Windows XP restore partition

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@halasty wrote:

Hi,

 

I've purchased an Inspiron 510m and there was no Windows XP or Drivers CD as mentioned in the manual. I suppose I purchased it without the media CD as Windows XP restore partition is hidden at the end of the disc (takes aprox. 2.75GB).

 

As Windows isn't the only OS I use I've got a few questions that bothers me:

 

1). Is there any way I can safetly transfer restore partition onto CD / DVD without loosing it's functionality? For example: will Ghost 9 create a bootable CD from it and will it restore Windows partition as it would do it from the hidden partition?

2). If the 1st one isn't possible, is it possible to order a backup CD from Dell? How much will it be (aprox.)

 

Thanks in advice for any help

 

Roman

 

Using the Advanced Forum Search on the bottom of this page, you can quite easily find the answer to this often asked question.

 

To make the XP CD - http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1091713&c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

 

1. No, Ghost 9 doesn't create a bootable CD.  You can copy the partition to CDs using Ghost and use Ghost 2003 to restore it based on posts others have made.

 

2. If the utility described above doesn't work, call Dell and get it FREE as you are entitled to.

rickmktg: thank you for the clue, but Dell OS Recovery Utility isn't present in my start -> dell accessories. I couldn't even find where it can be downloaded.  Can you please help me finding it?

thx in adv
Roman

when I initially turned on my laptop the option wasn't there as well but a few reboots later it appeared so I hurridely burnt my back xp cd.

To continue with this. I have now received my restore CD's from Dell since I could not create one off the hard drive. Is it now safe to take the dell partition and the end of the drive and format it and turn it into some usefull hard drive space or will I mess things up? I have the WXP home edition install CD and also the driver CD and another one that the just sent me when I asked for all the restore cds.
Thanks,
Frank k.

I don't have Restore CDs from Dell yet (but I hope I'll have them soon :)) but according what's on Dell.com it should be safe to turn dell partition into some usefull.

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@fkiehner wrote:
To continue with this. I have now received my restore CD's from Dell since I could not create one off the hard drive. Is it now safe to take the dell partition and the end of the drive and format it and turn it into some usefull hard drive space or will I mess things up? I have the WXP home edition install CD and also the driver CD and another one that the just sent me when I asked for all the restore cds.
Thanks,
Frank k.

You do NOT have RESTORE CDs.  You have a copy of OEM Windows.  The CD you have will NOT restore the computer to an as-shipped condition.  If that's what you want, you cannot remove the partition.