New Win 7 install on machine with Vista - clean install

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:34 pm

Dell 1525 Inspiron
It's asking where do you want to install.

Disk 0 Part 1 OEM (Reserved)
Disk 0 Part 2 Recovery Primary
Disk 0 Part 3 OS System
Disk 0 Part 4 Mediadirect Logical

What do I want to \"Delete\" or \"Format\"?

Heretic · Post by **Heretic** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 5:59 pm

I think you can get rid of all those partitions. and just make one drive. Dell is very good at giving you disk to restore your system back to when you got it. IF you ever want to go back and don't have the disk you can order them. You could also create a recovery disk from the system on it now.

Go here to request restore CD's if you have done so.

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/ ... redirect=1

BUBBALOU · Post by **BUBBALOU** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:51 pm

Store bought Dell with a recovery partition should have a backup disc creator. It will usually require 2 DVD's after this are mad you can safely format the disk. Dell direct machines always include the setup disks without a recovery partition

Media direct is for using the machine as a stand alone media player without booting into an os

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 7:56 pm

Bought an OEM Win 7 disk which I'm using.

Would have started deleting but Heretic's \"I think\" before the rest of his comment has stopped me at this point.

Also if I do delete partitions do I keep part 1 to format or install on?

Heretic · Post by **Heretic** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 8:38 pm

Way back in the day some bios information were stored on a hidden protected area on the hard disk. It was called Host protected area. So that is why I said I Think. This was long before Windows was in thought of. Since Dell notebooks hide Dell MediaDirect utility in the HPA I didn't know for sure if you could delete the OEM reserved partition. Dell MediaDirect provides DVD and CD playback with a custom version of CyberLink PowerCinema developed and licensed to Dell by CyberLink and MediaDirect works with the operating system and Dell QuickSet. Since Windows 7 comes with a DVD codec I don't think you will have a problem.

AlphaDoG · Post by **AlphaDoG** » Sat Jul 31, 2010 10:35 pm

Get a decent partition program. I recommend http://www.download3k.com/System-Utilit ... nager.html

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sun Aug 01, 2010 7:39 am

Like to stay within the windows setup if possible.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:42 pm

Thanks for the info. Ended up using the following link.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91 ... ation.html