Unallocated Space - Noob Help - Please Help!

Hi, im coming with im assuming a newbie question to you tech savvy folks. Well im gonna be straightforward. So My computer originally has 500gb of hardrive space yet on my computer it says i only have 97.6gb of space and 47gb is free to use this makes no sense. Earlier i realized that my Revoery Partition should be deleted i dont know why i did that i just did so i went on disc management clicked on recovery partiton right clicked and clicked change drive/path then i removed it. but still i have this Unallocated space of 356.18gb! i would like to use that i have no idea what unnallocated space means! Its black and everything else like System, Os, and, Recovery are blue and healthy! please help me!!!

Additional question:
Also for some reason none of my documents show up on start menu
like nothing that i used to have no programs no documents nothing. what i downoad now and start saving that only shows up

Also this compuiter recently had a virus or something in which my dad did something to it and now all my files are hidden i can only access each one when i go on this program called file restore.

i ATTACHED an image to show you what this is.

Thank You Speeedy replies are always welcome

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

It appears you deleted your D partition because unallocated space is space on your hard drive that doesn't have a partition on it.

At this stage, I'd just be inclined to extend your C drive to take up the unallocated space, which you can do from Disk Managerment.

Failing that, you could create a new logical partition in the unallocated space.

Just remember that if you didn't back up any important data that was on the deleted partition you may lose it.

As Andy says, it isn't the Recovery partition you deleted but whatever was in that space that now is Unallocated.

If this is important data or something you didn't mean to delete you can recover it using free Partition Wizard to Recovery Partition from it's Wizards tab. It will scan, find the partition and allow you to replace it - if only to see what was on it if necessary.

Otherwise Andy's advice to extend C into the space is best: Partition or Volume - Extend

I would also save the Recovery partition in case you ever want to restore your computer to factory condition, perhaps to sell or give it away. If you still want to delete it, then be sure to make your Factory Recovery disks first: HP Recov DIsks - make another set
Creating a Recovery Disk on a USB Flash Disk - HP technical support (Finland - English)

That was excellent advice gregrocker. I am also having the same issue. I completed that part of it and now i can see what the drive label was, free/used space and all the files that are there through the Partition Wizard explorer but still nothing in my computer.

Is there something else i can do to get the drive showing in my computer just like it used to be?

Nevermind! Its easy as assigning a driver letter then click apply! This has made my day

Never wondered that would be too easy. Thanks Petergibbon86.