Want to create a reinstallation CD

Question

I bought two Inspiron 1501 notebooks; both have the original Dell installation of Vista Premium.   I have the following:   Drivers and utilities CD Reinstallation DVD ~70MB utility partition ~10GB recovery partition   In the Windows XP world, I wiped my drives clean, did a fresh install from my XP media (so I didn't have all of that stuff that I didn't want), then updated to all of the service packs, then used norton ghost to create a recovery DVD with the OS, all of the relevant upgrades and all of the settings the way I wanted them.  This gave me a 20-minute way to return to a fresh image (I work with a lot of different sw and need to reformat a lot).   What I would like to know is the following:   1. Will the reinstallation DVD return an image of only vista or vista with all the other bloatware included? 2. If I have the DVD, do I need the recovery partition? Is it the same? 3. The recovery partition has a 3.7GB 'factory.wim' image.  I am assuming that is the image as it was shipped from Dell.  What utility do I use to paint that image down to my drive? 4. If I remove the recovery partition, but copy the appropriate files to a DVD-R, can I still do the ctl+F11 recovery or does it have to be from a hard drive? 5. I have seen people take recovery DVDs for XP and extract files in order to create regular install disks.  Is this possible for vista?   Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Austin_Bike · Answer

Poking around a bit, I see that the Dell reinstallation DVD has a 2.55GB install.wim and the restore partition has the 3.7GB factory.wim file.   I am betting that the DVD puts down just the OS and the partition file has all the other stuff that I don't want.   It also looks like imageX is the program used to read wim files, and that is on the DVD.   Thoughts?

u6q35 · Answer

If Dell is keeping with its previous traditions, the image file in the recovery partition was made after everything was installed.  That should include any software you ordered with the computer... and probably some of the junk you didn't want.   The OS reinstallation DVD should be just like a regular Vista DVD... though, in all honesty, I haven't checked that yet.  So, yeah, it should just install the OS and leave the rest of the junk out.  However, you may need to install some of the drivers if Vista doesn't recognize the hardware.

u6q35 · Answer

As for your 4th question, unless Dell has changed a lot with its Vista systems, removing the partition will render the Ctrl-F11 function useless.   Dan Goodell has some good info on the Dell Recovery Partition.  Read on. http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/index.htm

u6q35 · Answer

I personally think the Recovery partition is useless.  This is especially true if you have a partition imager, which I don't, but wish I did.  The OS and pre-installed programs are on the recovery image, which are the easiest things to recover.  I would be more concerned with lost data and re-installation of other purchased software.  For that reason, it's smart to keep your personal data on another partition.

Austin_Bike · Answer

Removing which partition? The utility partition or the restore partition? If you kept the utility partition, could you do a restore from the DVD?

u6q35 · Answer

Again, unless things have changed dramatically with the Vista systems, changing any partitioning will cause the DSR to abort.  The DSR, as written in XP systems, as I understand it, does not recognize a DVD.

querry1 · Answer

Ok...Vista Quick Restore is the F8 key not ctrl +F11 like in windows. You can probably do anything you like if you work at it. I don't like the bloatware either but it only takes an hour to get rid of it all so why not keep it. I used to experiment with the Dell Symantic Quick Restore ctrl+F11 with limited success. I think I just mirrored it to another hard drive. I got all the bloatware and Windows XP and all the drivers but no quick restore.

I also did some work with Acronis True Image. That will allow you to examine and delete programs on any partition.

Good Luck!!

Inspiron E1505 T5500 Core 2 Duo

2gb 667 mhz 5400 DD2

Intel 950 Graphics

Windows XP Media Center 2005 - Express Vista Home Premium Upgrade

Austin_Bike · Answer

The problem with removing things is that you can't be sure that you get everything.  The registry ends up with junk you don't need and your drive has all kinds of odds and ends that hang around.   Clean install is the best way.

querry1 · Answer

Yes build everything from clean install and install Symantic Quick Restore and you have it the way you want it.

Windows General

Want to create a reinstallation CD

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