Clean Install

[psnabe]

Hi

I just got my new X301 (2776) with a 128 GB SSD. I can see that they have partioned the SSD in 3 drives and there are used almost all of the space.

I was thinking about merging the 3 drives into 1 and making a new clean install of Vista and installing only the drivers and support software from Lenovos website. 

Is there something I should be aware of before doing this?

[bananaman]

Yes. Read this Lenovo description of what those partitions do first.

You can blow away the Lenovo partitions, but first I would make recovery DVDs or back up the entire disk your own way so that you can always return to the factory state.

[psnabe]

Okay - seems I should be keeping: S: holds critical start up (booting) information.

What would happen if I destroyed the 3 drives and creating one which I installed Vista at and downloaded the drivers from Lenovo. Would it not boot - since I didn't have the S drive?

If I do a reinstall from Q: contains the critical data needed for system recovery. Will I when get all the extra useless software installed again??

[ortegaluis]

A clean install of Vista on your new X301 will not need the additional partitions ["S" and "Q"]. Be sure to download all the appropriate drivers before hand to minimize downtime.

Also, don't forget to create the rescue media and recovery disks.