New Win 7 install on machine with Vista - clean install
Dell 1525 Inspiron
It's asking where do you want to install.
Disk 0 Part 1 OEM (Reserved)
Disk 0 Part 2 Recovery Primary
Disk 0 Part 3 OS System
Disk 0 Part 4 Mediadirect Logical
What do I want to "Delete" or "Format"?
Hello thewolfe, welcome to Seven Forums!
It would not be advisable to delete any of that; post a snip/screen-shot of disk management so we can better advise you on the next step. What is "Disk 0 Part 4 "Mediadirect" Logical?
How to Post a Screenshot in Seven Forums
MediaDirect is a small embedded linux distro that you can boot into by pressing a button on your dell laptop, its for viewing media quickly without windows booting up. Install on the "OS System" partiton.
It would really help if you posted a picture of your Disk Management. From your list, there are not many options. You will probably have to create a new partition first.
Further, are you aware of all the possible pains with double booting. In other words, do you want to keep Vista on that system.
On my Dell 1520, I deleted all of the partitions then installed Win 7. If you leave the MediaDirect partition and install Win 7 on the OS partition, I've heard (but can't verify) that it can cause problems. Supposedly, if the MediaDirect button is pushed when the power is off the machine will load MediaDirect from that partition but it will mess up the Win 7 partition.
Since I deleted the MD partition, if I press the MD button with the machine powered off, it will display a "Dell Media Direct" splash screen for 1-2 secs then, since it can't find the MD partition, it boots Win 7. If the machine is booted and I press the MD button, nothing happens. You can use a program such as AutoHotkey to reassign the MD key to do something else if you want.
Edit: Just for the heck of it, I installed AutoHotkey and used it to reassign the MD key to bring up WMP when pressed. Works fine, now when the machine is powered off the MD key acts like the Power button, once the machine is booted pressing the MD button brings up WMP.
Last edited by strollin; 01 Aug 2010 at 11:32.
When I get back to the machine, I'll see if I can get on so I can show disk management.
Haven't made a recovery disk, don't plan to go back to Vista.
Media direct doesn't seem to be a problem.
I want to delete VIsta permanently, no double booting
So you have a Windows 7 install disk and you want to do-away with everything currently on the PC and just have Windows 7 installed? If the answer to these questions is yes, then have a look at the tutorials below.
Be advised: using the info in the first tutorial will over-write everything, all the data on the entire Hard Disk Drive (HDD) so make any backups of any data you don't want to lose before you get started.
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
Would be worth running your PC with the Upgrade Advisor:
Download details: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor
Check for Dell drivers.
There no Windows 7 drivers on the Dell site, only Vista.
http://support.dell.com/support/down...n&catid=&impid=
Last edited by theog; 01 Aug 2010 at 13:07. Reason: link added
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