What Kind Of Disk Do I Have?

How do you work out if your OEM Windows 7 DVD is a full installation disk or one that uses the recovery partition?

& how do you tell if it is tied to the mother board, the hard drive or both?

Thanks.

 

Hi -

Thanks!

Yes it is a Dell Inspiron 560 (desktop), I am sure it wasn't an upgrade - is that the same disk...? Pictures included.

I was really concerned as it said "Already installed on your computer" on the OS DVD, so I wondered if it could have been one that relies on the recovery partition, I included a disk manager screen shot, I don't know if that helps?

Thanks

 

The only difference between the disks is that the one Allheart55 attached is newer and contains Service Pack 1. Yours does not which only means that you will need to do more updates after the installation.

 

Ah ha, I just had another look at it, and it says SP1! That sounds good.

So then, what would happen in the following scenarios;

a] If there was total hard drive failure, and it was replaced, this DVD could do a full reinstallation of all of the partitions pictured above?
Would I have to contact either Microsoft or Dell for a new product key?
With Dell OEM's are they tied to the motherboard, the hard drive or both?

b] If I did a total drive wipe and reinstalled, would I need to contact Microsoft or Dell for a new product key? or, as it would be the same hard disk it shipped with, would there be no need for a new one?

 

If you do a format and new installation on the same computer and that computer has not undergone any major hardware changes you should not need to have it validated. I do not believe that you will need to enter a product key but I have never used a Dell OS disk. If you do need one it should be with the disk or on a sticker somewhere.

 

Further to BeeCeeBee's post I think the Dell OS Disc is pre activated.
It checks the Motherboard serial number and you couldn't use the Disc on another Computer that I am aware of.

 

Going back to your original post, one thing is certain, Dell is not giving away free copies of any Operating System along with its computers. Saying that it is a far better way of doing things than suing recovery disks. That does not mean that you should ignore all the repair and recovery options given you through the partitions.

The bottom line remains that it is a Dell OS disk linked to that specific computer. Since you are not indicating a particular problem I assume this answers your question.

 

Right ok, just to be clear then, when you say

I assume you mean by format - litterally nothing left on the disk, partitions and all, or are you meaning the format where you just format the C partition?

 

That is actually a pretty good question. Allheart55 is really a Dell expert. I do not know if that disk will recreate new versions of the partitions or not. I have some ideas but I am not even close to sure about it. So we need to wait for her on that one.

 

Ok, thanks very much for your thoughts...

 

I'm not going to delete anything,

So theoretically if I deleted the OEM and the recovery would this disk reinstall them both? only one - neither?
Would they both be permanently lost?

"you will not be asked to validate your Windows OS.
You actually can use any Dell reinstall disk on just about any Dell computer
without activation. The BIOS has been preset to recognize the Dell reinstall
OS disk. Thus no activation is ever required. "

Ah, that's good to know!

 

Right, so just to be zen, (refering to the below screenshot) if I deleted and formatted 1,2 and 3.... I believe I couldn't get 2 back - but I assume with that disk, I would be able to get 1 and 3 back? Is that right?

 

OK, is that purely because I'd have deleted them?

Would the disk reinstall them?

 

No. Once you format the entire disk they are gone.

 

Right, so then really if you replaced a ruined hard drive yourself, or if you formatted the entire (pre-existing) disk... either way you will not be able to reinstall those first two partitions.

So then the only way you would be able to get them back is to have it serviced by Dell, I guess..?

So really they are what make it a Dell then.