This is the perfect spot for me. I have just started learning about Linux.
I plan on installing Fedora 25 on an older HP/Compaq 6000 Pro All-In-One.
I need guidance on the partition settings for it.
The HD is a Hitachi HDS721025
C: has OS with 101 GB free of 223 GB
D: has HP Recovery 1.07 GB free of 9.16
I am running Windows 7 Pro
RAM 8.00GB (7.87GB usable)
Intel Dual-Core E7600 @ 3.06GHz
I plan to make the HP a dual boot. Because of college have to have the windows.

You can't install any Linux on a partition with a windows filesystem so you need to use Disk Management in windows to shrink one of your partitions to create unallocated space on which to install Fedora. Familiarize yourself with the Linux naming conventions for drives/partitions as you won't see any C:\ or D:\ drives.

The link below has a brief tutorial on installing Fedora and Ubuntu with windows 7. Skip the end of it which just describes installing Ubuntu. If you have an MBR system which is the default with windows 7, make sure you select to install the Fedora Grub bootloader to the MBR which should show as /dev/sda if you only have one drive.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/15604...-and-windows-7

You will get as many responses as you do respondents as to the amount of space you need for your Linux partitions, how many different partitions to set up, and how much space should be given over to swap.

So, in saying that, I personally would keep it simple to start with and have:

/ (root partition) 20GB
/home 20GB
swap 7GB

This gives you plenty of breathing space unless you're going to start storing movies or similar on your Linux /home partition.

This should all be carved out of the space created by reducing the size of the C: Windows partition. Leave your D: partition be.

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I was either going to try to use disk manager to change the partitions or even better, use VirtualBox to do it. Need to know what to change partitions sizes should be so I get the best out of both OS. I will be loading fedora 25 and adding some things.

20-25GB should be more than enough for your Fedora install. You can use the rest of the space for a data partition if you want or a shared data partition with ntfs which can be accessed from Fedora or windows. Don't know how VirtualBox would fit into the scenario. It's an individual choice as to the number and size of partitions.

1 members found this post helpful.

Dual booting is always a hassle. Virtual Box lets you run both at the same time at the cost of having a little additional work at startup and shutdown. 8GB is a little light on memory for two full OS. It would be better to have at least 12GB.

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VBox! Play with LVM! (1 partition = no_decisions! ; ->'swap FILE!')
THEN, with some [imho] SAFE&EASY experience 'under your belt', explore dual-boot.
Another advantage is it allows using your existing web-browser to search for solutions
while [your='my'] 'Linux all broken' [Ctrl-R=remove VM & N-minute re-do!]
Best wishes: ENJOY! p.s. I have 2G!! netbook XPhost! (no GUI but several NuTyX; a bit slow: 1-3hr to `make` kernel Tryout 'live' distros as fast as you can download them!)

Got it set up.
Decided I didn't want to try dual boot yet. Need more under my belt with Linux. Using the Virtual box with a partition of 20GB, and a swap of 3. Seems to be working great. Windows is a bit slower, but using Fedora more and more each day anyway.