[GRLUG] Free DELL with several VIRUS'

[Steve Romanow]

Casey DuBois wrote:
> Hi Lug,
> I received a Free DELL with Several VIRUS' and am planning on loading Ubuntu.
> If I just do the install will it get rid of everything on the drive (like the virus and M/S), or is there something I should do before the install?
> 
> Casey
> 
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The newer dell's are coming with a diagnostic partition, and possibly a 
"media center" partition (for media playback w/o booting).  Do not try 
to use the media center stuff with a linux machine, it does some mbr 
trickery and you will not be able to boot again (until you fix your 
mbr).  The dignostic partition can be saved or deleted, up to you.

I use a win32 product called Acronis TrueImage and have a full disk 
backup of my dell pre-ubuntu just in case I want or need it.  Come to 
think of it, I may de-vista my machine with this backup.  thanks for 
reminding me I have that image.  ;)