Dell Restore Disk

Jim wrote:
> "Rick" <rick RemoveThis @privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:eArWfCx9IHA.448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> This is a repost with more info in a new thread, as suggested by
>> "Richard".
>>
>> I have a RESTORE CD for my Dell Vostro 1700 laptop. Win XP SP 2. In
>> another thread,
>> I saw a reference to possible problems with deleting the hidden
>> partitions
>> that Dell puts
>> on their laptops. There are 2, but I don't recall the sizes, though both
>> are small.
>>
>> Can I delete the partitions on the HD so, I can partition it? It seems
>> the
>> hidden partitions
>> are keeping me from partitioning the disk with Partition Magic. Will I
>> need anything in
>> those 2 hidden partitions? Will I have a problem with booting in the
>> future, as
>> mentioned in another thread?
>>
>> Rick
> On my Dell systems, the small one contains the MBR. If you delete this
> partition, you are asking for trouble.
> On my Dell desktop, the large partition contains hardware diagnostics.
> Dell
> also sent along a CD with the diagnostics. Such a partition may be
> deleted,
> but before you do so make sure that you have the diagnostic CD.
> On my Dell laptop, the large partition is the recovery partition. I don't
> want to delete such a partition.
>
> I use ATI to create a backup of the disk. It copies and restores all
> partitions.

Same here. Acronis True Image can copy all of those, and is probably the
best way to go on making backups of the system.

The presence of a restore partition is also indicated by a message such as
"Hit F11 to restore..." (or something similar). Deleting the partition via
normal means (Disk mat, etc.) does not remove the MBR modification that
produces the message.

Usually OEMs; (Dell) provide an utility to copy the restore partition to
removeable media (CD/DVD) and another which deletes the partition and MBR
change.

If the computer has been in use for some time and programs and data
generated and/or installed using the restore partition "restores" the
computer to it's original setup at purchase, meaning any
changes/modifications are removed. Best to conside one of the many backup
utilities available.






"Rick" <rick.RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:eArWfCx9IHA.448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> This is a repost with more info in a new thread, as suggested by
> "Richard".
>
> I have a RESTORE CD for my Dell Vostro 1700 laptop. Win XP SP 2. In
> another thread,
> I saw a reference to possible problems with deleting the hidden partitions
> that Dell puts
> on their laptops. There are 2, but I don't recall the sizes, though both
> are small.
>
> Can I delete the partitions on the HD so, I can partition it? It seems the
> hidden partitions
> are keeping me from partitioning the disk with Partition Magic. Will I
> need anything in
> those 2 hidden partitions? Will I have a problem with booting in the
> future, as
> mentioned in another thread?
>
> Rick

AJR wrote:
> The presence of a restore partition is also indicated by a message such as
> "Hit F11 to restore..." (or something similar). Deleting the partition
> via
> normal means (Disk mat, etc.) does not remove the MBR modification that
> produces the message.
>
> Usually OEMs; (Dell) provide an utility to copy the restore partition to
> removeable media (CD/DVD) and another which deletes the partition and MBR
> change.

Or if someone had deleted that Dell System Restore partition, perhaps one
can just modify the "boot.ini" file to fix this, so that it will boot
properly. I'm assuming the boot sequence can be redirected to the
C:windows installation by doing this, but I'm not sure.

> If the computer has been in use for some time and programs and data
> generated and/or installed using the restore partition "restores" the
> computer to it's original setup at purchase, meaning any
> changes/modifications are removed. Best to conside one of the many backup
> utilities available.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Rick" <rick.RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:eArWfCx9IHA.448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> This is a repost with more info in a new thread, as suggested by
>> "Richard".
>>
>> I have a RESTORE CD for my Dell Vostro 1700 laptop. Win XP SP 2. In
>> another thread,
>> I saw a reference to possible problems with deleting the hidden
>> partitions
>> that Dell puts
>> on their laptops. There are 2, but I don't recall the sizes, though both
>> are small.
>>
>> Can I delete the partitions on the HD so, I can partition it? It seems
>> the
>> hidden partitions
>> are keeping me from partitioning the disk with Partition Magic. Will I
>> need anything in
>> those 2 hidden partitions? Will I have a problem with booting in the
>> future, as
>> mentioned in another thread?
>>
>> Rick

I have mastered Dell partitions. I can take a destroyed disk and recreate it, complete
with a working CTRL-F11.

