curious as to the difference]).
2. I like the idea of a prepared distribution with firefox, wine, open office, and any other common Linux apps. It's not necessary, however...so, try and not go crazy with the "I LOVE LINUX MINT / UBUNTU" craze, haha. If those really are the best though, then feel free to explain why to me. After all, that's why I'm on here appealing to you all for advice.
3. I'll be using a 250GB SSD. No secondary drive. Just in case you recommend something mammoth-like, which I doubt anyone will.

Thanks!

 

Whichever distro you go with to start with, you can then use something like kvm or xen to run a virtual machine of any other distro for testing and fun, so for your first distro, go with one that has the level of polish and integration and pre-loaded stuff you want. It's nice with something like Mint to just download any old .avi or .mkv file and be able to play it without jumping through hoops. But it's not like it's particularly hard work to get FC or Ubuntu there either.

I'd split the drive about 80/20 windows to linux, since linux can read ntfs partitions but windows can't read any of the ext2/3/4 partitions that linux will run on.

Wine is the preferred emulator, but it's not particularly fast or feature complete and many modern programs may have a few issues. Running windows in a VM might work for things like office apps etc. Games will still run fastest and most usable in native windows.

And what the heck, letting them set it up, the worst that can happen is you blow it away and start over.

 

If I'm understanding you correctly: Linux can read/write on/to Windows-partition-stored data, but Windows can not read/write on/to Linux-partition-stored data. Is that correct?

Also, worst case scenario (they mess up the Linux config): I can just delete that partition and re-do it myself, yeah? Or if the partition size is too small, is it easy enough to reduce the partition size for Windows and increase it for Linux?

 

I'm just thinking out loud here...

~ a 250Gb formatted will leave you with 246Gb available (not including any recovery partitions). If they let you specify partition sizes you need to figure out how much you want for linux. I agree with Sxooter on size. I would probably allocate 200Gb for windows and the remainder (46Gb) for linux. The good news is that once your dual boot partitions are setup, its a breeze to nuke a linux install and put a new one over it using a live cd. The grub boot loader will be reinstalled and your good to go.

~ I'm not sold on going with "LPS". its a brand new distro and probably needs the bugs worked out of it. I would consider going with debian, suse, fedora, or mint. try some of the live cd's out and see what you think. In any event, its so easy to nuke and reinstall something else in its place (without even touching windows).

~@wine: I've rarely ever gotten any modern games or apps to work correctly with wine. Maybe that's just me but if your dual booting, just run it from windows.

 

If you need to resize partitions just boot off a live ubuntu CD/USB and use gparted (or if you prefer the command line just plain old parted)

 

Thank you S. Prime and Sxooter for your feedback. I'm thinking I'll go with Fedora, Kubuntu or Mint (any big differences?) and live usb LPS, and do a 15-20% partition for Linux to start (and modify it in the future, as needed). I am still wondering as to my prior question about reading/writing ability between the two OS' however. Can anyone enlighten me?

Also, oh man! I would have thought this section of the forums was more active. No posts in this thread for nearly 3 whole days and it's still among the top-10 most active threads.

 

I would make sure to use ntfs-3g in order to read / write NTFS partitions from Linux. The built-in Linux kernel module doesn't quite have a full-featured write capability.

If the distro you choose doesn't load it automatically, you can find it here:

NTFS-3G + Ntfsprogs | Tuxera

To go the other way round, (Linux partitions from Windows), just do a search and you'll find plenty of solutions - but I would stick with the ext3/4 filesystem for your Linux partitions to make life easier.

One thing about letting the reseller configure your dual boot for you - I generally like to have four Linux partitions - one each for swap, root, /usr/local, and /home. That allows me to grow / shrink based on needs. I can also reinstall the system without having to wipe out any non-distro software I've installed or custom settings stored in my home directory. Just a thought.