can i run windows vista( home edition) and linux mint ( newest version) and ubuntu (newest version) on the same computer

Hi

Simply yes, the easiest way is to load windows 1st then mint then Ubuntu. Grub should find and list all other OS on computor

Can I run them all at one time? (for Linux mint and Ubuntu can I run both of them inside windows Vista)

That would be a wubi install as I have never used wubi I cant help with that

You can run only one at a time if you install them natively side by side on your harddisk. In that case you can choose the OS to run at boot time.
If you want to run them simultaneiusly the easiest way is to install Virtualbox on your Vista and the install Mint and Ubuntu into virtual machines.

---------- Post added 22nd Apr 2012 at 22:40 ----------

No, that is just installing in a container-file instead of using a partition. You still can't run the OSes simultaneously.

You cant run them at the same time if you have them all installed in the bones of your Hard Drive. But if you install them through VirtualBox then you can.

Keep in mind that in VirtualBox for each gest OS you have installed you dedicate some of the computer RAM like 500-750MB and CPU like 1 core each from your quad core machine.

Good luck to you!

What if I just installed Linux mint inside Vista. Will that take up any RAM or CPU?

Yes it will, you are effectively running 2 OSs at the same time. While Virtual Machines are excellent they make your system use more resources than the sum of 2 separate installations.

If you use Virtualbox to install Mint on Vista (there is no other way in running to OSes at the same time than using virtualization software like Virtualbox) the Mint will only take RAM and CPU cycles when you run it. If you don't need it just shut down the virtual machine (or more convenient, suspend it) and Mint will use nothing than the disk space it is installed in.

It is possible to set the amount of RAM, memory for video, number of CPU cores and more for each virtual machine, that way there is no system drain. VirtualBox

Regards

Mint 12 is my main OS. And I have Windows XP installed in Virtualbox so I can listen to my music. Apple DRM ftw...

I've assigned 256 mb of my systems 4 gb RAM for Windows to use. And together with Virtualbox that's 382 mb total. (memory + shared memory according to system monitor). Next to that CPU usage is around 10% continuously on my i3 laptop.

Those CPU cycles and memory I can't use in Linux as long as I have Windows running next to it. That's how you need to look at it.

Edit:
Virtualbox here by default advised me to assign Windows XP 192 mb ram. I gave it slightly more then that. Also Virtualbox emulates a 16 mb graphics card. So that should be enough to give you a nice resolution screen with 32 bit colors.

To get the full benefit of any linux, you're better off dual-booting. Resize your Vista partition and leave unallocated space. Ubuntu and Mint are very similar, so just choose one, preferably Mint.