Need help with my FZ190

Okay since installing a new hard drive on my FZ190 is going to terminate my warranty, I just want to clean this one out entirely. I thought instead of getting a bigger hard drive, I can just maximize my capacity on this one. I want to start fresh and have just the basics. How do I go about doing this? I'm wondering if there's a way I can get rid of everything, then install Windows Vista Premium and activate it with my current product key code? From there I'm sure I can just download all the drivers (which of course being a "newbie" I would need some sort of list), and be good to go. Any other ideas? I really don't just want to start deleting stuff, because I'm never sure of what's good to say goodbye too and whats not. Not to mention, I'm hoping clearing this puppy down to just the basics will increase my startup time and overall performance.

 

By the way incase anything goes seriously wrong, I can always run the recovery disk. I just want to give something a shot.

 

Im just trying to keep this thread towards the top so someone will see it and help me out. Still waiting on suggestions/help

 

I have got the equivalent japanese version called FZ-90HS. The hidden partition in which the restoration information occupies 23 Gb of the 200 Gb harddisk, so it is not really a big space. As I have a big problem with utilities after installing Vista Home Premium (see my thread named: Utility problems with FZ), I recommend you to keep this partition untouched..

 

well,that's easy.you just need make a recovery disc then you can get rid of the massive thing down there in your current disk.
Use the Sony recovery utility