Dell XPS 1530 :: how to clean Install Windows7 64-bit.

Hello all,

I want to re-partition my HardDisk & install Windows 7 64-bit, on my Dell XPS 1530 (about 10 months old) which came with Vista 32-bit.
Please help me with a step-by-step guide. I haven’t experimented with any laptop yet & don’t want to screw my laptop .

Section - 1
My Laptop has only 2 visible partitions, but disk manager shows 4 partitions total as follows (in order):-
1. (Unnamed/invisible partition) 86Mb - EISA Configuration
2. Recovery (D: ) NTFS file system 9.9 GB, primary partition
3. OS (C: ) NTFS file system 163 GB system, boot, Pagefile, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition.
4. (Unnamed/invisible partition) 2.50 GB, Primary partition
I don’t know the significance of other 2 hidden partitions, but I guess the 2.5GB is direct media partition. And the Recovery (D: ) is for backup of Dell system files.

I want 2 usable partitions, which is very much needed for the type of application i use.
Say 60GB in C: where my OS will be install & another partition of 100GB where I can save my files.
I would also like to know as how important is the another 10GB recovery partition, if it’s not important can I make my second usable partition of 110 GB ?


Section -2
I wanted to ask the gurus over here before I spent more hours convincing the people at dell, in-fact they said that XPS-1530 doesn’t officially support Win7 & they can’t help . they suggested me to buy new laptop as Dell is phasing out XPS 1530

My main question is can I do a custom install of Windows 7 on my laptop. I've searched around and just found people have done upgrades.
I cannot do an upgrade as i want Windows7 64-bit and I have to do a clean install because I have 32bit vista.
I'm not sure how that would work though. Would dell media direct and the button shortcut to boot in dell media direct bypassing the OS, still work? I also wonder if my fingerprint scanner would still work.
I can't help but think that if I do the install myself my warranty with Dell we be void or something will happen during install and mess up, then my warranty would be void. I wonder how the recovery portion of my hard drive will take the install, fully wiped, or still be there. I don't know.
I have the Dell Media direct 3.5 disk, do i need dell media direct v4.7 for installing win7 or can upgrade the dell media direct to 4.7 after installation of OS.

Please Help in re-partition & installing Windows7.

Thanks

edit:- please, i want to avoid the dell bloatwares too

 

1. (Unnamed/invisible partition) 86Mb - EISA Configuration that is DELL diagnosttic - leave it like it is OR see use your DELL DVD for reinstalling Media direct - it will format HDD and create this Unnamed/invisible partition + C + D and in the end 2 GB for number 4. - but u need to reinstall DEll diagnostic - see driver download page

2. Recovery (D: ) NTFS file system 9.9 GB, primary partition - U can delete it or not - recovery... it is up to U - I use Acronis to make backup

4. ((Unnamed/invisible partition) - that is dell media direct



I have
1. Unnamed/invisible partition
2. 30 GB C: for system
3. 200 GB D: for data
4. 20 GB E: renamed for X: - for backup with Acronis and all my drivers + software installations


I used DELL DVD for reinstalling Media direct and than I deleted Media direct partition
I dont use media direct and I use dell Media direct button to turn off LCD see:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=286441


for clean install x64 W7 on M1530 read this --

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=340751

 

thanks blazom for your reply.
it means i can re-format the disk keeping the 2 invisible portions intact.
i want the Home button, use to fire media direct without booting in the os, as-its-is & don't want to change it.

I was looking for a little more elaborated step by step process if possible.

is it possible that i directly boot from Windows7 DVD & delete the 2 visible ( OS [C:] & Recovery [D:] ) & repartition according to my need (60Gb & 100 GB) & then install OS on c: as we do in other os installation.
Or it is mandatory to boot from Dell MediaDirect DVD to keep the media direct button function correctly.

 

if u will use dell media direct DVD to format then everything will be vanished , and than partitions again recreated - but the partition will be ampty and u will need to reinstall Dell diagnostic (update the existing partition) and Dell MD(from the same DVD) again - After windows installed - read the manual what come with computer

That is the best clean install ....

be carrefull in the process of format with MD DVD...u will have to choose the size of the C:

and then in the begining of the windows instalation (the step where u are choosing target partition for Win) u will have to create the D partition...

it is easy....JUSt READ CAREFULLY every step


for instalation instruction:




for Win7 x64 drivers use the vistasx64 from Dell and for touchpad and quickset from here
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=340751

No. 4, 6, 13 download from INTEL
No. 8 from Nvidia
No. 14 from UPEK
No. 1, 17 from www.filehippo.com - drivers section
No. 2 from microsoft

No. 17 - JAVA JRE install after your web browser installed


if u will not be able to install bluetooth driver...use this patch tu wake up your bluetooth
http://rapidshare.com/files/304724228/Bluetooth_355Patch.rar.html



The Intel ACHI driver :

there are 3 ways how to instal:

1. get the floppy driver for matrix storage manager from intel or :
http://rapidshare.com/files/304843108/ACHI_DRIVER.rar.html

unpack before win installation to dvd or usbkey and in the step where u are choosing target partition for Win, choose LOAD DRVIER -and choose it (sometimes it doesnt work , but this is the best way)

2. after win installed, go to Device manager and under IDE ATA/ATAPI choose SATA ACHI controller or something like it and update driver - from the same folder like in step 1.

3. install intel matrix storage manager


after all drivers installed, you can safely delete from win startup all items except quickset - 3 for nvidia+sigmatel+java+webcam efect launcher + upek + ianottif (iff matrix storage manager installed and RAID not pressent!!!)


see u

 

thanks blazom,
will try this & update this thread accordingly.

Cheers !