It would take me some time and effort to explain it all here, so here's a little advice.

Copy the third partition to a DVD. It is a Ghost restore image. Once on DVD it can be
replaced, if you just delete the partition then its gone forever. Do not touch the first
partition! Period! It should only be around 50 MB anyway. Just leave it.

If you just want extra disk space then don't delete the third partition, but rather shrink
it down to 100 MB or so, leave it empty.


ju.c


"Rick" <rick DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote in message news:eArWfCx9IHA.448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> This is a repost with more info in a new thread, as suggested by "Richard".
>
> I have a RESTORE CD for my Dell Vostro 1700 laptop. Win XP SP 2. In another thread,
> I saw a reference to possible problems with deleting the hidden partitions that Dell
> puts
> on their laptops. There are 2, but I don't recall the sizes, though both are small.
>
> Can I delete the partitions on the HD so, I can partition it? It seems the hidden
> partitions
> are keeping me from partitioning the disk with Partition Magic. Will I need anything in
> those 2 hidden partitions? Will I have a problem with booting in the future, as
> mentioned in another thread?
>
> Rick

ju.c wrote:
> I have mastered Dell partitions. I can take a destroyed disk and
> recreate it, complete with a working CTRL-F11.
>
> It would take me some time and effort to explain it all here, so here's
> a little advice.
>
> Copy the third partition to a DVD. It is a Ghost restore image. Once on
> DVD it can be replaced, if you just delete the partition then its gone
> forever. Do not touch the first partition! Period! It should only be
> around 50 MB anyway. Just leave it.
>
> If you just want extra disk space then don't delete the third partition,
> but rather shrink it down to 100 MB or so, leave it empty.
>
>
> ju.c
>
>
> "Rick" <rick DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:eArWfCx9IHA.448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> This is a repost with more info in a new thread, as suggested by
>> "Richard".
>>
>> I have a RESTORE CD for my Dell Vostro 1700 laptop. Win XP SP 2. In
>> another thread,
>> I saw a reference to possible problems with deleting the hidden
>> partitions that Dell puts
>> on their laptops. There are 2, but I don't recall the sizes, though
>> both are small.
>>
>> Can I delete the partitions on the HD so, I can partition it? It seems
>> the hidden partitions
>> are keeping me from partitioning the disk with Partition Magic. Will I
>> need anything in
>> those 2 hidden partitions? Will I have a problem with booting in the
>> future, as
>> mentioned in another thread?
>>
>> Rick
>
Not sure I understand all that. I also have ATI
and still want to partition my HD, but can't
because of those hidden partitions. I can save
them with ATI, but the question stays: If I delete
them, will I have a problem with booting, as was
mentioned in another thread. And while I'm at it,
HOW do I deleted them, since they are protected?

Rick

Rick wrote:
> This is a repost with more info in a new thread, as suggested by "Richard".
>
> I have a RESTORE CD for my Dell Vostro 1700 laptop. Win XP SP 2. In
> another thread,
> I saw a reference to possible problems with deleting the hidden
> partitions that Dell puts
> on their laptops. There are 2, but I don't recall the sizes, though both
> are small.
>
> Can I delete the partitions on the HD so, I can partition it? It seems
> the hidden partitions
> are keeping me from partitioning the disk with Partition Magic. Will I
> need anything in
> those 2 hidden partitions? Will I have a problem with booting in the
> future, as
> mentioned in another thread?
>
> Rick

From other replies you already know the purpose of these partitions.
And you know that deleting them is bad. And you see to want to get rid
of them. SO:

I too have a Dell Laptop. If you have the CD's to properly restore
your system as I do, then the restore partitions could be deleted.
Yes, they might restore faster, than loading XP from CD and then all the
drivers etc etc etc etc.

But I also have ATI and found that I could just boot the Windows XP CD
and delete all partitions, remake a new single partition and reload
windows, all the drivers, and even some of my apps. Then I imaged it
with ATI. Now in 20 minutes I can reset the laptop back to this point.
And by the way, it was with SP3 installed. This makes it kind of an
upgraded dell restore partition.

I know this is the long way around but it worked and I was at a point
after 2 years that I wanted to reformat and test SP3 etc etc etc. It
just made logic in my brain. It was straight forward to me.

Good luck. Al.