1420 - Clean install, Format "RECOVERY"?

Hi everyone,


i am doing a clean install on my Inspiron 1420

anyone know if i should format the RECOVERY partition?
and what if i did?


thanksss

 

Personally, I prefer to do a clean format with CDs rather than utilizing recovery partitions, although I've heard that some recovery partitions are quite fast and handy. The only ones I have used did not allow me to choose what software was installed with the operating system, leading to long bloatware uninstallation times post-OS install. Seeing as I never use the recovery partitions, yes, I tend to reformat them and work the extra space into whatever partition scheme I've decided on. When my D630 comes in, I'll redo my partition tables, just not sure what I want yet. I just know that I don't need that recovery partition.

 

Would it be possible to create your own recovery partition?
Format the one that's there, and then copy over necessary installation files from the recovery CD?
Or back up a copy of your tweaked operating system on the recovery partition in such a manner that you can boot and restore from it?

 

oh i see, yeh i might format for that extra space since i only got a 120 GB HD =P

in the process of a clean install now.

 

The way I see it:

Pros of the restore partition-

You can always get your laptop running again even if you don't have an OS CD handy

If you aren't good with computers it may be easier than a clean install

It may be faster than a clean install especially considering drivers

Cons -

You don't get to customize what gets reinstalled

It eats a partition (if you like to partition your HD to keep it organized this can be a big negative

You loose HD space obviously

Whether it's worth keeping depends on a lot of things that may not apply to different people.

 

Is there a way to copy that partition, say to a blank DVD or an external hard drive, so I could have it as a back up just in case I wanted to restore without a clean install if selling the laptop in the future?

 

Ghosting it. I'm not sure if you can make an image of individual partitions, or only the whole drive itself.

Norton Ghost and Acronis True Image are good. Acronis is a universal restore so you can restore your image to any computer you want. Hardware doesn't need to be the same.

 

Most computers these days come with a program that will make copies of restore CDs, and these will most likely have everything the way that it came from the factory. Be warned, these programs are usually only good for one copy of the CDs or DVDs, so do not lose them. You can copy the CDs you've made, but the program will only work for one set. Some bogus thing for reducing piracy; the CDs will only work on specific range of laptops, and it's easy to make copies of them after you've already got them. It's a flawed idea, but it's what we have to work with.

 

aw crap, the Dell Resource CD doesnt read in the drive.
is like dented or whatever when i took it out of the packaging. it doesnt give a "perfect" spin in the drive so it doesnt read!!!


Now what should i do, i cant install any drivers and i dont have internet at the moment on my laptop

helppp

 

BY tHE WAY, where do i go to use the recovery partition? i dont know which one to click =(

driver CD screwed, gonna restore to default first.

 

Does the ethernet port work? I know that wireless is probably kaput, but most ethernet ports work without extra drivers. I'd suggest trying that and grabbing the drivers off of the Dell website. Use the Device Manager to check what drivers you need.

If ethernet doesn't work on the laptop then you can download the ethernet drivers on another computer, throw them onto a thumb drive and install them that way. After that, get all the other drivers from the internet on the laptop you're working on.

 

I don't know where it is on a Dell, but the ones I've used have been accessible through the Start menu and then somewhere like System Restore, or something like that. Go ahead and try one, see if it does what you want it to, I don't think the wrong option under that menu would screw anything up, not since you're planning to format / restore anyways.