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I will definitely give Mint a try 
My experience with grub/grub2 is virtually non-existent so I dont know if I am comfortable downgrading to Grub...
fdisk -l output is below:
Disk /dev/sda: 750.2 GB, 750156374016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 91201 cylinders, total 1465149168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x5886c2ab
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 63 2047 992+ 42 SFS
Partition 1 does not start on physical sector boundary.
/dev/sda2 * 2048 409599 203776 42 SFS
/dev/sda3 409600 1002043391 500816896 42 SFS
/dev/sda4 1002043392 1465147119 231551864 83 Linux
edit----
Also, what are my options here... if I unstall Ubuntu would I be able to boot to the Windows partition? You suggested repairing the HDD as an attached external drive -- how is that different than repairing it as an internal drive? Also, I did partition the disk into a 150 GB partition then installed Ubuntu to it... is that what you meant?
Re: Windows will not boot after installing Linux on HP dv7t
Stokk,
The trouble may have started when you shrunk the partition in Windows. 
Option 1:
Parted Magic - Use it to Partition that drive, fix the problems with it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parted_Magic
Option 2
Any Linux Live CD probably has partitioning software on it. If you can create a Live Linux CD, you can use the Partitioning tools on it to create a Partition on the disk. I don't know about Mint or Ubuntu... Suse Live CD has partitioning tools.
- Once you have a partition, you can use your Windows CD to install Windows.
- You just need one partition made with the Partition tool - let the Windows install make the rest of its partitions as it desires. The point of the Partition tool is to heal the mess that is on the disk right now.
- NOTE: During the Windows Install --- Do not allow Windows to "use all the remaining space". Instead, tell it how much space it can use, for example, half the disk (or how ever much you want Windows to have). The oppurtunity to decide about this happens early on in the installation -- watch for it.
Option 3:
You can also pop over to the nearest big box store and buy Partition Magic. Costs money. Stuff does. Comes in a box. Has a CD. Has a help file. Nothing wrong with having a box with a CD, a help file.
Just in Case - Disk Format:
You did not say what brand of disk you have... Western Digital and Seagate disks come with some Installation Tools, that is, a tool set that you can use to format the disk. Other brands may come with these tool sets as well.
If you get to the point where the Partitioning tools do not work, that is, you cannot create a single partition with the Parted Magic so you can then use your Windows CD to reconfigure and further partition the disk, then you may have to format that disk - really start from scratch.
Look into how you will format that disk if you need to do it.
Install Windows - Then Linux:
After you have Windows installed, then you can install Linux - on that blank space on the disk that you left free. That is where you put the Linux.
Good Luck!
I hope this helps!
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Our Experts work hard to help!
Whenever you find a Useful or Helpful Post --
Click the Kudos Star on the Left to say "Thanks!"
Mark this Post “Accept as Solution” to accept a Fix or Workaround to an issue!
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Note: You can find “Accept as Solution” boxes on Subjects started by you.
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Remember: The more information you provide, the better help you receive.
Always Include: (Notebook) Product Number , Printers –Model Number,
Operating System and an Error Description
Never give out your Serial Number
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2012 Year of the Dragon!
