My HDD on my laptop has not been partitioned. How can I without losing data install linux...

Generally speaking Defrag you're Vista drive first .
It also depends on you're Vista version how to proceed.
Shrink you're HD to make room for Linux
Install Linux on free space.
But this question is ask in past several times , so please search this forum too for exact answer

Hi,
Welcome to LQ!

Your laptop hdd has been partitioned initially by a M$ or second source program to setup the 'M$ Vista'. I would use the 'M$ Vista' disk management tools to first defragment your hdd then use the disk management tools to shrink your install size. Most vendors do provide a recovery partition so you should be aware of that.

Once you have space available to do a GNU/Linux install then just use the Distribution Install CD/DVD. You can then use 'cfdisk' or 'fdisk' to prepare partitions for the install. Once you setup the partitions, I like to re-boot to make sure the kernel partition table is updated. I would then create a filesystem(s) on the partition(s) before a install by using;

The first command will make a swap partition on the designated device which could be on '/dev/hda2' or whatever your device is.

The second command will create a ext3 (-j) filesystem with the label (-L) 'Linux' on the device first checking bad blocks (-c) on your_device_partition which could be 'dev/hda3'.

My reasoning is to insure that the hdd space is not corrupt therefore the install space will be acceptable.

Most modern distributions will setup the system for you.

BTW, the commands are linked to linuxmanpages.com a good online 'man'.

This link and others are available from 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

This may help.

http://apcmag.com/howto_category.htm?cid=198

If you want to avoid problems in booting, you must use Vistas own partitioning tool to change its partition and create free space for linux, being mindful of any hidden partitions. You might use a Partition Magic or GParted live-cd to check and then to partition the free space, as this can be easier for a beginner than doing so under an installation.

If you have installed Vista SP1, you should be able to make a Vista rescue and repair cd. It will be very useful if anything goes wrong. Remember to back up everything.

Good Luck and Welcome to linux.

You haven't partitioned your HDD and you don't want to lose data when installing linux. So I think you don't want to partition the disk do you ? If so, then either you can install linux on the rest of free space which probably hasn't been partitioned yet on your disk OR you just need to use an existent partition with unimportant data to install linux.
Anyway, you have to get a swap partition and at least a root partition(/) to get your linux installed. So that means at some point you have to partition your disk a bit to your necessary needs.
Well, I'm assuming that you have Vista installed already. Then what you need to do is choose a windows partition with unimportant data, or just backup the important data before format it with linux filesystem.

Another solution is you can use wubi(google it please) to install linux on Window, try it : )

Hi,
Sorry, but the 'M$ Vista' install will setup the hdd with partitions. The first is generally the OS install with the second being a smaller recovery partition. Most vendors provide this method of recovery over a second recovery cd/dvd for a Vista based machine.

The OP will have to defragment the 'Vista' drive/partition then resize to allow a install of another OS. Most vendors don't provide additional physical drives unless you pay for them. As the OP is using a laptop then my bet is on a single hdd.

I still suggest that the 'Vista' user utilize the 'disk management' tools to perform the required task(s). You will find that less problems will be likely then when attempting to use outside tools.