Hello.

I am new in the forum and I need some help with an issue. Hope you can help a noob .

First, I really need dual-boot so I just can't install only linux.

I want to install Debian in a notebook using Windows 7. The notebook has already 3 partitions, two if them are for notebook recovery purposes and I don't want(for now) to delete them.

Since you know the hardware only support 4 partitions, I created , using Gparted, a fourth Extended Partition. Inside this Extended Partition I created two logical partitions, one for root(/) and the another one for swap.

The point is that I restarted the notebook and I coulnd't boot Windows 7 anymore. To make the thing boot again, I deleted the extended partition I created(using Gparted again) and rebooted. With this last procedure Windows 7 booted again.

So the question is: Why this happened and how can I accomplish this task in a safely manner?

Thanks for your help!

please explain HOW you resized win7 to make room for that 4th extended partition
also you will need more that / and swap unless you WANT to replace the windows bootloader with a linux one ( windows 7 might not like that )

also those two ??? two ???? 2 recovery partitions are a bit ODD
there should only be ONE -- from the OEM


on win7 -premium, business, and ultimate ( not sure if home basic has the needed tools)

BUT the linux / boot partition needs to be on a primary partition
or replace the windows bootloader with the linux grub2 or lilo


as to "why" ???
Did you delete the partition win7 was on when you made the "extended" partition ?
if so
use that win7 RESCUE dvd that win7 HAD YOU MAKE on the VERY FIRST BOOT
or
buy a now not free win7 install dvd from Microsoft . You will need the license code on the red sticker on the computer to reinstall win7

Here I posted my partitions. The first 3 ones came with the notebook by default.
(Sorry, cant find how to post an image yet. I guess with the [img] tags will do the task, but the post just show a link)
http://s16.postimg.org/z7ktkweyt/recovery.jpg

I created the fourth one(the L: drive) using the Windows Disk Management. I shrinked the C: volume and let an amount of unallocated space. Next, using Gparted, I assigned the unallocated space to an Extended Partition. Inside that extended partition I created two logical partitions.

I'm pretty sure I selected the L: volume inside Gparted. Remeber that I deleted the fourth partition and I was able to boot again windows. I didn't need any rescue disk, just deleted the new extended partition.

have no idea at this point

what i normally do is 100% wipe the OEM partitions out and reinstall win7 from the install dvd .
-- my thinking on this is it win7 is so messed up then the recovery partition is NOT to be trusted and is likely infected with viruses also.
the install dvd is a KNOWN good clean source

and i have never needed the "Microsoft only tools" that come preinstalled on a drive

systemrescurCD or gparted live cd or Knoppix normally have all the "tools" one would need to fix a drive

that and keep a copy of MS registry "restore points" on a back up dvd

Thanks very much. It's a notebook from my company. I have authorization to wipe out the "recovery" and "hp_tools".

Thanks for your help!