Hi
I have an HP Mini 210-1000 notepad with an external CD/DVD drive attached to it.
I also have a set of backup disks of the original Windows 7 operating system. It currently is running Linux Mint 7 OK.

What I want is to reinstall the original Windows 7 operating system and then the Linux Mint 10 as a dual boot.
If the dual boot is not possible, then I want just the Linux.

I have a desktop computer with two hard drives. One running Ubuntu 10.10 and the other Linux Mint 10 (which I prefer).
I also have 1, 2, 4 and 8 gig flash drives as well as a 4 gig disc.
I am 84 years and need step by step help if possible or a source that can help me.

Thanks,

Pete Perry
51 bond Road
Riverside Rhode Island 02915
USA
401 892-0827 (cell phone)
peteperry84@gmail.com

There should be no problem setting up the dual-boot you want. Install windows 7 first, test it to be sure it boots after installation.
Use your Linux Mint installation CD, load it and select Try without installing if you have that option. If it boots to the Desktop from the CD, open a terminal and run the command: sudo fdisk -l (lower case Letter L in the command) to get your partition information. It should show one or more partitions labelled HPFS/NTFS for windows. Note the partitions (sda1, sda2??) so you do not install Mint to any of these partitions.

When you install Mint, toward the end of the installation you will have some choices as to where to install the bootloader. You will likely have to click and Advanced tab somewhere (have not used Mint 10), do that and choose to install Grub2 bootloader to the master boot record. If it is successful, you should be able to re-boot and have options to boot Mint or windows 7.

Note: Linux Mint 10 uses Grub2 unlike Mint 7 which used Grub Legacy. Grub2 has different configurations files. You might take a look at this Grub2 tutorial or bookmark it for further use:

http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/grub-2.html

If you need further help, repost.

Thanks for the reply. First I don't know what you want with
"if you need further help, repost."

Second. With the 210-1000 I thing I need an external "boot" function before I can do anything. I was told by a Staples man io load in the first of the recovery discs in the CD/DVD drive, start the computer and press the f12 function key to boot from the Recovery disc. He didn't tell me exactly when to push the f12 key and how long to keep it pressed. It didn't work anyway.

There should bo a
"step one"
"step two"
"step three"
etc.
shipped with ehe computer
The manual with this one is "if you have this do that in general terms or if you have that do this etc."

Please help me
Thanks.
Pete Perry

Unfortunately. There is no step one two three when it comes to restoring Windows 7 from recovery media. Seems that Windows 7 requires that one uses the PE partition on the Hardrive to repair a Windows 7 Install.

http://cybernetnews.com/windows-7-recovery-disc/

http://www.sevenforums.com/installat...n-t-start.html