Re: Never owned a Dell/Inquiry

my inspiron 8600 ran like a dog till I reformated and did a clean install.
Lot of the Dell utilities are ***.


"Diane M." <phonyaddress@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:11nfdigq43gen4a@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "Timothy Drouillard" <timdrouillard@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:lNKdnQWGfutj-ureRVn-hg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>I recently bought my third Dell. This time I went for a simple E510.
>>
>> It came with XP MCE 2005 installed, and I ordered the Windows MCE 2005 CD
>> for $10
>>
>> It came with .....
>>
>> The Windows CD I paid the $10 for.
>> A ResourceCD containing system drivers, Diagnostics and Utilities, and
>> Computer documentation.
>> A CD containing the WordPerfect Productivity Pack (that was the default
>> least cost option for application software)
>> An AOL Install CD
>>
>> Also, the HD came prepartitioned into three partitions.
>>
>> 1st partition is a small hidden 30meg or so partition that contains the
>> Dell diagnostics.
>> 2nd partition is the main system partition which contains Windows.
>> 3rd partition is also a hidden partition around 4.5gig, that contains a
>> complete 2nd partition image.
>>
>> If you press Ctl-F11 during boot, it will invoke a menu that will allow
>> you to perform a system reload that uses the image stored in the 3rd
>> partition to completly resotre your system to the exact state it was in
>> when you took it out of the box. This entire re-load takes about 5min,
>> and you end up as I said, with a system that is just like it was when you
>> first turned it on.
>>
>> Now.........
>>
>> If you notice, I did not mention getting any CD's that contain any of the
>> misc applications that came loaded on the system like the Sonic software
>> for burning CD's.
>>
>> This means that you have two choices if you want to 'reload' your system.
>>
>> A. Do the Ctl-F11 Re-load. You will end up with EVERYTHING that was on
>> your PC when it shipped..
>> Note: If at all possible, I would suggest you leave this hidden 4.5gig
>> partition intact and not re-partition your drive to re-gain that space.
>> It make come in quite handy somewhere down the road.
>>
>> B. Do a 'reload' yourself using the Windows CD and the Drivers CD.
>> Leaving you with a nice clean load of Windows minus all the misc crap
>> that Dell installs. The downside to this method is you will be left
>> without whatever applications such as the CD-burning Sonic software (in
>> my case).
>>
>> I'm not really concerned about not getting the Sonic CD because I'll be
>> using my own copy of Nero, but, it's still annoying that Dell did not
>> provide by default, an 'Applications' CD with the system.
>>
>> In all fairness however, I have indeed heard that if you contact Dell and
>> ask for the CD's to re-install Sonic and other apps, they will send you
>> one at no cost. I just haven't gotten around to asking for it just yet.
>>
>>
>>
>
> Thanks to those who answered. I've got the picture. I just like a clean pc
> when it's new w/ no stuff on it but the O/S and the necessary
> drivers....but w/o AOL, OEM A/V and a lot of stuff I don't want and will
> never use. But that's me. I'm sure many buyers appreciate some of the
> "goodies".
>
> Thanks again.
>
> D.
>


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