Partition Scheme (Ubuntu/LFS/home etc). Recommendation Please?
 

Hi There All!
Currently, I have the following system:

Dell Insp 1545 160GB HD /3GB RAM
OS: Vista
Partitions: 1. Dell Utility (.5GB)
2. Vista (150ish GB)

So I would like to return to Ubuntu or Slackware.

I would like to partition such that I can also experiment with LFS (Linux From Scratch) in addition to Ubuntu/Slack and Vista. Also I wouldn't mind having a /home partition.

Question 1: How would it be feasible to have 1. Ubuntu 2. Vista 3. LFS 4. /home and 5. Swap (home and swap shared by Ubuntu and LFS partitions (in case I move from LFS to something else)). Maybe using extended or logical partitions? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Questions 2: What is on the Dell Utility Partition?

Q1: As you have more than 4 partition suggestions you will definitely need to go with extended+logical partitions.
Based on the config supplied I would put Ubuntu, Vista and LFS on first 3 primaries and the rest on the extended.
(On a side note: you could always use VirtualBox/VMware to do your dabbling in LFS)

Q2: This partition is generally the first thing I blow away and it is used in conjunction with the Dell install CDs to install
all the Dell specific stuff after the OS is put on.