[pqowie313]

I currently have LinuxMint Nadia exclusively on my laptop. it's great, but I want windows, because wine just can't do it all. All my friends tell me that you have to install windows first, because it will destroy the GRUB bootloader, making it impossible to use linux if you do it after. However, I heard that you can re-install GRUB after installing windows.

I was wondering, how do you go about installing GRUB, and, do you have to manually make a menu for the different operating systems or are there any bootloaders that will do this for me? Also, what is the best tool for partitioning a hard drive prior to installing windows?

[APTO]

I would suggest dual booting all ways if you're not comforatable. However you would have to manually remove windows bootloader and install grub, which could cause some complications and if you're not experienced i wouldn't recommend it. However just remove linux, install Windows then dual boot Mint. Back up all the information which you need and then do it.

[Deathbox]

If you need Windows software base don't bother with Linux, simple as that. Get rid of your partitions or overwrite them with Gparted live as NTFS or unallocated. It's easier just to boot Gparted Live CD and erase all partitions and then boot Windows so it can format the unollcated space to NTFS. Windows vista will create two partitions and Windows 7 or 8 will create three. The additional partition in 7/8 is just the recovery partition, the reason you need to erase the partitions through Gparted is because if you booted Windows installation media it would not recognise the EXT3/4 or whatever filesystem you're using.

[• ℛ •]

It'd really be easier to do a fresh install of Windows and then dual boot Mint.
Also you should try installing rEFIt or rEFInd so that you can easily choose what OS to boot into.
As for partitioning tools, when you're still on the LiveCD run GParted and do it that way.
It's actually pretty simple just look up guides and manuals.