What is this partition?

[Izi]

I have a 39MB FAT16 partition on my dell studio XPS 16 SSD.

I have no idea what it is... anyone got any ideas?

Info:


Volume letter:
(*)
Volume label:
DellUtility
Type:
Primary
File system:
FAT16 (OEM service volume)
Root entries:
512
Sectors per boot:
1
Sectors per cluster:
4
Serial number:
3030-3030
Partition ID:
0xDE Dell OEM
Total size:
39.1 MB
Partition size:
39.1 MB
Used space:
8.7 MB
Free space:
30.4 MB
Activity:
No
Hidden state:
No

In Paragon disk manager i can browse this partition, here is what it shows:

I cant open anyof the files however. Anyone any idea what it is? Can i get rid of it?

 

[Undesirable]

I've only ever dealt with one OEM computer before, and that was a Packard Bell. It refused to boot into XP, even with a fresh installation, so I took a look at the partitions and it had a hidden "support" partition that contained diagnostic and recovery data that I'm guessing the OEM company uses if you were to send it back to them. I've even read in some places that it voids your warranty if you delete the partition.

 

[wonko]

Funny enough I was looking for the same thing earlier today to fix a dell pc with a dodgy hard disk. It's probably the "Dell System Restore" partition, and there will probably be another larger partition at the end of the disk with a compressed image of the "as delivered" os install. This might explain it better: http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/index.htm. I've not read it all but I suspect it's involved in the boot sequence so I'd leave it well alone.

 

[bledd]

it's a utilities section on the drive

don't delete it unless you're doing a full format, it may hold your boot info..

 

[Izi]

its dell diagnostics utility - press f12 at boot to go in to it... just found out.