elytron,
I've been thinking about running a dual boot between Windows 7 and Linux.
I run dual boot Win 7 and Linux Mint Cinnamon. If you can do it, I highly recommend installing a second drive and a SATA switch to control which OS you're using. That way, there's no interference between the operating systems. All you have to do is push a couple of buttons to switch between drives. Some people use a third drive to hold the personal data, so that both OS's have access to the same music, pictures, etc., but I've not done that, to keep the two systems completely separate.
The only conflict that will still exist is the clock. I think Linux sets the clock to GMT, and then displays local time as a regional adjustment to the system clock. Windows reads GMT from the internet, then adjusts it to local time and sets the clock to local time. Then it just displays whatever the clock says. If you live in California, then the time will be eight hours ahead when you switch to Windows, and eight hours behind by the time you switch back to Linux. The workaround is to set Linux to not update the time from the network, and then tell it that you're in London. If you actually are in London, then there's no problem to begin with.
I've just gotten started on Linux, so I'm no expert. I've only used the one distro, and that's enough for me. It does what I need, except for interfacing with my GPS, and playing some installed games. When Micro$oft started hijacking peoples' computers to advertise Win 10, which is, itself, a rolling advertisement, I realized I'd better get a plan B, because this company does not have its customers' interests at heart at all. If they can do this, then there's no telling what they'll do next.
