OEM (Reserved) Partition -- What is it ??

[osu1357]

I am ready to perform a clean install of Windows 7 and I am going to delete my C: and D: partition (see screen shot) under Custom (Advanced). There is another partition that states "OEM (Reserved)" and it is only 54.0 MB. I have a Dell E1705 currently running Windows Vista. The D: partition is a recovery partition.

What is this OEM (Reserved) partition and can I delete it? What are the consequences if I do? And what makes it "OEM Reserved" ??

:huh:

 

[zigzag3143]

I am ready to perform a clean install of Windows 7 and I am going to delete my C: and D: partition (see screen shot) under Custom (Advanced). There is another partition that states "OEM (Reserved)" and it is only 54.0 MB. I have a Dell E1705 currently running Windows Vista. The D: partition is a recovery partition.

What is this OEM (Reserved) partition and can I delete it? What are the consequences if I do? And what makes it "OEM Reserved" ??

:huh:

Dell puts a fat32 partition first to park its own software. Usually it is for things like the bells and whistle buttons. My dell has media buttons on the front that require software to be loaded first in order to run.


Can you delete it, but, the "dell" media utilizes may not work

 

[osu1357]

I haven't tried to delete it... What happens if I do? Should I leave it on there?

Actually I tried to delete it inside Vista Disk Management and I cannot ... why ???

What software is on there? There's no drive letter assigned..

Would I get a bad install if I left it on there?

 

[Ztruker]

It's Dell diagnostics. Wouldn't hurt to leave it there and no, it will not give you a bad Windows 7 install by doing so.

 

[osu1357]

1) If you look at my screen grab (1st post) of my partitions why don't they add up to 80.0 GB? They add up to 74.5 GB ... When I ordered my Dell laptop it was supposed to have an 80 GB hard drive.. Is there a hidden partition that I am not seeing ?

2) Here's another question.. Why are the partition types all different? There's an OEM Reserved, a Primary and a System ... How do I label the partition types? Is it automatic?

3) Also when deleting a partition is there a certain order i need to do it in? For example, if I delete the D: partition, do I have to Extend the C: partition to accept the new space?

 

[karlsnooks]

Post a snippet of the output of DISKMGMT.MSC

 

[gregrocker]

The HP and Dell OEM partitions house bootable Diagnostics available on their BIOS Boot menu keys - F9 for HP and F12 for Dell.

For this reason it's worth leaving them on the drive although HP will sometimes not boot after a reinstall, but Dell will. Booting into the Dell F12 Utility partitions gives a wide range of hardware tests that are definitely worth keeping.

However Dells' Recovery partition will not run after a Reinstall so can be deleted along with System and C partition during a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 using the Custom install Drive options, then create your new install and other desired partitions in the space.

 

[mjf]

Re: the 80GB
1KB = 1024 bytes
1MB = 1024 KB
1GB = 1024 MB

74.5 GB by (1.024x1.024x1.014) = 80,000,000,000 bytes

A bit of a con but most manufacturers seem to do it. Buy a 500 "GB" HDD and you actually will see 465 GB.

 

[whs]

A

bit of a con but most manufacturers seem to do it

It is not a con at all. Just a difference between the decimal and binary number representation. I don't think the world is ready to have the binary numbers printed on the shopping boxes. We are still a decimal world - but the computer does not understand that.

 

[mjf]

Of course it's to do with the binary system!!!!!!!!!!
But some people do get confused hence the question raised by the original poster.
This is a technical forum not a supermarket.

 

[whs]

Of course it's to do with the binary system!!!!!!!!!!
But some people do get confused hence the question raised by the original poster.
This is a technical forum not a supermarket.

I think we are saying the same thing. But the question comes up all the time. It shows that people still need to be educated. Not every OP has a technical background.

 

[Chaka15205]

So it is safe to delete the OEM partition?

 

[AddRAM]

It would be best to start your own thread.

 

[mjf]

So it is safe to delete the OEM partition?

You appear to have multiple Dells. It would be unwise not to have at least a couple of external HDDs for backup. I would make Macrium images of all partitions including the recovery. This way you can always revert to your previous installation(s). If you don't want to do a true clean install I would keep the partition.
Also, Dell used to be very good in supplying clean install discs if you want them.

 

[gregrocker]

It is always best to delete all partitions during a booted Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

But as it is says in the Special Note to Dell Owners at end of tutorial, I would first try running the bootable Dell Diagnostics from the F12 menu at boot. Run Built-In Diagnostics for Your Dell Computer | Dell US

If it will run and test the hardware then its valuable enough to leave on the HD for that reason alone. Note that the Recovery partition will not run after reinstall so it can always be deleted.

 

[mjf]

But as it is says in the Special Note to Dell Owners at end of tutorial, I would first try running the bootable Dell Diagnostics from the F12 menu at boot. http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?docid=266787

If it will run and test the hardware then its valuable enough to leave on the HD for that reason alone. Note that the Recovery partition will not run after reinstall so it can always be deleted.

1) The link appears to require a login.
2) Your clean install would reformat the HDD anyway wouldn't it and delete all partitions anyway?
3) Even with the Dell clean install retaining the recovery partition as I suggested is probably not an option.
4) I'm not sure how you leave the Dell diagnostics on the drive after a clean install. gregrocker may be able to comment.
5) If it was me I would still image everything with Macrium before performing a clean install. You can always delete them at some future stage.

 

[gregrocker]

Having bootable Diagnostics is valuable enough that if the bootable Diagnostics will run as shown in Run Built-In Diagnostics for Your Dell Computer | Dell US then you can leave the OEM partition on the HD since it should still run after reinstall - Factory Recovery will not.