Recovery d drive storing program files (86) and is almost full.

I have an HP laptop and windows 7. The recovery d drive is almost full. It is storing program files (86) which consists of an 'Adobe' folder and when I click on that it lists my Adobe CS3 and Adobe bridge etc. a 'recovery' folder and' HP_WSD. dat' and 'HPSF_ Rep' are also listed on the drive.

I have an external drive where I hope I have backed up my files following the back-up procedure. When I look at the is lists 'SHAZ HP', Windowsimagebackup and mediaID.bin

MY 2 QUESTIONS ARE: Can I delete what is on the recovery d drive and do I appear to have backed up properly on the external drive.

any help much appreciated

Why are you installing programs to D: drive?
& not C: drive.

sharonyoung said:

MY 2 QUESTIONS ARE: Can I delete what is on the recovery d drive and do I appear to have backed up properly on the external drive.

You have apparently gone down the wrong path by installing programs onto D rather than C. You can often install to a partition other than C, but you shouldn't have chosen D because it is limited in size.

So--NO, you should definitely not delete what is on D. The D drive should contain files that will restore you to factory condition--which you may need to do given the wrong path you have gone down.

As far as your backup goes, I don't know. You are using Windows built in backup and I have no expertise with it. But I certainly would not assume you have anything backed up correctly---all the more reason not to delete the recovery capabilities on D, which you may well need.

How much space do you have on C? You may need to reinstall your programs there--that's the normal purpose of the C drive.

Hi thanks for that. I wasn't aware that I had installed the programmes to the D drive. The c drive has a lot of space and it also has the same 'programe files (86) folder on it. When I click into that it has an adobe folder but my full photoshop cs3 programme doesn't seem to be there. Would it be ok for me to move the program files from the d to c drive or do I need to re install my photoshop?

You commented that I was using the windows back up. Can you tell me how else I could have done it? cheers again.

You can't simply move installed programs from one drive to another without asking for problems.

I'd uninstall whatever is on the D drive and reinstall those same applications to the C drive.

Re backup:

What are you trying to back up? Your personal data? Or Windows and your installed programs? It's a critical distinction and the proper program depends on the answer.

I coped the ADOBE from the D to C and that seemend to work, although I left it on the D just incase. I will uninstall ADOBE from c and then reinstall on D, if that is the safer option. I would like to back up what is needed, should the lap top suddenlt fail to work. So not sure how to do that. I have an external drive and so chose the windows backup and the detination as the external drive. I'm a novice at this, so unfortunately, I'm afraid I have no idea what the advice above is referring to.

You may like to have look at those tutorials:
System Image Recovery
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
Restore Backup User and System Files

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

How to use HP Recovery:
Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)
Performing an HP System Recovery in Windows 7 - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

How to make HP Recovery DVD disks:
Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

How to make HP Recovery USB disk:
Creating a Recovery Disk on a USB Flash Disk HP Pavilion dv6700z CTO Entertainment Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

or
You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
Compaq Mini CQ10-500 PC series - HP Notebook PCs - Order Recovery Discs for Windows 7, Vista, or XP - c00810334 - HP Business Support Center

Sharon, can you please post a screenshot of your fully expanded dusk management layout (including your external backup drive) so we can see exactly what is going on?

Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

As others have said, your recovery partition should not be used to install programs. You can't just copy Adobe CS3 and Adobe Bridge to another partition, they'll need to be uninstalled, and then re-installed on your C Drive.