I switch between computers a lot, so I use a persistent Linux USB that keeps my workspace consistent anywhere.
GParted Live 1.8.0 is ready to fix your ballooning partition problems.
Windows install floppies and discs have gone the way of the dodo, but it still pays to keep a copy of the OS on a USB drive. Here's how to make your own.
Moving from Windows to Linux doesn't require much of a learning curve and brings some real benefits, but you need to accept a few compromises.