
I have a new laptop for school, the HP ProBook S-series that I want to install one of the rolling release distros on (Debian/Arch/Gentoo). I think my laptop is the same make and model as the guy who came to the February Beginner's Workshop and was trying to install Linux Mint. I recognise some of the same partitions on my hdd that he had: Windows/C: is the main one with 383GB free of 442GB, HP_RECOVERY with 2.76GB free of 18.1GB and HP_TOOLS with 2.12GB free of 4.98 GB. I have not installed the other HP partition that lets you log in before the OS is loaded. I thought I had the option of installing Windows (ie they give me the installation discs and a blank hdd) but no, I was taken to the Windows installation immediately after the laptop was turned on, could not get out of it as there was no way to enter the BIOS and I received a call from Microsoft about 30 seconds later to help me activate my license. They were waiting on the line for me to complete the installation before they could help me so what was I supposed to say? My question to you is did anyone keep in contact with the guy who was trying to install Mint and do you know if he had any problems after deleting the HP_TOOLS partition? There is HP software within Windows and I'm wondering if it will detect that the partition is missing. Also can you recommend a good walkthrough for setting up a dual-boot system? I'm pretty good with Linux, it has been my sole OS for a couple years now, but I've never set up a dual-boot system before. I can't format the whole hdd because I need Windows for school and don't have the discs. I have preferred to set up a dual boot system by installing Linux -> creating extra partitions -> installing GRUB -> installing Windows but that's not an option. Regards, Andrew