Clean Vista Install Guide?

[tremonti22]

I did a quick search and found several different threads on the subject, but none with really a complete guide. I just got my 1420, and I'd like to get rid of all the bloatware, but I'm not exactly tech-savvy. I'd like to keep Media Direct, as well. As far as I understand, there are four partitions on the new Inspirons:

1. Vista partition
2. Storge/whatever
3. Recovery
4. Dell Media Direct

I'm wondering if it's possible to merge the first three into just one, for Vista and everything else, leaving me with just two: Dell Media Direct and everything else. Is this possible, or would I have to reformat everything? And if so, how do I get Media Direct back on there?

[dicecca112]

when you format you should have the option to just delete the first three partitions, so those would go into free space, and you could create just one large partion of what is left.

[ATR90]

You don't really need to keep the Vista Partition and the Recovery Partition, right? After all, they all come on CD, correct?

[dicecca112]

yeah you have a recovery cd that restores your computer to the way it was when you bought it

[ATR90]

yeah you have a recovery cd that restores your computer to the way it was when you bought it

And when it restores your computer, it restores it completely with all four partitions and all?

[tremonti22]

I don't have a recovery cd, actually. I have a Vista reinstallation DVD, drivers, and a couple software things that came with the laptop. But no recovery disk.

[xScorp1on]

I think the reinstallation DVD is the recovery CD...

[tremonti22]

Maybe that's on there too; I haven't done anything with it yet.

[Zetto]

I don't think if you reinstall windows from dvd, it'll go back to factory settings. Only recover partition does that.

[xScorp1on]

I don't think if you reinstall windows from dvd, it'll go back to factory settings. Only recover partition does that.

But everything that came with the laptop should be included with supplementary CDs, right?