For a new machine (which is meant to be dual-boot), it may be better to install Linux first, since the partitioning information can be got right-first-time… If Vista is Installed First However, once Vista is installed, space must be made for Linux (and the shared partition). Shrinking the Vista partition is fairly easy using the [...]

For a dual-boot machine (where the main desktop would be Linux), a common ‘data’ partition makes sense (rather than allowing root access by Linux to the Vista install, or visa-versa). Shared Partition Since the Vista driver requires it, you need to format the shared ‘ext3′ partition with : /sbin/mkfs.ext3 -I 128 /dev/sdA Partitioning Problems The [...]