[Rich-M]

Originally Posted by Aitrusskyy

If im not mistaken I think dell does not include a recovery partition. At least mine never have. They always include the re-install cd.

These days they include both.

[Aitrusskyy]

Well the Dell Dimension 4500s was released in 2002. I wouldn't say "these days" falls into that time frame.

I just though the OP would have mentioned a "restore partition" before he mentioned using his disc.

[Rich-M]

Originally Posted by Aitrusskyy

Well the Dell Dimension 4500s was released in 2002. I wouldn't say "these days" falls into that time frame.

I just though the OP would have mentioned a "restore partition" before he mentioned using his disc.

Right I did mean today and lost site of the fact this is a 4500 which you are right is before they started with Restore Partitions. That is such a problem when a thread meanders slowly over more than a week...means you have to reread every time there is an answer and I don't have the time.

[Elvandil]

That's good news for the OP, I guess, depending what has happened in the meantime. But the MBR would be rewritten, anyway, by any number of manipulations, including an installation. Erasing is not likely to do anything, but won't hurt, either.