| Author |
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Grinder
Guest
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 Posted:
Thu Dec 16, 2004 10:55 pm Post subject:
Dell Drive Partitions |
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I've performed system restores for a couple of friends recently on their
2/3-year-old Dell systems. I noticed that their hard drive had two
partitions: a small 30 Mb one, and the remainder of the physical drive,
on which the system is installed.
Just for academics, what's that first partition for, or what's on it? |
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Panos Popadopalous
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:55 am Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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Most probably the operating system and bootup files.
"Grinder" <grinder@no.spam.maam.net> wrote in message
news:WZjwd.271339$R05.206937@attbi_s53...
| Quote: | I've performed system restores for a couple of friends recently on their
2/3-year-old Dell systems. I noticed that their hard drive had two
partitions: a small 30 Mb one, and the remainder of the physical drive, on
which the system is installed.
Just for academics, what's that first partition for, or what's on it? |
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kony
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:01 am Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 17:55:02 GMT, Grinder
<grinder@no.spam.maam.net> wrote:
| Quote: | I've performed system restores for a couple of friends recently on their
2/3-year-old Dell systems. I noticed that their hard drive had two
partitions: a small 30 Mb one, and the remainder of the physical drive,
on which the system is installed.
Just for academics, what's that first partition for, or what's on it?
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Usually an OEM will use it for drivers or even a partition
restoration image. I don't know about any specific 2-3 year
old Dell but do recall such a parititon on one that was
hidden, surely someone in a Dell forum will be able to
provide more info. |
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Grinder
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 18, 2004 11:35 am Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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Panos Popadopalous wrote:
| Quote: | Most probably the operating system and bootup files.
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I don't think so. I neglected to mention it (sorry,) but the partion is
not visible, nor will it boot. It is quite small for even a Windows 9x
install -- only 30 Mb. |
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Grinder
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 18, 2004 11:36 am Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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kony wrote:
| Quote: | On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 17:55:02 GMT, Grinder
grinder@no.spam.maam.net> wrote:
I've performed system restores for a couple of friends recently on their
2/3-year-old Dell systems. I noticed that their hard drive had two
partitions: a small 30 Mb one, and the remainder of the physical drive,
on which the system is installed.
Just for academics, what's that first partition for, or what's on it?
Usually an OEM will use it for drivers or even a partition
restoration image. I don't know about any specific 2-3 year
old Dell but do recall such a parititon on one that was
hidden, surely someone in a Dell forum will be able to
provide more info.
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thanks, will do. |
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theyak
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:47 pm Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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In article <YcQwd.213685$V41.116637@attbi_s52>, grinder@no.spam.maam.net
says...
| Quote: | Panos Popadopalous wrote:
Most probably the operating system and bootup files.
I don't think so. I neglected to mention it (sorry,) but the partion is
not visible, nor will it boot. It is quite small for even a Windows 9x
install -- only 30 Mb.
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Probably something that checks to make sure the hardware is, in fact,
still "Dell" enough in Microsoft's eyes for the restore cd to work. |
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kony
Guest
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| Posted:
Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:11 pm Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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On Sat, 18 Dec 2004 11:47:12 GMT, theyak <yak@dev.null>
wrote:
| Quote: | In article <YcQwd.213685$V41.116637@attbi_s52>, grinder@no.spam.maam.net
says...
Panos Popadopalous wrote:
Most probably the operating system and bootup files.
I don't think so. I neglected to mention it (sorry,) but the partion is
not visible, nor will it boot. It is quite small for even a Windows 9x
install -- only 30 Mb.
Probably something that checks to make sure the hardware is, in fact,
still "Dell" enough in Microsoft's eyes for the restore cd to work.
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They can just check the bios id to determine that. |
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Grinder
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Dec 19, 2004 12:04 am Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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theyak wrote:
| Quote: | In article <YcQwd.213685$V41.116637@attbi_s52>, grinder@no.spam.maam.net
says...
Panos Popadopalous wrote:
Most probably the operating system and bootup files.
I don't think so. I neglected to mention it (sorry,) but the partion is
not visible, nor will it boot. It is quite small for even a Windows 9x
install -- only 30 Mb.
Probably something that checks to make sure the hardware is, in fact,
still "Dell" enough in Microsoft's eyes for the restore cd to work.
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On one of the aforementioned machines, someone accidentally ran the
system restore (it's just a windows installer) on that small partition.
I suspect that process generated some errors as the partition is so
small, but the boot menu contains to "Windows XP Home" boot options --
one for each partition. Choosing that one on the hidden partition leads
to a failure.
In retrospect, I think I should have repartioned the drive on that
machine, to drop that tidbit. It boots (by default) to the larger
partition without difficulty though, so my interest now is strictly
academic.
Thanks for the speculation guys -- if nothing else it assures me that
I'm not the only one who would think WTH when seeing that setup. |
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Mac Cool
Guest
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Skeleton Man
Guest
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| Posted:
Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:15 am Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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| Quote: | what's that first partition for, or what's on it?
It's used to facilitate the restore process if something happens to your
main partition.
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A 30MB partition ? (I would've thought 500MB bare minimum for that kinda
thing)
My suggestion: use partition magic, etc to unhide the partition, then you
can see what's on it !
Regards,
Chris |
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Mac Cool
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Dec 20, 2004 7:29 am Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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Skeleton Man:
| Quote: | what's that first partition for, or what's on it?
It's used to facilitate the restore process if something happens to your
main partition.
A 30MB partition ? (I would've thought 500MB bare minimum for that kinda
thing)
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I think Dell restore partitions are ~3GB. The 30MB partition probably has
drivers and utitilities.
--
Mac Cool |
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Bill
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 23, 2004 5:38 am Post subject:
Re: Dell Drive Partitions |
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"Panos Popadopalous" <panos@athens.net> wrote in message
news:cq067s0pat@enews3.newsguy.com...
| Quote: | Most probably the operating system and bootup files.
"Grinder" <grinder@no.spam.maam.net> wrote in message
news:WZjwd.271339$R05.206937@attbi_s53...
I've performed system restores for a couple of friends recently on their
2/3-year-old Dell systems. I noticed that their hard drive had two
partitions: a small 30 Mb one, and the remainder of the physical drive,
on
which the system is installed.
Just for academics, what's that first partition for, or what's on it?
The 30 MB partion contains the Dell diagnostic utilities for testing system |
hardware. It will be listed on the boot menu as Diagnostics or utility
partion. You can access these by pressing F12 at the Dell splash screen |
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