Glad you're amusing yourself.  I'm sure they didn't 'have to' use the EASEUS program it's just that EASEUS makes such good software why not use it?  

Also, now that you've received quite a lot of info in this thread regarding your OP have you made any decision(s) regarding your situation?  Are you staying with Vista for now until you can upgrade?  Or since you do have a copy of Win 8 (and I have suggested how awesomely it works with hardware even older than yours) have you once again given that a shot?

Just FYI, that old 2005 Centrino Proc (M processor) notebook referenced in my thread (REPLY #26) has been running Win 8 now since Jan 2013, is still just as lean/fast as it was when I initially set it up and still gets used on a daily basis (email, browsing, etc. etc.)......in fact I'm using it to type up this response right now.

Kona did you install windows8 and check your drivers?
I encountered a similar problem where the system ran terribly at the start on a fresh installation of windows xp while the rig itself was fingerlicking hi end.
Problem was that motherboard drivers were missing and that no gfx driver was installed.
Even loading up the driver cd´s menu took ages - but once that was installed XP had a rocket up its ....
 

I wanted/chose to make the partitions 'before' I did the install, as well as condense my Windows Partition.

btw- MiniTool PArtition Wizard is another good one.

For someone like myself, who is a hell of a lot more familiar with Windows and even then have called out for help on here quite a few times, installing ANY version of Linux can be stressful and scary when you are doing a dual boot. I looked at a LOT of tutorials and forums and videos to find one that was at a level I could deal with and didn't make me feel like all I had to do was sneeze sideways and I would screw everything up. Almost all of the ones I came across (and most of them were on linux forums)recommended partitioning your drive before hand with one program or another.

I'm very happy I followed what I found and very happy with the final product/install.

***One small thing to be aware of...on MY laptop...Zorin did change my boot screen. Instead of the normal or expected Windows dual boot screen I am familiar with, I have one that is ALL Zorin based with Zorin as my first choice and Windows 7 as my last with two Zorin options in between the two. It's Zorin themed/colored, etc., so don't be alarmed or freak out when you boot your PC for the first time after installing it alongside Windows and see it. 

Yeah, Easus Partition Manager is a top tool... like some others I know.

Dunno if I should mention any names, but Ashampoo makes some pretty good apps for PC management, as well as others for media creation, editing and management, etc.

I choose to install Vista. This computer came with Vista, so I have a copy and a COA. I tried running Windows 8, and even after every update it still was really, really slow. All drivers were up to date. I thought updating to 8.1 would help, only to find out that 8.1 does not have a driver for my WiFi card. 8 did, but the driver I used in 8 does not work in 8.1. 8.1 was slow as well. I will run 7 eventually. For now, Vista is nice and fast. Few things I don't like about it, but it works.

As i did write  before. Hope you enjoy it.

Try to disable uneeded windows 7 services and to try to downgrade to 32 bit if possible. Perhaps you can leafe a minimal Vista installation on the disk if win 7 crashes or is really to slow.

I do use Linux as main system. 

Can use my own window blinds skins inside linux.Don`t ask me how.Won`t give answers. Stardock could sure do make a window blinds equivalent with an reasonable amount of effort. But who would need it ?? I think nobody . And linux gui changes every half year that much  like win8 and win8.1.

Do like developping themes with window blinds its faster. Also i need microsoft for OCR  and MSOFFICE. So i can understand jafo a bit.

I suggest to  everyone with faster PCS to run win 7 and xp inside virtualbox network connection disabled of course.

regards bluedxca93

I'm using Vista, not 7.

Jim, when you are ready to step in to the big sheep panties, try out vSphere.

Imagine running 70+ servers on 3 physical boxes and having shared storage between them. Why.. Bessie would be singing your name in her sleep from your excitement!!!

I know you wouldn't have the equipment to perform such a grand scenario, but... using openfiler as a san mechanism with a couple of high end rigs well.. just fascinating to say the least. You could incorporate your main system to use as a vcenter server ( in a vm ). 

Get in touch with me for more details if you want some how-to's....