installing linux, recovery and guarantee

"It would lose the guarantee by installing another system?" 

The hardware warrantee is not voided by changing the OS, however you may be required to reinstall the original OS in order to run diagnostics before Dell will replace any hardware.

Installing Linux will most likely destroy the ability to return a PC the its original condition using the recovery boot option, however you will still be able to restore the PC using the recovery CD. 

Exact, normally the distributions of Linux introduce a load system control (GRUB) that impedes the installation of Windows with normality. As alternative is possible to have several partitions and to have Windows for the test for Dell. To keep out, I understand that is not necessary to carry out the recovery copy from Windows, with the Recovery CD of the computer is enough. Correct?

The Dell "Recovery CD" is not an image of the C: partition as it was shipped, but is actually a Dell-branded Windows installation CD. Although it is the primary component of a clean installation, it is not enough to return your PC to the original, factory-installed software configuration. Additional drivers, utilities, and applications are normally required to create a configuration that resembles the factory configuration.

The Dell PC Restore utility is actually a limited version of imaging software. Most imaging software allows you to capture the entire contents of a partition and/or all partitions on a disk as a file in another location for backup, and restore an image file to a partition or disk when desired. The Dell PC Restore utility does not offer the capability to create new images, and can only restore the factory image to the C: partition from it's specified storage location if the original factory partitioning and boot record remain unaltered.

The Dell Diagnostics utility for hardware testing is normally installed on a small partition by itself, and has no dependancy on the Windows installation. There may be other special features installed by Dell that depend on the original factory partitioning. Details may vary by brand, model, operating system, etc.


GM

Message Edited by GreyMack on 07-08-2007 12:38 PM