what is dell utility partition on my harddisk partition table meant for

sd|| · 03-14-2010, 08:56 AM

i am planning to install Linux freshly into my laptop, removing the windows, so as i was planning to do this cleanup i saw the output of fdisk -l

Quote:

Disk /dev/sda: 320.1 GB, 320072933376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 38913 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000080

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 1 6 48163+ de Dell Utility
/dev/sda2 7 4530 36338300 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda3 4531 7141 20972857+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 7142 38913 255208590 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 7142 7574 3478041 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6 * 7575 10185 20972826 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 12797 25854 104888353+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda8 25855 38913 104896386 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda9 10186 12796 20972826 83 Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order

i am very much curious abt this dell utility partition on my laptop, that /dev/sda1 partion. can anyone tell me what and why is it for. Will it create any problems if i delete this partition??

i am on DELL XPS M1530 laptop.

bret381 · 03-14-2010, 09:13 AM

It is probably used for the system restore. If you delete it, you will probably not be able to reinstall Windows..... Oh Darn!

jamescondron · 03-14-2010, 09:13 AM

Nah, get rid if you want, first thing I do with a new Dell. When you boot and hit the 'boot from' menu you'll see an option to start the Dell Utility stuff, just provides basic hardware diagnostics stuff.