Dell recovery partition: should I keep it?
Brand new Dell XPS 15 laptop. I used Acronis True Image Home 2012 Recovery CD to take a full disk image of the HD before the laptop had ever been booted from the HD. So, that image can be used anytime to restore the laptop to exactly how it was when it left the factory.
Given that, is there any reason to retain the Dell recovery partition on the internal HD? It's a nominal 750 GB HD, so actual space total about 699 GB. The Dell recovery partition is 19.53 GB, or 2.8% of the drive's space. If there's no need to have that recovery partition on the HD, then I could delete it to reclaim that space.
Here's how the drive is currently laid out (when examined after booting from CD):
NTFS (Recovery) C: 19.53 GB
NTFS (OS) D: 679 GB
FAT16 (Unlabeled) 101.9 MB Type: Dell Server utilities
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Yes, the purpose of the Dell recovery partition is to restore your XPS back to its factory condition in the event the computer suffers a major failure. Basically, it's an OS re-install capability that includes required Dell drivers. It also includes an option for making your own bootable recovery discs which is highly recommended, especially if you are going to delete the original.
For additional info, see http://www.ehow.com/how_6594265_make-bootable-disk-recovery-partition.h… and/or your XPS Setup Guide.
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Richard Virtue, from the very old and defunct Sympatico users newsgroup. Whoa, blast from the past.
Thanks. Burning the Dell recovery DVDs was one of the first things I did.
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Yup. That's me. But no more Bell Sympatico ADSL/PPPoE for me to fight with. And they got rid of that VP too. :~)
Incidentally, I'm a bit puzzled about your drive partition setup. Does your system startup rely on C: partition boot config files? If so, you'd need to exercise some care in any repartitioning and drive letter assignments.
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From my point of view, the Dell recovery partition is a waste of space once you have established that ATI is a reliable way to restore your disk. You should keep it, however, if you don't have the Windows installation DVDs. You will always find the drivers on the support section of dell.com.
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Hi Pat:
I've used ATI for many years, so I'm confident in it. I validated my first image made of the virgin disk (before it had even been booted, as I booted from ATI Recovery CD), and restored a few files so I know it works on the new laptop.
I created Dell Recovery disks (three DVD0-Rs) and the standards Windows 7 64-bit Repair Disk. Those, in conjunction with thaat first image, should allow repair or restore of factory condition, as unlikely as it is that I'd want to return to factory condition unless selling it.
I will also request the Windows and software DVDs from Dell, as they must be requested only after receiving the computer with Dell service code.
I've been talking with MudCrab and Grover about removing the Dell partition(s) after moving boot files to C drive, then partitioning the C drive into smaller partition for Windows OS and programs, and large partition for my data. Never done that before, so their guidance will be key.
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I've been talking with MudCrab and Grover about removing the Dell partition(s) after moving boot files to C drive, then partitioning the C drive into smaller partition for Windows OS and programs, and large partition for my data. Never done that before, so their guidance will be key.
Hi Tuttle,
Did you had a chance to have a step by step solution for this. I am unable to find in forum anything specifically covering this step by step.
Thanks
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I don't have a single instructional document. I received information from MudCrab and Grover, and we went back and forth in various e-mails so there's no single block of information.
But yes, I did do it. I moved boot files to make C: OS partition bootable, removed the Dell Recovery partition and the small OEM partition, and created a couple of new partitions including adjusting the size of C:.
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But yes, I did to it. I moved boot files to make C: OS partition bootable, removed the Dell Recovery partition and the small OEM partition, and created a couple of new partitions including adjusting the size of C:.
Hi - Not sure if possible for you but just in case
Would you mind detailing -
1. How u moved boot files - any third party tool
2. Removed other 2 partitions - any third party tool
Did u alsoedited BCD data? If yes how?
Thanks
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Request Mudcrab and Grover to please assist.
I am most bothered with how to remove dell OEM partition....regarding removing recovery partition i am fine.
Pls guide how to safely remove dell OEM partition without affecting boot order.
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Use Windows disk management to see the current partition structure. Print a screen shot of the disk management console for future reference, and post it here.
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I have a Dell Vostro laptop where I removed (or reclaimed) the recovery partition space. I clean installed W7, resized the C partition (made it smaller in my case), created a new "D" partition and a new "Recovery" partition which contains Acronis images of the OS and Windows updates only. Nothing else. I can't remember specific details (I had to look it up) but it involved using the Diskpart commands in Windows. If you google "delete recovery partition" you'll come across similar. It was straightforward. I hit a problem of being unable to boot into my clean W7 image after this as I hadn't realised the boot files were separate. The fix is easy, just use any W7 or Vista disc and do a startup repair and that rewrites the boot files onto the OS partition correctly.
Sorry if the instructions are a bit vague but I looked it up as I went along as I has never done anything like this before but it all worked out well.
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