About to format Dell partitions to install vanilla W11, can you tell me what each partition is for?

Sephirote · Jan 29, 2022

Hey everyone,

Bought an XPS15 that came with Windows 11 pre-installed with a bunch of bloatware.
I'm about to format everything and reinstall a fresh/vanilla version of Windows 11.

Before moving forward, I just wanted to make sure I understood what each partition was to be safe.

#1,2,3= These are your regular Window partition right? On top of my head when you install a new copy of Windows, Windows automatically create these 3 partitions.

#4= I'm not familiar with this WINRETOOLS partition. I've never seen it in the past. What does it do? Can I delete it or should I keep it?

#5= I'm guessing it's a recovery image? Was this image generated by Windows 11 or Dell?

#6= This is my first Dell laptop. Does anyone know what the DELLSUPPORT partition pertains to? Should I keep it?

Thank you

zbook · Jan 29, 2022

For any partition in question download and install Mini Tool Partition Wizard > click launch > right click on any partition > left click explore

If you clean install Windows 11 on a computer that is BIOS UEFI there will be four default partitions.

One of the partitions will be hidden.

Partition layout

The default partition layout for UEFI-based PCs is: a system partition, an MSR, a Windows partition, and a recovery tools partition.

This layout lets you use Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption through both Windows and through the Windows Recovery Environment.

UEFI/GPT-based hard drive partitions

docs.microsoft.com

KYHI · Jan 29, 2022

#1,2,3= These are your regular Window partition right? EFI, Microsoft System Reserved & OS partitions

#4= I'm not familiar with this WINRE partition. WinRE Recovery partition

#5= I'm guessing it's a recovery image? Dell System Recovery Image partition

#6= This is my first Dell laptop. Does anyone know what the DELLSUPPORT partition? Dell System Diagnostics partition

Ghot · Jan 29, 2022

Backup the drivers, before you do anything.

Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

idgat · Jan 29, 2022

Doesn't matter. If you're doing a fresh/clean install, delete them all.

You could back up your drivers but really, if by the most obscure circumstances any are required, they can either be got from Dell, or a reputable, legitimate, trustworthy driver program. About the only driver I usually have handy on a USB is the network/wi-fi driver (and that's a clear case of "if you're got it, you'll never need it").

EDIT : Use Macrium Reflect to create an image of the existing/old system. An alternative to this is get a new blank drive and do the install on that - keeps the existing/old drive intact for fall back.

Sephirote · Jan 29, 2022

KYHI said:
#1,2,3= These are your regular Window partition right? EFI, Microsoft System Reserved & OS partitions

#4= I'm not familiar with this WINRE partition. WinRE Recovery partition

#5= I'm guessing it's a recovery image? Dell System Recovery Image partition

#6= This is my first Dell laptop. Does anyone know what the DELLSUPPORT partition? Dell System Diagnostics partition

Hey Kyhi, are you the same person who created Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable PE Rescue Disk?
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Help Forums
It's been my go-to recovery tool for years. If that's you, thank you so much for your work and contribution to the community.

Anywho, thanks for your reply and for breaking down each partition for me. I think they can all go.

Ghot said:
Backup the drivers, before you do anything.

Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

How to Backup and Restore Device Drivers in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

Thanks for your message, just completed a full image backup with Macrium that I stored on a separate HD.

idgat said:
Doesn't matter. If you're doing a fresh/clean install, delete them all.

You could back up your drivers but really, if by the most obscure circumstances any are required, they can either be got from Dell, or a reputable, legitimate, trustworthy driver program. About the only driver I usually have handy on a USB is the network/wi-fi driver (and that's a clear case of "if you're got it, you'll never need it").

EDIT : Use Macrium Reflect to create an image of the existing/old system. An alternative to this is get a new blank drive and do the install on that - keeps the existing/old drive intact for fall back.

Thanks, yeah it sounds like I can delete them all. Drivers won't be an issue, Dell support website is great and I will be able to download all drivers from there easily.

NavyLCDR · Jan 29, 2022

Sephirote said:
Drivers won't be an issue, Dell support website is great and I will be able to download all drivers from there easily.

What happens when you discover that Windows does not have the driver for the network card and you find out that you can't connect to the internet? When working with a new/unfamiliar computer I always create the Windows 10/11 installation USB flash drive. Then I create a Drivers folder on it. Then export the drivers to it. Why not? Takes 1 command and less than 5 minutes to do.

KYHI · Jan 29, 2022

Sephirote said:
Hey Kyhi, are you the same person who created Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable PE Rescue Disk?

One and the Same.... Some where within your Dell Support - you can create Dell Recovery Media - Create that Media to USB - then save to a Data Drive you safe keeping.... Before you wipe the Drive.....

Sephirote · Jan 29, 2022

NavyLCDR said:
What happens when you discover that Windows does not have the driver for the network card and you find out that you can't connect to the internet? When working with a new/unfamiliar computer I always create the Windows 10/11 installation USB flash drive. Then I create a Drivers folder on it. Then export the drivers to it. Why not? Takes 1 command and less than 5 minutes to do.

I'll use my 2 other machines connected to the internet to download any drivers I may require.
Thought what you're saying is absolutely relevant if you don't have a 2nd PC handy to access the internet.

