Win7 PRO dual boot with Linux Mint on a new Lenovo E540

I have a new Lenovo E540 preloaded with OEM Win7 PRO 64 bit ... and no discs
- (other than an upgrade to Win8.1 PRO ... no thanks)

Q1: How do I make a recovery disc of the current Win7 PRO 64bit ?
- I have never done it before .. a recovery virgin.

So far ... when the Lenovo was started the OS was registered with MS but I declined any upgrades until the PC is carefully prepared and imaged before any use and exposure to the internet.
- registration of the OS was unavoidable because the Lenovo took possession as soon as the PC was booted.

The Lenovo is a clean machine , so I want it properly setup and imaged to simplify future maintenance.

Q2: At what point do I create partitions for ... ?
1. Win7 PRO
2. Linux OS -- Mint

Q3: For testing downloads should I create a dedicated test partition or just use a SandBoxie tool ?

Else where in this forum I read a post by Greg Rocker recommending to uninstall all the Toshiba crapware BUT I noticed that he recommended that some Toshiba stuff be retained.
Previously (again in this forum) I have read to dump branded laptop OEM all together and just use a generic OEM on a laptop.

I would be grateful for any guidance. Thank you :)

--------------------
LENOVO E540 SPECS:
E540-20C600BVAU
Intel i5 | 1TB HDD | 4GB RAM | 2x USB3 | 1x USB2
Win-7 PRO 64-bit | (with discs to upgrade to Win8.1)

Hi,
Show your disk management screen shot,
Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

I wasn't able to dual boot with Linux with just a 100mb system reserved partition
If there is just C drive it can easily be done
But with a system reserved partition in place plus C drive Linux the only option was to install along side win-7 and to me that was just a little too cozy seeing as so many infection don't effect Linux but do effect Windows.
Without at the very least a separate partition in place the entire drive is pretty open.

You might on the other hand have a system restore to factory state plus a 100mb system reserved partition already.

Hi ThrashZone,

Disk Management on the Lenovo (Win7 PRO) is nothing like this Toshiba (Win7 Home Premium)
There is a lot of Lenovo crapware that is meaningless to me and trying to navigate with a mouse pad is very annoying because many context menus simply don't show with mouse pad right-click ....

Tomorrow I will have to get a wireless keyboard and mouse so I can get some sense out of the Lenovo.

Available fields in Disk Management varies between Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image step 5 ... AND ... the Lenovo ... AND ... this Toshiba. Very frustrating.
I have only ever "played" with partitions on on an external HDD (successfully) using MiniTool (or was it GParted?) A fresh download for Free MiniTool is only available from CNet
And if I remember GParted was a headache

The Lenovo is not listing enough details you are asking for ....

I will try to make some progress to morrow and get back to you
Appreciating your help :)

Hi welcome back :)
Take your time I'm in no rush.
Cheers.

Hi ThrashZone ... (thank you for your patience)
Is this what you require ?



I have only partitioned an external USB HDD (1TB) before ... using installed MiniTool Partition Wizard.
- the Lenovo only gives about a half-second to capture BIOS ... no time to even read F8 (or what ever) to boot from MiniTool Bootable PM
- today in desperation I copied an older installed version of MTPW folder to a thumb drive and it worked on the Lenovo as a portable app. (And there is the usual collection of links on Start --> Programs that signifies a local installation )

-----------
SPECS:
Lenovo was sold as 1 TB HDD but now it looks like I have only half that
- no matter as I use an external HDD (1TB) partitioned for data.
LENOVO E540:
E540-20C600BVAU
Intel i5 | 1TB HDD 500GB HDD | 4GB RAM | 2x USB3 | 1x USB2
Win-7 PRO 64-bit | (with discs to upgrade to Win8.1)

Hi,
Well most people would use this to image backup a system
Imaging with free Macrium

As far as the disk management image minitool is good although the previous posted tutorial would be nice too

Dual booting well Linux is tough and you'd be better off using VMware and using Linux in a virtual machine environment imho
The second safest way is to remove your existing hdd and install a new one and install Linux or really anything else on it to use = that is how I prefer to dual boot another os especially Linux where viruses..... do not effect Linux but do windows.