Planning on a reformat

Hey guys, based on the advice I got here and some of my own research, i bought a 1705 with these specs,

Intel® Core™ Duo Processor T2400 (1.83GHz/667MHz FSB)
17 inch Wide Screen XGA+ Display
1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz
256MB NVIDA® GeForce™ Go 7800
8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Integrated Sound Blaster® Audigy® ADVANCED HD Audio
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps)
Dell Wireless 350 Bluetooth Internal(2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)
Orginal price: $2300
After coupons: $1450

I had bought my parents a dell desktop a few years ago and it came with all the expected bloatware and just got rid of it by using the add/remove in control panel. I know now that that's sort like putting a band aid on a gunshot wound.

So with that said, I'm planning on reformatting my new laptop when it arrives, I ordered the XP reintall disc, do I need to call dell for any other discs? Or can I just get the new drivers and such from the website?

I did this config on my own, so I'm sure I messed it up somehow, but what do you guys think, any good?

 

Very nice computer!

What i do all the time, is download all the drivers i need from the Dell website, and then burn them to disc. It is required to do this, if you need to connect the the internet. Since the modem / network card need drivers to. If you have another computer, you can just burn the drivers from there, while reformating your E1705

Hope this helps

 

I have a desktop as well, so that won't be a problem. So that's it,all i need it the Xp reintall disc and a burned disc of the drivers? can i use my flashdrive for this too?

 

Yep, flash drive will work too. All you're going to do is copy the drivers to your computer and then reference them when you're "installing" your hardware.
-Tom

 

Just to clarify a little.

What you download from Dell are self-extracting driver installation utilities. When you launch a RXXXXXX.EXE files two things typically happen...

The driver files are extracted to a C:\Dell\drivers folder and then, in most cases, that will be followed automatically by the driver installation.

And yes.... that can be done just fine from a flash drive.

hth

Mark

 

Awesome, thanks guys. Just one more question, should i request the power dvd cd from dell before i do this or can i download that as well?

 

You can get powerdvd anywhere

 

Not available as a download from Dell. They should send you at disk if you ask...

Mark

 

So I could just burn C:\Dell\drivers to disc and use those right? (And go update the drivers at a later time.)

 

My new laptop has media direct and I just finished reading the whole thread of uber confusing and varying instrutions regarding reformatting w/ media direct, maybe I shuld just stick to cleaning windows out manually and with a reg cleaner. Thoughts?

 

Yes.. there are lots of variations wrt MediaDirect. Some due to early confusion, installing MediaDirect on 'older' Dells, premature deletion of the Dell partitions, etc

What I believe to be true wrt MediaDirect 2.0 on your E1705...

If you leave the Dell partitions alone during a Windows reinstall, the only outstanding step after getting Windows reloaded would be to run the MediaDirect 2.0 Repair utility.

That's it....

Mark

 

Exactly, just reformat the partition with Windows on it and then run the Media Direct repair utility from the support.dell.com Should be A - Okay.

 

Shoud I run the Media Direct Repair Utility after I install all the Dell drivers/utilities first? or do it immediately after installing a fresh copy of Windows (but before installing any drivers/utilities)?

 

Either way.... MediaDirect Repair does all its work on the boot code and Partition Table

hth

Mark

 

I have a few questions regarding a fresh install:

1) When formatting the existing Windows partition and installing the operating system, minus the junk software, will I lose Microsoft Works 7.0, as my invoice doesn't say I'll get the backup media for this?

2) I opted for the fixed internal 8X DVD-/+RW drive, which comes with accompanying software preinstalled: 'DVD Cyberlink Decoder' and 'Record Now and My DVD.' My invoice says neither of these comes with backup media, so will I lose these pieces of software with the fresh install and are these available for download on Dell's web site?

3) Will I lose Dell Support 3.0 or is it in a different partition? Does it matter?

I hope you can help me.

 

A Windows reinstall will not include any of those applications/functions. You'll need to be asking for the appropriate CDs from Dell...

PowerDVD

Roxio/Sonic RecordNow/MyDvD aka Sonic Digital Media LE V7

Dell Applications CD

Mark

 

Hi All,

My 1st laptop had just arrived last nite. It's an e1505. I'm planning to reformat the system. Hard disk space is 80 GB.

There are 3 partitions:

1.) 39 MB - Media Direct
2.) 3.86 GB - Windows XP DELL factory Settings (Am I right? not sure about this)
3.) 74 GB - Main Operating System.

My questions are:

1.) When I reformat, Can I just delete the 3rd partition (74GB) and install Windows XP PRO from a CD Drive and not affect the first two partitions?

2.) After formatting the system and I decided to switch back to the DELL original factory settings, Can I do that? (this is assuming that the 2nd partition is not deleted)

Thanks!