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#31
The HP_Tools and Recovery partitions can be removed since you have made your own backup anyways. Without the HP_tools partition the recovery partition would be unusabe anyways, at least as far as I can tell. You'd want to you a backup you made yourself to restore from anyways.
I've not got a copy of the HP tools one! I can't access the files on it. The picture shows the options I get for it.
Also I can't delete the system partition, only shrink it. I can't even extend it.
If it makes a difference all the partitions are formatted as ntfs other than the HP tools which is fat32
What's wrong with the "delete volume" choice on the HP tools partition?
You cannot delete the system partition as long as it contains your boot files.
I'll go into more details about what is on the HP_Tools partition. It contains HPs hardware diagnostic software that must be run at startup. HPs diagnostic software, like most OEMs diagnostic software, is rather lacking. They aren't nearly as thorough as programs you can find for free online. OEMs just don't like to do warranty claims unless their software sees a problem. It is believed, although I did not see it confirmed, that HP_Tools is also used for do a factory reset using the recovery partition. As long as you have a backup from a time that the computer was working properly, the recovery partition is useless to you.
Leave the System Reserved partition alone. I see that it is at 199 MB, which is larger than the default 100MB. The size it is now is as perfect as it gets. Remember, without it you can not access the recovery console, which means that without a Windows 7 repair or install disc, if the computer became unbootable, you would be stuck.
If this helps, I've taken a shot of what comes up when preparing for a restore. This may be what is on the HP tools partition.