[Tr0x]

I just wanted to get another opinion on some strange partitions I found using the Computer Management tool in Vista.

The two partitions circled in red in the attached picture cannot be accessed from My Computer and they were created before I got my computer.

I've called Dell (my laptop is an Inspiron 1520) to ask about these partitions and I couldn't get a clear answer from them.

Since they seem to just be sitting there, taking up space, would it be safe to "delete" them and then format them into usable drives? Or do they have a hidden purpose? 2.5 Gb seems like a lot of space to be wasted...

[Rich-M]

One a master boot record which you need, the other one I haven't a clue unless Dell put it's restore partition there and another user added the "Recovery" there. Was this bought new or used?

[Tr0x]

This was bought brand new about a year ago, which is why I can't understand why that 2.5 GB partition exists. The "Recovery" partition came pre-created on it too, meaning I haven't added or deleted any partitions since I bought it.

So, I'll leave the smaller 86MB partition alone then, but what can I do about the other?

[Rich-M]

I would doubt that Dell would put on a 10gb Recovery partition...but then they would call it Recovery I suppose. I really don't know.

[DaveA]

Remember that these OEM drives are made from a image and built from a network. Some of the images will not fill up the full drive and extra steps need to taken by the builder to remove these "Left over" areas and to resize the final partition.

[Tr0x]

So what can I do in order to use this 2.5GB? Is there anything? And it was Dell who did all these partitions as the computer came like this...

[Rich-M]

You know the best ones to ask are Dell as the 2.5 gb partition makes absolutely no sense to me but I would delete the whole mess anyway and make 1 partition as I use a second hard drive for Acronis image files and data and file backup anyway. Of course I wouldn't buy a Dell either or any other brand for that matter.

[DaveA]

Using a partition of a single drive for Backup Images does not make GOOD since.
If one has a hard drive failure then the backups are gone also.
They need to be on a separate drive and a external drive is better yet. It can be removed and locked up in a protected area.

[Tr0x]

Well, I've decided just to leave it for now. Thanks for all your help in answering my questions!

I've started looking at external hard drives as per your suggestion so do you have any top picks or further suggestions as to what brand/model I should get?

[TheOutcaste]

The 86MB partition shown as EISA configuration is probably the Dell Utilities/Diagnostics. My Dimension 9100 has a 55MB partition EISA partition. When I boot, I can hit F12 and boot to the Dell Utilities. But mine shows a file system as FAT, yours has that column blank.

Your image doesn't show all the columns, so it doesn't show how much of the 2.5 GB partition is free space; It also doesn't show a file system either.

As it doesn't show a file system, I doubt if assigning a drive letter would help. It might show up in My Computer, but Windows will likely say the drive is not formatted, or that it is corrupt and unreadable. I can assign a letter to mine and browse them.

Possibly Dell is using a proprietary format now, to prevent people from doing just that, or it's a Linux format. I have Ubuntu installed on an External drive so I can boot from it, and Disk Management doesn't show a file system. You may want to try booting with a Linux live CD, and see if it will display what is on those partitions.
Knoppix
Ubuntu

If it's 100% free you can certainly delete it and merge it with the C: partition. If not, you could use Acronis, Ghost, or something similar to make an image of it. Then if it turns out to be something really needed, you can restore it.

HTH

Jerry

[Mumbodog]

The large partition is a Restore partition, don't delete it! The other small one is hardware diagnostics partition, very important also.

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...7D4&doclang=en


all you manuals for that model
http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...0/en/index.htm


Dell Knowlege base articles that apply to that model
http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?...False&~ck=anav

[Tr0x]

Mumbodog, which partitions are you talking about? Could you be more specific?

I've reformatted the 2.5GB partition and the new setup is shown below in the screen cap.

From the new posts, it looks like this may not of been the best idea....but if I'm getting an external hard drive, does it really matter?

[Mumbodog]

D is recovery(restore), the 2.5 gb (K) partition was most likely the Media Direct Partition.

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/s...=04&l=en&s=bsd

[Tr0x]

alright, it seems as though you were right Mubodog, that 2.5GB partition was the Media Direct partition. All in all, it doesn't seem like it had any adverse effect as now whenever I hit the Media Direct button it just boots windows as normal.

I didn't use Media Direct anyway! Thanks to all that helped out. I'm still looking for suggestions about an external hard drive though.

[Mumbodog]

"I'm still looking for suggestions about an external hard drive though."

I only use Seagate Freeagent usb external drives, but that's just my personal favorite. 5 year warranty

I use to build my own back when the prices were high for retail versions of external hard drives, I would buy the usb enclosure for about 25-35 dollars, then buy an OEM hard drive at lower cost to put in the enclosure, saved me about 50-100 to build my own, but they are cheaper these days, so I gave up on building my own.

http://shop1.frys.com/%7BIubtFkXUH8K...roduct/5478349