I just got a Dell XPS 1210 - it looks like it originally had XP Pro installed on it (the sticker is on the bottom). When I got it, it had Vista Home Basic, and I just reinstalled XP Pro with a CD I got with my desktop. No CDs came with this unit.
I have a few questions - pardon if my computer knowledge is limited...
Did I make a mistake when I chose which partition to install the OS on? Windows (or I ?) assigned C: to the recovery partition and D: to the partition that contains XP. Is this going to be a problem? I've had no trouble bootiing up...
I poked around in the recovery partition... The "DELL" file contains two files - one with drivers that got installed when I re-installed XP (or I might have put them there to keep them safe, I don't quite recall) The other file is named "IMAGE". "IMAGE" contains a factory.wim file that was created over a year ago, so it was not created when I re-installed XP. I assume this is the file that restores the computer to it's factory specs. Is there any way to find out if this file will restore the XP o.s. that came with the unit, or Vista that I assume was installed later?
Do I need a recovery partition at all? If it contains recovery info from the Vista install, it won't do me any good now anyway... Plus, there are 6 gigs of free space just sitting around in it...
When XP is installed, does it create a recovery partition?
Should I format again, get rid of the partitions and wipe everything clean? I believe I was given the option to do this when I re-installed XP, but I don't quite remember. The whole process, format virgin that I was, was a white-knuckler...
Many thanks for your help.
I have a few questions - pardon if my computer knowledge is limited...
Did I make a mistake when I chose which partition to install the OS on? Windows (or I ?) assigned C: to the recovery partition and D: to the partition that contains XP. Is this going to be a problem? I've had no trouble bootiing up...
I poked around in the recovery partition... The "DELL" file contains two files - one with drivers that got installed when I re-installed XP (or I might have put them there to keep them safe, I don't quite recall) The other file is named "IMAGE". "IMAGE" contains a factory.wim file that was created over a year ago, so it was not created when I re-installed XP. I assume this is the file that restores the computer to it's factory specs. Is there any way to find out if this file will restore the XP o.s. that came with the unit, or Vista that I assume was installed later?
Do I need a recovery partition at all? If it contains recovery info from the Vista install, it won't do me any good now anyway... Plus, there are 6 gigs of free space just sitting around in it...
When XP is installed, does it create a recovery partition?
Should I format again, get rid of the partitions and wipe everything clean? I believe I was given the option to do this when I re-installed XP, but I don't quite remember. The whole process, format virgin that I was, was a white-knuckler...
Many thanks for your help.
