[calvin-c]

Several years ago, don't remember the Windows version (definitely wasn't Vista) I found a recovery/reinstallation CD that required the HD be formatted. I don't quite remember the error that came up if it wasn't, but it certainly didn't point to a lack of formatting. IIRC the problem was that it first copied some drivers to the HD, then installed Windows using those drivers.

I think the version was Win98 as I recall getting to a setup screen where I could press F3 to exit, execute the format from the CD, then restart setup. But it did require the HD be formatted before setup would run.

[Elvandil]

It certainly wouldn't hurt to set up the partitions ahead of time, even creating a FAT32 partition for the recovery partition, and then using Dell MBR (F11) Repair to edit the MBR to Dell's usual specificaions, which are different from anyone else's.