Problem with Dell OEM, Can it be removed safely?

Patszy · 18 Jun 2011

Hi,
I am trying to put a back up program on my computer. The first clone works but then the second will not because of a problem with the Dell OEM partition. Can that partition be removed without causing any problems with the computer?
I don't use anything that I know of from Dell.
My computer was bought with Vista on it and I bought and upgraded with Windows 7.
Guess that Dell OEM automatically gets put there.
Is it safe to remove that partition?
Thanks!

t-4-2 · 18 Jun 2011

Patszy said:

Hi,
I am trying to put a back up program on my computer. The first clone works but then the second will not because of a problem with the Dell OEM partition. Can that partition be removed without causing any problems with the computer?
I don't use anything that I know of from Dell.
My computer was bought with Vista on it and I bought and upgraded with Windows 7.
Guess that Dell OEM automatically gets put there.
Is it safe to remove that partition?
Thanks!

Any reason why you won't use the Win 7 Home Premium built-in Files Backup and System Image Backup applications ?

Bare Foot Kid · 18 Jun 2011

Hello Patszy, welcome to Seven Forums!

Before we make any specific recommendations will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map with a full description as to which drive/partition is which, so we can see what you have going on as there may be a fairly simple way to resolve the situation.

In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a maximized snip of that.

How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums

theog · 18 Jun 2011

Did you make your Dell Vista Recovery Disks?

Patszy · 18 Jun 2011

Hi,
Someone is helping me with this but had a question about that Dell OEM which seems to be causing a problem.
Since I don't really understand all of this, I will just have to see what he can find out.

If I used the Windows 7 Back-Up it would not clone my whole system, operating system included, would it?

Thanks....this is all over my head, so will drop it for now, but I would lie to know about the above question....is the WHOLE system cloned with Windows Back-Up?

Thanks

whs · 18 Jun 2011

If you talk about the small (e.g. 36MB) OEM partition, that contains BIOS test programs. They are not vital but maybe handy the day your system does not boot.

What backup program are you using that gives you that trouble? There are all kinds of backup programs that will work smoothly.

Patszy · 21 Jun 2011

Thanks for your input.

We did remove that Dell OEM partition from my hard disc and there seems to be no problem with having done so. I do have the the disc that came with the computer that has the things on it that I might need if I have problems.

After removing the Dell OEM partition, Casper 7 worked fine. Did a second run and it finished in about 2 minutes. It always was stopping on the small partition which Dell put on there.

Thanks for your help.