Which partitions do I actually need?

Tomtom111 said:

And also why can't I run osx from an external device, because it'll install correctly, just not boot it?

Since the EULA prohibits installing OSX on a non-Mac computer, we can't really help you with that. I'm sure there are plenty of guides on the 'net that can help you install OSX.

I didn't know that the EULA specifically prohibited it. I won't help you install it but I will answer some of your other questions. Mac OS X and Windows test the usb ports to make sure they are working properly. It test them by turning them on and off. What ends up happening is the signal to turn them off goes through, but then the computer can't recieve the instruction to turn them back on. Most linux distributions don't do this. It's not really necessary because the BIOS does this anyway. And two OSes can never be installed to the same partition at the same time.

Oh yes, Apple is very clear about that.

Mac OS X (Lion 10.7.3) EULA said:

2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.
A. Standard and Preinstalled Apple Software License. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
License, unless you obtained the Apple Software from the Mac App Store, on Apple-branded
physical media (e.g., on an Apple-branded USB memory stick) or under a volume license,
maintenance or other written agreement from Apple, you are granted a limited, non-exclusive license
to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-branded computer at
any one time. For example, these standard single-copy license terms apply to you if you obtained the Apple Software preinstalled on Apple-branded hardware.

B. License from Mac App Store or on Physical Media. If you obtained a license for the Apple
Software from the Mac App Store or on Apple-branded physical media, then subject to the terms and
conditions of this License and as permitted by the Mac App Store Usage Rules set forth in the App
Store Terms and Conditions (http://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/ww/) (“Usage Rules”), you are granted
a limited, non-transferable, non-exclusive license:
(i) to download, install, use and run for personal, non-commercial use, one (1) copy of the
Apple Software directly on each Apple-branded computer running Mac OS X Snow Leopard
or Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server (“Mac Computer”) that you own or control;
(ii) If you are a commercial enterprise or educational institution, to download, install, use and
run one (1) copy of the Apple Software for use either: (a) by a single individual on each of the
Mac Computer(s) that you own or control, or (b) by multiple individuals on a single shared Mac
Computer that you own or control. For example, a single employee may use the Apple
Software on both the employee’s desktop Mac Computer and laptop Mac Computer, or
multiple students may serially use the Apple Software on a single Mac Computer located at a
resource center or library; and
(iii) to install, use and run up to two (2) additional copies or instances of the Apple Software
within virtual operating system environments on each Mac Computer you own or control that
is already running the Apple Software.
The grant set forth in Section 2B(iii) above does not permit you to use the virtualized copies or
instances of the Apple Software in connection with service bureau, time-sharing, terminal sharing or
other similar types of services.

Source: http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macosx1073.pdf

I did some looking, and it appears that the HP_Tools partition contains the HP hardware diagnostic software and may be necessary for to restore the computer to a factory state using the image on the recovery partition. How old is your computer? Is it still underwarranty? Have you created restore disk or made your own system image?

Petey7 said:

I did some looking, and it appears that the HP_Tools partition contains the HP hardware diagnostic software and may be necessary for to restore the computer to a factory state using the image on the recovery partition. How old is your computer? Is it still underwarranty? Have you created restore disk or made your own system image?

I got it in feb 2010, no its not under warranty, I've made CDs which I can restore from and I use windows backup which does a system image, but I can't backup or even access that partition.