Question about Bestbuy/Gateway 6860FX

I've been lurking here for a good bit debating on the 6860FX. My question is this: It is my understanding that you do NOT get a Vista CD with the laptop. Vista comes pre-installed.

As soon as I got the computer, I would want to reformat the hard drive to wipe it clean of everything and then cleanly install Vista. How would I do this with no CD or CD-Key? Thank you for any help.

 

Shouldnt it come with a backup windows CD?

CD-Key is no problem...there should be a sticker on your computer and/or a book that comes with your computer that has the CD-Key on it.

 

I'm pretty sure Gateway laptops come with a recovery disc. If they stopped giving those out, they come with a recovery partition and a recovery disc maker software.

All laptops come with a CD-Key on the bottom of the laptop. You need to find a Vista disc or order one from Microsoft to do a clean install.

 

So to completely wipe the hard drive and start over with a clean copy of Vista and an empty HD I need to order the disc from Microsoft? It's free since a copy has been installed on my purchased machine correct? Then I would just use the disc to reformat the HD and reinstall Vista. I'm not sure if I understand the point of the "recovery disc" it comes with.

Also, would you be able to change the HD so that you can use the 14 gigs used for recovery with your other free space?

 

Yes you will need a Vista disc, unless you have some magical powers that can install Vista from thin air.

Yes you can remove the recovery partition, but that is a very stupid move.

 

It should have a CD in the box...but if you are ordering one from microsoft, at the least i know they will charge you for shipping.

 

I also remember reading something about the drivers for the graphics card. When I reformat the drive, will I need to reinstall these drivers? Do I just go to the Nvidia website to d/l them?

 

If you do a clean install yes you will have to install ALL drivers, including graphics card ones. You should be able to find them on Nvidia's website, and if Gateway has support anything similar to Dell, you might find them on Gateway's website too.

I dont know what CDs come with Gateway notebooks seeing as mine is still in Mesquite frigging Texas right now, but your gateway might also come with a CD of drivers already on it. But of course for most up to date drivers, check websites.

 

CD in the box, plus a recovery partition on the hdd

 

Ok, The P FX series does come with a vista dvd. You can not use the video drivers from the Nvidia website, get them from laptop2govideo.com, or guru3d.com. You do not need a cd-key for vista, its oem. Before you reformat your laptop, make a driver/app backup dvd, the instructions are in the getting started manual. And lastly, do not remove the recovery partition, it sounds like you may need a easy way to restore your laptop.

 

i still dont understand removing the restore partition. and the need to bother it. you have 300 gigs to work with on just one drive, not to mention adding a second hard drive. i guess that's just like removing the spare tire because you aren't using it.... (just talking is all)

as for the dvd, yes it comes with a brand new shiny dvd which is pre activated and can install 32 or 64 bit vista home. and if you really see a need to delete your restore partition, then just go into it and copy all the files in the apps directory. it has your drivers and the programs that we're on your computer, but with the option of installing what you want out of it.

 

Yeah what he said, lol

 

lol
did that raid give you a vista score of 5.9 flynnaz?

 

No, my P-171x fx is a 5.1, my desktop is a 5.7

 

what??? they start out at a 5.3 in stand drive setup??

 

I guess the main thing is that I just want to wipe the entire HD clean and be able to install Vista, the drivers, the Nvidia drivers, etc., everything like it's never been touched.

 

Johnksss, I got one of my other systems mixed up, lol too many dam computers I think my P-171x fx has a over all score of 5.1 right now, my hd score is a 5.9. The memory is the lowest score at 5.1, that is with 4gb, when I finally upgrade to a x9000, it should bring me up to your score

 

nope...your gonna stay at 5.1 buddy...lol

 

Oh well, I know we can play any game out right now, that works for me

 

that's a big 10/4 positive there!

 

Because they use a 15GB 'hidden' partition to store 9GB of data; no sorry, a 14.7 GB partition. That means that 5.7 GB of space is wasted. Besides, once you burn the apps/driver DVD, there isn't any other reason to keep it unless you want it as a backup, or want to keep it around for troubleshooting/warranty purposes.

 

hummmm...shrink the partition down using partition software.
apps/driver dvd? why would i be doing old school, when i have flash memory/external hard drive/network server/network drives for that??. and a dvd takes for ever to load while a flash drive takes 1/4 the time to load or more.
15 gigs of wasted space? i have 320 gigs and out of the 320 gigs im not using 200 gigs, so that means im wasting 200 gigs of space. damn! better fill up so im not wasting...*LOL* and im running dual boot op. and i have a second hard drive which has 50 gigs left of space out of 160 gigs. and i have another 320 gig drive that's going in the lappy....*LOL* what is a guy to do wth all this wasted space?....hahahahah

i'm just messing with ya