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    3 factory created partitions on Dell studio

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by darrylcn, May 5, 2009.

  1. darrylcn

    darrylcn Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hey guys, I think I know the answer to this but I just wanted to confirm.
    I'm installing Windows7 RC on my Dell Studio, and during the part where you choose the installation location I'm seeing 3 partitions. The 139GB main one, the Recovery partition, and one called 'OEM' that's 39MB. I left it alone and formatted then installed on the main 139GB partition but I'm wondering about the 39MB one.

    It doesn't show up in Windows as a drive, is it the same as the 8MB or so parition that shows when you're formatting Windows XP? I always leave it alone too, but I've never seen one at 39MB before, several times bigger than what I have on my PC's drives. It's drives are old, so maybe that explains the size difference, but should I have done anything to the 39MB partition?

    Thanks
     
    darrylcn, May 5, 2009
    #1
  2. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    It's some sort of diagnostics, I believe. Just like with the recovery partition, if you don't need it, you can get rid of it. I think one of the disks that came with your machine already has similar diagnostics software.
     
    Commander Wolf, May 5, 2009
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  3. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    I'm pretty sure that's the MediaDirect partition, the one that allows you to boot directly into MediaDirect without loading Windows. I erased mine since I never used that feature.
     
    Mastershroom, May 5, 2009
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  4. darrylcn

    darrylcn Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hmm, didn't even know that was an option, I've seen the button on the machine (I have a 1535 too) but didn't know you could boot into anything other than Windows. All I've done is messed around with giving it other functionality in Windows.

    I just hit the button now with the laptop off and it booted Windows 7 normally. Maybe it works when you install the OS that came with the computer. I'm about to do that now, as there are a few things with Windows 7 I don't feel like ironing out, the Vista display driver exe from Dell won't install, says wrong version, and I have 3 unknown devices in my Device Manager for instance. I got a free copy of Vista Business through school, but when I put the disc in it the Vista Business install program says I need to install a CD/DVD drive driver to continue. Which is weird, since it read the disc... ??

    Edit: I'm installing the OEM Vista Home Ultimate now and only 2 partitions show, numbers 2 and 3. IIRC I wondered why the 2 were numbered 2 and 3 rather than 1 and 2 but I forgot to come here and ask. Now I know why. I wanna try that media direct out once I get the OE Vista back on.

    Thanks for the help guys.
     
    darrylcn, May 5, 2009
    #4