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    Install Windows XP Pro without losing recovery?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by ufoonlinevn, Sep 10, 2007.

  1. ufoonlinevn

    ufoonlinevn Newbie

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    My Dell Inspiron E1405 has built in Windows XP Home and now I want to install Windows XP Pro but I don't want to have recovery function losing. I want to clean install Windows XP Pro, just formatting Windows partition and leaving hidden partition intact. So would it be possible to install Windows XP Pro without losing hidden partition and recovery function (Ctrl+F11 at bootup)?
    Many thanks.
     
    ufoonlinevn, Sep 10, 2007
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  2. ScanR

    ScanR Notebook Consultant

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    If ever you will be installing another type of OS in this system, the recovery partition will still be there but the Ctrl+11 option will no longer be accessible because the MBR will be change and the path for the recovery partition will no longer be accessed. But if ever you have norton ghost in your system, I believe you can create an image copy of your system.
     
    ScanR, Sep 10, 2007
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  3. Samuel613

    Samuel613 Notebook Evangelist

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    Is there a way to add the relevant functionality to the MBR after you do your own install?

    For that matter, I think a better approach would be to use that 10GB partition to store your own customized OS in a freshly-installed state so you can just image it back on over your C partition when you want to wipe the system. But it would be nice to include that CTRL-F11 functionality, too. Is there a reasonably easy way to do that?
     
    Samuel613, Sep 10, 2007
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