[Blagard]

I plan to do away with Windows 7 Starter altogether and probably install Home Premium version. So I really don't want the OEM reserved partition for resetting to factory defaults - At least I don't think there is anything there I can't download elsewhere.

I believe the reserved partition can be deleted by using diskpart from the command prompt and using the "override" parameter.

Does anyone know how to recover the deleted space so that the entire drive can be formated as one partition C: to include the space of the old OEM partition ?

[holmes4]

If you choose a Custom (I think) option when the install starts up, it takes you to a screen where you can delete any existing partitions. Then tell it to install to the unallocated space. Don't try to format it yourself - the Win7 install will create a small hidden partition to help with boot recovery. It's just 200MB or so.

[Blagard]

Hi, I thought it might let you delete all old partitions - except any reserved ones which have to be done at the command prompt.

I am OK with the small Windows partition the setup will create, so will let set up do the formatting.

I am probably just being a little paranoid as it is ages since I last did a complete new install and then not being allowed to do exacly what I wanted (or expected) threw me a bit. Only with the newly aquired 1018 have I discovered how to delete a reserved partition, but it left me with the impression the space was lost for good rather than just being unallocated. So I am reading and checking before I start!

The starter upgrade to premium just seems a waste of time as do the Dell utilities once you are out of warranty. So I figure having the premium disc for any reinstall issues is the way to go. Plus I will then know pretty much what is on the drive.

I have already downloaded all the drivers to be ready. The next step is to check the sequence to install them in.

[BuckyBob]

Blagard, how did it go?