Sephirote · Jan 29, 2022

KYHI said:
One and the Same.... Some where within your Dell Support - you can create Dell Recovery Media - Create that Media to USB - then save to a Data Drive you safe keeping.... Before you wipe the Drive.....

Ok, thanks for the tip. I'll have a look at the Dell support app and try to create a Dell Recovery Media. Never too safe.

Hey I had another question if you don't mind, I just booted up Windows Install and in the windows setup, where usually all partitions are listed out, none could be found and it said at the bottom "We couldn't find any drives. To get a storage driver, click Load driver"
Does this have something to do with Windows Bitlocker? How should I proceed to display my partitions in the Windows installer setup?

KYHI · Jan 29, 2022

Open command prompt admin

Code:

md %userprofile%\Desktop\Win11-Drivers

dism /online /Export-Driver /Destination:"%userprofile%\Desktop\Win11-Drivers"

That will Export the Third Party (Dell) drivers into a Folder on your Desktop... Now if you need a Driver you will have it....

KYHI · Jan 29, 2022

You need to export the Host Drivers to a folder - then point to that folder to "Load" the Storage Driver

AdvancedSetup · Jan 29, 2022

I find the following is one of the best articles I've seen on doing a CLEAN install. There are some here on this forum as well.

Greg Carmack - MVP 2010-2020 -Clean Install Windows 10
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...ndows-10/1c426bdf-79b1-4d42-be93-17378d93e587

How to Create a Local Account While Setting Up Windows 10
How to Create a Local Account While Setting Up Windows 10

Stigg · Jan 29, 2022

If you are going to do a clean install and you have saved any necessary data, then I would delete ALL the partitions and start afresh.
The Windows 11 installation process will give you the option to delete them. I always get rid of them all. That's a proper clean installation.

NavyLCDR · Jan 30, 2022

Sephirote said:
Ok, thanks for the tip. I'll have a look at the Dell support app and try to create a Dell Recovery Media. Never too safe.

Hey I had another question if you don't mind, I just booted up Windows Install and in the windows setup, where usually all partitions are listed out, none could be found and it said at the bottom "We couldn't find any drives. To get a storage driver, click Load driver"
Does this have something to do with Windows Bitlocker? How should I proceed to display my partitions in the Windows installer setup?

And what is really amazing - if you had exported the drivers to a folder on the Windows 10/11 installation USB flash drive, then guess where the Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver that you need could be found? I rest my case. You need the IRST driver on a USB flash drive and then you need to click on the load driver link to load the IRST driver from the USB flash drive.

CornishRattler · Jan 30, 2022

As said, if you are going to clean install, format the entire disk and let Windows set the partitions. Get the RST drivers from Intel and put them on the same flash drive as the Windows ISO you are using (if that's how you are doing it)

When set up says it cannot detect your drive, click load drivers and select the same flash drive you are using and select the RST driver folder.
The drivers are here:

Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Installation Software with Intel® Optane™ Memory (10th and 11th Gen Platforms)

The Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) Driver (18.7.6.1010.3) supports the configuration and enabling of multiple features.

www.intel.com

jbcarreon123 · Jan 30, 2022

Before clean installing, here the steps you need to follow.

1. Create a Windows 11 ISO from MCT

Download Official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to download an official Windows 11 ISO file from Microsoft. Microsoft provides ISO files for Windows 11 to download. You can use these ISO files to clean install or in-place upgrade Windows 11. The Flight Hub can also help you keep updated on which Windows 11...

www.elevenforum.com

2. Create a bootable Windows 11 from the created ISO

Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to create a bootable USB flash drive used to install Windows 11 with UEFI support. You can use a Windows 11 installation USB flash drive to clean install, upgrade, reset, or repair Windows 11. The installation USB can also be used as a recovery drive to boot to...

www.elevenforum.com

3. In another USB drive, create a Dell Recovery Media so you can go back if anything goes wrong.

4. Create a image using Macrium Reflect (only your needed files that don't have any backup)

Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect

How to Create and Restore a System Image Backup with Macrium Reflect

www.tenforums.com

5. Get a spare or another device and follow this while on the Windows 11 Setup.

Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

Sephirote · Jan 30, 2022

- So I've successfully created a Dell Recovery and restore USB Drive following Dell's instructions

How to create and use the Dell Recovery and Restore USB drive | Dell Australia

- Followed Kyhi's instructions and I created a Windows 11 drivers folder on the desktop (1st command)
- Then I think it successfully extracted host drivers to the folder using the 2nd DISM command

I think it looks good. I'm going to boot up Windows installer and see if I can get it now to see my partitions

jbcarreon123 · Jan 30, 2022

Sephirote said:
I think it looks good. I'm going to boot up Windows installer and see if I can get it now to see my partitions

Get a another USB drive, then put the drivers on the another USB drive, and plug it in while on Setup. Press Load Driver while on the Partition page.

Sephirote · Jan 30, 2022

CornishRattler said:
As said, if you are going to clean install, format the entire disk and let Windows set the partitions. Get the RST drivers from Intel and put them on the same flash drive as the Windows ISO you are using (if that's how you are doing it)

When set up says it cannot detect your drive, click load drivers and select the same flash drive you are using and select the RST driver folder.
The drivers are here:

Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Driver Installation Software with Intel® Optane™ Memory (10th and 11th Gen Platforms)

The Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST) Driver (18.7.6.1010.3) supports the configuration and enabling of multiple features.

www.intel.com