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    Recovery Partition on my 1520

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by Gigamaster89, Aug 28, 2007.

  1. Gigamaster89

    Gigamaster89 Notebook Consultant

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    Do I need it?

    How do I make an image of it onto a DVD/external hdd?

    How do I get rid of it?
     
    Gigamaster89, Aug 28, 2007
    #1
  2. Alemaker

    Alemaker Notebook Consultant

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    Hi,

    If your 1520 comes with Vista Home Premium installed, you have a few options for burning an image to dvd. 3rd party applications like Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image etc. will do this for you. Vista Home Premium does not include Windows Complete PC Restore. Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions of Vista include Complete PC Restore, which will allow you to make a backup image of your entire pc to dvd or another HD.
    :smile:
    To delete the partition, boot from the Vista install disc, select install now, say no to entering a product key, check the box for the version you have, it will then show the partitions, highlight the one that recovery is on, click on drive options(bottom right), delete. *
    Boot back into Vista normally, start>Control Panel\System and Maintenance\Administrative Tools>Create and format hard disk partitons, highlight the o.s. partition>right click>extend volume. *

    * NOTE: If the recovery partition is not next to the o.s. partition, it will not be easily merged. If that is the case, you can refer to many threads about re-installing media direct. I did it fairly simply on my e1505.:GEEK:
     
    Alemaker, Aug 28, 2007
    #2
  3. ScanR

    ScanR Notebook Consultant

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    Nice instructions Alemaker....
     
    ScanR, Sep 2, 2007
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  4. Alemaker

    Alemaker Notebook Consultant

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    Thx,
    As an addendum,

    To re-install Media Direct, it won't install unless you set up a 3 Gb partition first,install Media Direct ,re-install the o.s., then finish the media direct re-install through windows. :eek2:
    So, here goes.
    1)- boot from the Vista install disc-select install now, say no to entering a product key, check the box for the version you have, it will then show the partitions.
    2)- Create a 3.0 Gb partition> DO NOT FORMAT IT, exit.
    3) Boot from Media Direct re-install disc. It will partition the HD for Media Direct ( 3Gb one from step 2, a "c" drive, and the infamous Dell "hidden" partition. :wideeyed: ) *, then go to a screen
    where you get options on how to allocate the rest of the space.

    * NOTE It will format the HD, not sure if it leaves intact partitions-I did it after deleting the recovery partition.

    4) It gives 3 options-
    #1 leave all unallocated space for "C"
    #2 choose how much space you want to allocate to "C"
    #3-Quit
    5) Choose whatever one you prefer-and just follow the instructions on the screen.
    6) Install the o.s. to the "C" drive.
    7) Boot into windows normally, insert the Media Direct disc to finish installing Media Direct.
    8) Install drivers and apps-BINGO-done!!!
    :wink:
     
    Alemaker, Sep 2, 2007
    #4