create a new partition on hard drive

Hello,

First of all, the partition you intent to re-partitioning, it must be Unmounted. That means you cannot re-partition the partition from which you have booted.

You must boot from a Live image of Ubuntu (CD/DVD/USB) and from there you can resize the partition you want with Gparted.

Gparted is the tool you need for partitioning. Gparted is pre-installed , included in all live images of Ubuntu. You have to use it wisely though, because you can damage your partition if you don't resize it correctly.

After the whole process , and when you install Windows 7, you will not be able to boot in Ubuntu anymore. Because Windows will replace the grub bootloader with Windows bootloader. At the end, you have to use a program (again boot from live image) which name is boot-repair.
Check the instructions in following URL
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair#A2nd_option_:_install_Boot-Repair_in_Ubuntu

Use the second option, above URL points exactly to this option.

Regards
 NikTh

thank you, nikth
when i summoned enough courage, i shall explore your advice.

an interesting point is ;
 i purchased the laptop new with windows 7 pre-installed.
 i then installed ubuntu 12 which wiped out windows ! probably my fault,
 but i have just contacted the manufacturers and ordered system restore discs which should enable me to re-install windows 7

i am satisfied with ubuntu for my important work, but want to use other sites and programmes which recognise only windows.

my service provider is talk talk which definitely does not recognise linux and i needed to set up my inernet and email on another older windows computer first, which was a real unwelcome headache !

adrian

hallo nikth
thank you
i have created a new partition apparently sucessfully, by following your advice.

i now await discs from the manufacturer to install windows in the new partition.

adrian

hallo again, nikth
i have obtained the recovery discs which want to format the whole hard drive !
i contacted the suppliers who said that there is no alternative.

i certainly do not fancy ganbling YET with backing up my ubuntu and then re-installing it , after installing windows.

it seems like a suitable job for a few rainy winter days.

thank you again for your help and advice, i have kept a printed copy of it for future use

adrian