Author Topic: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?  (Read 2153 times)

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Offline Agent_Koopa

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Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
Let me just say; I don't need admonitions for buying a Dell computer, nor for getting Windows Vista. It was a gift, and honestly, I don't care.

Now, this Dell Inspiron 1520 notebook came with some added software. I'm trying to figure out how to do a clean reinstall of Windows Vista without messing it up too much. I am currently at the "custom installation" screen, and three partitions have shown up. Unexpected; I only have a C and D drive. I know I can delete the D: Recovery partition, and format the C: partition, but what do I do with the one marked "MEDIADIRECT"? I need help!
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Offline redsniper

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Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
Hold on. I know that with the dell laptop I got last year, I wasn't given any CDs for the drivers and Windows itself.
Assuming you do know what you're doing, however, just delete all the partitions and make one big one. "MEDIADIRECT" is probably some sort of bootable media player thing so you can watch DVDs without loading up Windows, if you're into that I guess. :blah:
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Offline jr2

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Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
Let me just say; I don't need admonitions for buying a Dell computer, nor for getting Windows Vista. It was a gift, and honestly, I don't care.

Now, this Dell Inspiron 1520 notebook came with some added software. I'm trying to figure out how to do a clean reinstall of Windows Vista without messing it up too much. I am currently at the "custom installation" screen, and three partitions have shown up. Unexpected; I only have a C and D drive. I know I can delete the D: Recovery partition, and format the C: partition, but what do I do with the one marked "MEDIADIRECT"? I need help!

YARRR!  Create recovery CDs/DVDs FIRST!!!!... find out how to do so, or let me know your model # and I will look it up for you if I can.  Then, no matter what, you can restore to factory default.

 

Offline Nuke

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Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
if it came with an actual windows cd instead of the dreaded and totally useless system restore cd (which installs everything). what id do is just delete all partitions, create one or two big ones (personal preferance, on laptops, sence they have small hard drives, i tend to use only one partition). this makes damn sure they didnt hide anything in the mbr that might cause problems later.

if they gave you a proprietary restore cd, id just download an iso for that version of vista and it should register with the number on the os sticker. be sure not to get a hacked version, that could cause problems with activation, ect. its technically not piracy because you own the license. also if the restore cd contains the proper vista install directory (maybe i386, not sure if they changed it) then you could maybe do a network install.
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Offline jr2

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Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
Do a torrent search for All Windows DVD... it's two DVDs, 1 and 2... not sure if they have Vista yet, so check.  They are not pre-hacked, so that should be good.  I think it should work with your Windows CD-Key sticker.

 

Offline Nuke

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Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
vista is only 1 dvd. the retail version comes with both 32 nd 64 bit versions i think.
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Offline jr2

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Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
... All Windows DVD is exactly that... all versions of Windows.  Just don't install the other ones, and you're still legal.  XD

 

Offline Agent_Koopa

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Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
Well, I left the partition intact, and installed, but now I'm missing two drivers and I'm not sure what video card I have. ;>_>

Oh well, I can sort that out with a call to Dell.
Interestingly enough, this signature is none of the following:
A witty remark on whatever sad state of affairs the world may or may not be in
A series of localized forum in-jokes
A clever and self-referential comment on the nature of signatures themselves.

Hobo Queens are Crowned, but Hobo Kings are Found.

 

Offline Nuke

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Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
you should be able to figure out what those are by looking your model number up on the manufacturer's page. they should have drivers too.
I can no longer sit back and allow communist infiltration, communist indoctrination, communist subversion, and the international communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.

Nuke's Scripting SVN

 
Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
Get Linux.

 

Offline Nuke

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Re: Reinstalling Windows Vista - need help with partitions - advice?
having linux doesnt always liberate one form haing to hunt down proper drivers. theres usually always one or two things you need to download and compile, and murphys law dictates that one of them will cripple your internet making it impossible to get said driver.
I can no longer sit back and allow communist infiltration, communist indoctrination, communist subversion, and the international communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.

Nuke's Scripting SVN