OK, 6 GB swap

I will firm up the game plan.

1) I boot the live DVD with LM

2) open gparted

3) Delete sda5 and sda6

4) Not sure what do about extended partition. Install alongside is what I used for the first LM install. Since LM decides partition size with Install Alongside, I would prefer that, not being confident about locating partitions etc.

But you are saying that if I use Install Alongside I will have to delete the extended partition after deleting sda5 and 6.

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I expect if you delete sda5, the old Mint partition, you will have that as the only unallocated space in the Extended partition. You can delete the swap (sda6) but there really isn't any need to. You don't need to do anything with the Extended as you need that for the logical partitions. I've never used the "Alongside" method so I really don't know what options you will have.

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Your Welcome-

Yeah, backup's are very important.

-::-Let us know how your fresh install goes-::-

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THIS IS GREEN ICE. I HAD TO CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT FOR REASONS DESCRIBED BELOW.

Total Disaster.

1)

I Deleted sda5 and sda6 using gparted from the live dvd.

Then went with "Install Alongside"

I used the slider to increase the size to the maximum available space - 181 GB.

But when I rebooted I found what looked like 3 versions if Linux Mint installed. I did not have time to count them because there is time limit on the boot options

The one I picked turned out to be the same version of LM I was trying to replace with same username, would not take my new password, and the same "ICEauthority file cannot be updated" message.

It looks like "Install Alongside" means also install alongside any existing versions of LM.

2)

I went into gparted again and saw not just one but 3 of those little partitions of between 5-6 GB. I could not find out if these were Linux or Windows swaps

I tried to delete the partitions again and start over, but Linux told me is could not delete partitions over number 5

3)

So I want into Window partition manager and just deleted them.

Then I tried to reboot and could not. I got "error....grub....

I could not get into any operating system.

4) Then I reinstalled windows 7 ultimate. I was hoping to post the results here and gets some guidance. But after my HDD failed a few weeks ago I could not get my OEM win 7 pro installation disks from either Sony or MS. I think this is a kind of theft by them since I paid for the Win 7 when I bought the sony laptop. I had to get a computer store to install a hack version of Win 7 Ult. It installed but USB port drivers dont work and it won't connect to internet. Without internet connection I could not install the new drivers.


5) I went back into boot mgr and set it to boot first from the dvd

Then I reinstalled Linux Mint. It said there were some other drives/partitions already mounted and it could unmount them. I said yes, but I dont know if this means those other versions of LM are still on my computer. I wanted to nuke them.

6)

Now I have a useless version of windows, cant open my USB storage (both password protected)

I am able to use LM, but I don't know what's really going on in the partitions.

7)

What I really want to do is
a). wipe my HDD completely
b) get a full version of Win 7 pro 64-bit (internet and drivers) that I can give my valid product key for.
c) Reinstall LM without any stray partitions.

I know I made some mistakes along the way. mainly going into windows partition mgr and deleting those swap partitions.

this is green ice. I had to set up a new account because I cannot access my passwords bcz they are in the USB drive that I need a full version of windows to access.

If Sony or MS would not provide you with Windows 7 than check in the Windows 7 Forums.
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/offi...wnloads.12325/

Once you have Windows installed and you shrink the partition leaving room for your Linux install; installing Mint should go well.

I recommend dd to wipe the HDD-
http://how-to.wikia.com/wiki/How_to_...clean_in_Linux

If your having hard disk failure it may be time to replace the HDD.
Are you still having HDD failure?

Did you choose "something else" and than manually delete the old Mint partitions and than manually create new partitions for your fresh install?