Solved Installing Windows7 without removing Vista recovering partition (DELL)

My Dell Laptop came with Windows Vista Home Premium. I didn't get any Windows Disk but there is a Windows Vista Recovery partition from which I can restore laptop to the condition it was when I first got it. It has only 2 partitions; the system partition and recovery partition.
Now I want to install Windows 7. I tried to shrink the system partition so I can save the Vista installation, programs and data and install Win7 for a dual boot but I can only get 14GB even though HDD capacity is 320GB and free space is more than 100GB. I like to have the ability of restoring my laptop anytime to its original condition with Vista.

Basically,
1 - I need to install Win 7 and use it regularly
2 - Want to have the ability to restore that to its factory settings ( Don't want to harm the Recovery partition & ability to recover from it)
3 - Optionally! Better if I can dual boot the default Vista with my new Win 7

Shrinking won't help because it doesn't give enough space, can I use Norton Ghost or something like that to save my original HDD image. But then I will have it saved somewhere else not in my own Laptop if I had to remove the recovery partition and format the disk again.
Please give me my options and tools which I can use. Thank you very much.

Installing Windiws 7 may/may not make the Dell Recovery Partition unusable.

How to use Dell Recovery Partition,make Recovery Disks & how to order Recovery Disks.
Dell - Support

theog said:

Installing Windiws 7 may/may not make the Dell Recovery Partition unusable.

How to use Dell Recovery Partition,make Recovery Disks & how to order Recovery Disks.
Dell - Support

Click to expand...

Thank you very much. Seems I can use DataSafe 2.0 to backup my system to recovery disks. My problem is, whether there is a way that I can save the recovery partition and install Win7 to system partition so I can restore to Vista later if I wanted, or is it possible to dual boot this.

is it possible to dual boot this.

Click to expand...

Best to have only 3 partitions.
For partitioning take a look at this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5166-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-vista.html

First uninstall anything you don't use on Vista and get rid of files and junk not needed. Then use CCleaner Disk and Registry tab to clean it up, defrag with Puran Defragger Boot-time defrag with Full Disk Check:
CCleaner - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com
Puran Defrag Free Edition - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Now see how much Disk Mgmt will shrink Vista partition. If not enough, use the Resize function on free Partition Wizard bootable CD which always works since no System Files are running.

Now follow these steps to Dual Boot with Vista: Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

gregrocker said:

First uninstall anything you don't use on Vista and get rid of files and junk not needed. Then use CCleaner Disk and Registry tab to clean it up, defrag with Puran Defragger Boot-time defrag with Full Disk Check:
CCleaner - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com
Puran Defrag Free Edition - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Now see how much Disk Mgmt will shrink Vista partition. If not enough, use the Resize function on free Partition Wizard bootable CD which always works since no System Files are running.

Now follow these steps to Dual Boot with Vista: Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista

Click to expand...

Thank you very much. It seems this method suits my need perfectly. I will post back if there is any problem. Thank you.