Hi guys, I'm new here but hope to be around for some time. I'm a 5 year network admin with primarily windows-based systems. I feel the time has come for me to learn more about Linux. The only Linux experience I've had is using Knoppix for recovering data from bad drives and I have set up a ClarkConnect server to use as a firewall and email server from home.

I have a Toshiba Satellite 64 bit laptop and am wanting to dual boot Slackware and Windows 7. 7 is already installed. I was wondering if someone could point me to a good how-to or give me the basic steps of how to get this working clean? I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks in advance and hope to see you around! =)

I've only done dual-booting with XP and various linux distros, but I shouldn't think it's different with 7. Roughly, on Windows:
Disable paging file.
Reboot.
Defragment, more than once if necessary.
Resize Windows partition (you can use QtParted on Knoppix), and leave freed up space unallocated.
Then boot up from whatever distro you choose, and install.

So, no GRUB or anything required? That seems almost.....too simple.

Also, any way to get around disabling the paging file?

here is a link to tutorial that my help
http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/...x_step_by_step
in the partitioning section don,t delete anything, just create a partition for slackware and a swap partition from the empty space created under windows. The standard size for a swap partition is usually twice the amount of ram that you have. Ext3 is a good choice to format the slackware partition

Slackware uses the lilo boot loader. You're given options about where to install it during installation (MBR or Slack's root). MBR is a safe option.

If you don't, you might not be able to shrink your Windows partition as much as you want.

Thanks for the great info so far guys! Very helpful! Few more questions before i get started here.

#1. What a good size for my Slackware install? I currently have 164GB free so I'm not really hurting for space.

#2. When you say if I don't disable my page file I won't be able to shrink my windows partition as much as I want. Are you saying I only need to disable the page file for defrag and can then re-enable it after this process is completed? Sorry for the noob questions, I just want to make sure I do it right. =)

#1. Size? You might want to leave some free space for trying other distros. Everybody's got different ideas about partition size, how many partitions (I just have two: swap, and /, some prefer 3: swap, /, and /home), so I'll leave you to sort out what you want. Ten GB is a safe minimum, but really, as much as you want.
#2. Yes, re-enable your page file after resizing.

You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. Many thanks. I will update on how it goes just in case anyone cares other than me haha.

Good luck. It's not as difficult as some people say. If you have any more questions, post them in the Slackware forum.

Slackware is a great pick be sure to install slapt-get by downloading it and installing with pkg tool. Also the slackware splashscreen is great lilos a very nice boot loader. Ive heard grub is possible but just keep ot simple with slack. Try freebsd if you want reAl fun or arch.