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**freakitchen** · 01-27-2006, 05:10 PM

Hey guys, hopefully this should be an easy one for yas!

Just got delivered my new DELL Inspiron 1300 Laptop. I like the machine itself, but I get very annoyed with general 'rubbish' on my XP install, and this machine has it by the bucketload (30-day trials of this and that, horrid Macaffee, AOL etc).

What I'd really like to do is have a clean format, however, I only got the 'restore partition' with this machine, and no XP CD. I do, however, have my own OEM copy of XP Home.

I was wondering if, using this copy, i could perform the re-install and use the new DELL licence key. I recently tried this with a friend's Sony VAIO, and it worked fine, but I don't want to delete the restore partition unless I know for sure that this is gonna work.

Thanks in advance,

Freakitchen

**pam123** · 01-28-2006, 12:41 PM

Sure you can do that ( There should be instructions for burning all the info on the restore partition to disks so you won't lose any app you really need, like office. ) just make sure you have any drivers you're going to need burned to disk before you start.
But why do it?
Just uninstall all the stuff you don't want.

***glc*** · 01-28-2006, 01:12 PM

Pam, Dell has removed the utility to burn your own restore media from the partition. They now sell media for $10.

FK, I'd leave the restore partition alone if you want to do this. It's a heck of a safety valve and doesn't take up that much space.

I've "de-trashed" quite a few new Dell laptops recently - it isn't that hard. Just start uninstalling stuff and finish up with a Crap Cleaner run.

**pam123** · 01-28-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glc

Pam, Dell has removed the utility to burn your own restore media from the partition. They now sell media for $10.

I suppose that means HP/Compaq (those are the laptops I see except for the occassional Gateway) will follow suit if they haven't already.

**freakitchen** · 01-28-2006, 02:20 PM

Thanks very much for the info Pam & GLC. I will leave that restore partition in place for security - after a good uninstalling session I've managed to get the laptop to a decent state.

Haven't used Crap Cleaner before, but I'll certainly give it a try.

Cheers,

Freakitchen

***glc*** · 01-28-2006, 02:29 PM

Pam, they are heading the other direction - trying to get a CD/DVD out of them is almost impossible - you HAVE to make your own.

01-27-2006, 05:10 PM	#1
freakitchen Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doncaster, UK Posts: 3,563	Laptop OS Reinstall question Hey guys, hopefully this should be an easy one for yas! Just got delivered my new DELL Inspiron 1300 Laptop. I like the machine itself, but I get very annoyed with general 'rubbish' on my XP install, and this machine has it by the bucketload (30-day trials of this and that, horrid Macaffee, AOL etc). What I'd really like to do is have a clean format, however, I only got the 'restore partition' with this machine, and no XP CD. I do, however, have my own OEM copy of XP Home. I was wondering if, using this copy, i could perform the re-install and use the new DELL licence key. I recently tried this with a friend's Sony VAIO, and it worked fine, but I don't want to delete the restore partition unless I know for sure that this is gonna work. Thanks in advance, Freakitchen Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ -FK- "Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw, The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders fields." - John McCrae, May 1915

01-28-2006, 12:41 PM	#2
pam123 Computing Professor Staff Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 11,718	Sure you can do that ( There should be instructions for burning all the info on the restore partition to disks so you won't lose any app you really need, like office. ) just make sure you have any drivers you're going to need burned to disk before you start. But why do it? Just uninstall all the stuff you don't want. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Asus M4A77D, 64 X2 6000+, 4 GB Corsair DDR2 800 ram, Radeon 5770.

01-28-2006, 01:12 PM	#3
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 37,786	Pam, Dell has removed the utility to burn your own restore media from the partition. They now sell media for $10. FK, I'd leave the restore partition alone if you want to do this. It's a heck of a safety valve and doesn't take up that much space. I've "de-trashed" quite a few new Dell laptops recently - it isn't that hard. Just start uninstalling stuff and finish up with a Crap Cleaner run. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-28-2006, 02:20 PM	#5
freakitchen Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Doncaster, UK Posts: 3,563	Thanks very much for the info Pam & GLC. I will leave that restore partition in place for security - after a good uninstalling session I've managed to get the laptop to a decent state. Haven't used Crap Cleaner before, but I'll certainly give it a try. Cheers, Freakitchen Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

01-28-2006, 02:29 PM	#6
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 37,786	Pam, they are heading the other direction - trying to get a CD/DVD out of them is almost impossible - you HAVE to make your own. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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