Complete Reformat and Clean XP Install

Question

I have a Inspiron 600M that I bought in June of 2004. I have decided I want to make it a Dual boot with Linux and Windows XP. I want to destroy all partitions on the hard rive (even the special Dell ones), repartition then do a fresh install of Windows XP with just XP, no extra "helpful" Dell programs or trial offers. After that it will be a simple matter to have the Ubuntu installer shrink the NTFS partition down to size and put Linux on the other 2/3 or the drive.

Now my main concern is whether this is even possible with the disks Dells ships? I believe I have a driver disk and a recovery disk. Can I do a clean reinstall of windows from these?

osprey4 · Answer

Yes, you should have the XP reinstallation disc and the Dell Resource disc. Should be all you need to reinstall without all the junque.

Denny Denham · Answer

Game_Ender,

The PC Restore partition is provided as an emergency recovery capability for new users who suffer a catastrophic failure shortly after receiving the computer. My feeling is that if you are capable of reinstalling Windows the partition used for the PC Restore image is simply taking up disk space needlessly.

Game_Ender · Answer

Thanks, I was just able to dig out the materials that came with the 600M there is an actual Windows XP Pro disk, and the driver disk as you said. Now I have one question, is it worth the effort to try and save the disk image on the restore partition? Or should I just erase it and do a manual install?

autumnbreaks · Answer

If you bought your system in june of 2004, you don't have the Dell PC Restore partition (it's only on systems dated 7/16/2004 and later). Dell systems that have PC Restore have three partitions, while systems that don't only have two.

Partition 1 [FAT]->This is the utility partition, it contains system diagnostics.
C: Partition 2 [NTFS]->This is the system partition that contains the OS
Partition 3 [FAT]->This is the PC Restore partition.

Game_Ender · Answer

I definitely had the restore partition and I now remember that I got my laptop in August of 2004, luckily dell was still giving you the Windows CD for free. It is quite ridiculous to not get that as default now. I got dual boot working just fine, I am going to try and post a how to on wiki.ubuntu.org that explains who to fix some Inspiron 600M linux issues.

Windows General

Complete Reformat and Clean XP Install

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