Latitude D630, Vista, Recovery partition

Probably been asked a lot, but I can't find a definitive answer:

I am a little confused. My D630 on Vista is working fine, but I need someone to tell me what the "D:\Recovery" partition actually does. Does anyone know?

This is NOT a factory image (like on old Dells) as the partition is NOT hidden and I can browse it (it contains various Windows type files etc...)

I do not have Media Direct. I have a Dell supplied Vista restore CD which works well (I've used it a couple of times).

So what use is the d:\Recovery partition if it does not contain a factory image?

Thanks

 

Its a bootable partition, if vista fails, lets say you get a virus everything goes to pieces, and the system crashes
You reboot and can't get into vista.

To fix the system all (as in vista) pre boot loading screen you go F8, boot from recovery partition and the system starts with the options to repair whatever is was that went wrong.

Its really just a alternative to using a restore dvd, thats all.

 

This is actually a recovery partition to set everything back to factory settings, and you do not have a recovery DVD, that is just a Windows DVD, Dell does not ship any recovery DVDs, that's why the recovery partition in your computer, and yes, the partition is not hidden, you can browse it, and if you want to use that partition to set the computer to factory settings you will have to use the F8 menu, and then select recover my computer, and then you will have to choose the option of image restore or something related, of course that will delete everything on your computer and start over.

 

I'm still not sure I'm getting it. Maybe I'm being dense.

If I reboot the system, choose F8, there are a long list of options - one of which is Repair Your Computer (or something similar). Like this:

http://supcontent.gateway.com/suppo...ta/graphics/lastknown/AdvancedBootOptions.gif

If I choose this option, it goes through a few dialog boxes (select keyboard layout etc..) and eventually displays this box:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/startup-repair.png

From what I've read elsewhere, if your system has the built in Dell image restore function, there would be an extra menu option on that dialog box saying Dell Image Restore or something, but mine doesn't have it. Nor do a load of Vista Business laptops at my company..

I'm still not really any wiser as to what this visible "Recovery" partition is for and how to exploit it...?

Thanks for your answers though guys.

 

The image restore function you are talking about is that repair option in the first picture. That option doesn't appear unless you have a recovery partition....

Nb. that partition is also where vista saves the restore points information. (forgot to mention in first post, again if you have an issue lets say you install a program, it bsod's all you do is f8 at start up, boot that partition and rollback to a previous restore point.)



Though anyway in your case its all a bit redundant as you already have a restore dvd, Which means you have a lot of space on your hdd thats being wasted in keeping that extra partition.

 

so the option "complete PC restore" will let you format the whole HDD but the recovery partion, of course. Because I got a virus and need to know if that's the case or not since I don't have the dvd.