How to install Linux alongside Windows?

I downloaded Linux Mint Cinammon x64

I am ready to format my laptop

how do I install Windows 7 alongside Linux?

Which to install first? Linux or Windows?

Please tell me briefly what is the best way to do this

Also, how big should I set a partition for Linux?

I have C: as 70 GB at the moment where Windows 7 is installed (SSD)

D: (SSD) as another partition of the SSD where I place my Software installation folder (where all the setup.exe are for programs)

and E: (HDD) 1 TB where all my docs, pics, videos are

Thanks

 

Install windows first. You can resize an existing partition if there is no free (unpartitioned) space. Do a chkdsk and make sure to make backups of any data that you need before resizing.

For the OS, you only need say 15GB to be comfortable, but more is better.

If you have 12GB of RAM, you don't really need a swap partition.

 

alright thanks man

 

I always have windows installed first and then install linux. I can't tell you which harddrive to install linux because my laptops only have 1 hdd, but I can tell you this: if you don't plan to install many and large programs in linux, you don't need to assign too much hdd space because linux can access every single file on your ssd/hdd, even windows files, can add or delete windows partition with no problem, that's what I do when some stubborn files won't delete in windows.

after your linux install, make sure your boot menu displays option to run windows, as older linux tend to hide it after fresh install. if that happens, google grub menu (may have another name in cinnamon, which i haven't tried) and type a couple simple commands and get it fixed

 

sudo update-grub