Multiple linux sharing one common swap

[alex]

I just want to report that I tried the maximizing in cfdisk and there 
was no observable change in the
partition dimensions and the empty space was still there..  The only 
result seems to be the selected linux. .
became unbootable.   That's OK with me because I plan on  cleaning  out  
the partitions and  reinstalling
if things don't work.  I'm not worried about backups.  I'll just do 
fresh reinstalls.

If anyone has any suggestions to recover the original partition 
dimensions, I'm willing to try them.

alex