Clean Vista Install Guide?

I did a quick search and found several different threads on the subject, but none with really a complete guide. I just got my 1420, and I'd like to get rid of all the bloatware, but I'm not exactly tech-savvy. I'd like to keep Media Direct, as well. As far as I understand, there are four partitions on the new Inspirons:

1. Vista partition
2. Storge/whatever
3. Recovery
4. Dell Media Direct

I'm wondering if it's possible to merge the first three into just one, for Vista and everything else, leaving me with just two: Dell Media Direct and everything else. Is this possible, or would I have to reformat everything? And if so, how do I get Media Direct back on there?

 

when you format you should have the option to just delete the first three partitions, so those would go into free space, and you could create just one large partion of what is left.

 

You don't really need to keep the Vista Partition and the Recovery Partition, right? After all, they all come on CD, correct?

 

yeah you have a recovery cd that restores your computer to the way it was when you bought it

 

And when it restores your computer, it restores it completely with all four partitions and all?

 

I don't have a recovery cd, actually. I have a Vista reinstallation DVD, drivers, and a couple software things that came with the laptop. But no recovery disk.

 

I think the reinstallation DVD is the recovery CD...

 

Maybe that's on there too; I haven't done anything with it yet.

 

I don't think if you reinstall windows from dvd, it'll go back to factory settings. Only recover partition does that.

 

But everything that came with the laptop should be included with supplementary CDs, right?

 

That would make sense, but I'm just not seeing it.

 

yeah, but you'll have to install them one by one, I think. Recovery partition simply restores the OS partition to the way it was shipped, with all drivers and Dell-installed utilities.

 

I actually like that method better.... because then you can choose what to install and skip the bloatware.

 

The Vista reinstallation DVD is just the plain OEM Vista installation, no added software, just install what you want off the Dell driver CD's after installation.

You are slightly wrong with what the Partitions have on them. There are 4 partitions with
1. Vista (most of the space)
2. Diagnostics (~100MB I believe)
3. Recovery (10GB)
4. Mediasource(2.5GB)

I would suggest that you don't get rid of the diagnostics, and if you want Mediasource don't get rid of that. The recovery and Vista can be merged in Vista and then format that partition when you reinstall Vista.

 

What is mediasource?

And personally, I'm going to repartiton my system so it's basically 5-10gb for Vista, and the rest as a second hard drive for easier reinstalls later on.

 

Mediadirect, I'm sorry, wrong program.

Mediasource is a program that I use with my Creative Zen Micro(Which doesn't work with vista I will add) so I get mixed up all the time.

xScorp1on, I believe vista needs like 15Gb min, and I would probably do at least double that for programs that have to be installed on C:/ and other components

 

Does Vista actually use that much space? I haven't had any experience working with Vista yet. And I have no clue what mediadirect is... could you explain it?

In anycase, I don't tend to install ANYTHING on my C:/ drive... but I guess I'll alot about 25-30gigs then. Currently my 120gb main drive is set to 15gb for XP and rest as space... XP using up 10gb. =/

 

I'm not sure exactly how much space vista uses, but I believe the minimum they recommend for a computer is 15GB so I would recommend at least that much and a little more for programs that have to be installed on C:/ or install some components on C:/. I've seen how annoying a setup like you are suggesting is when you get too many programs installed and it fills C:/.

MediaDirect is a custom OS made by Dell, that is essentially the same as Windows Media Center. You can boot Mediadirect by pressing the button that looks like a house on your laptop, so you don't have to load windows to play music, videos, DVD's or view Pictures.

 

What I ended up doing is leaving all the partitions in place, and just formatting the OS partition and replacing Vista there. The Recovery partition might be nice to have, and I kept the other two, of course. Just need to put the drivers in right now.

 

So Dell does not send you a Mediadriect CD for installation? If I get rid of the Mediadirect partition (as well as recovery), Mediadirect is pretty much gone?

 

I have a similar question. I'm going to format my E1505 (currently running XP MCE) and install Vista Ultimate. Last time I formatted and reinstalled Windows I had to "repair" MediaDirect with a file that was burned to a CD and boot from that CD to repair it. I think I have MediaDirect version 2, but the only thing you can download from Dell's website in the drivers section is for MediaDirect version 3. Will I be able to get MD up and running again after I install Vista and how do I go about doing it if I can?

EDIT: Can I use this even though it's under the WinXP downloads?

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=25&fileid=212557