200 Mb partition-needed or not?

[drazenn]

So,let's start...
I've installed windows seven just before Christmas,and it served me well till middle of February,when "I had to explore it a bit more".And of course,I have deleted something and there was no way to boot win 7 up again.It booted correctly,but after"starting windowws" everything stopped.I tried to fix it,but no,and even worse,I was kind of short with space on C partition(cos me idiot,of course,made it just 30 gigs),and have turned off system restore.
Just for the record how smart I am,I made win 7(beta OS ?!?) my primary and only OS.
I had to save my files and didn't reformat C partition right away cos I planned to reformat it after I take the ownership and back up my documents.
So,I have installed windows seven again on E partition,which is now,after reassaining letters,C partition.And literally,now I'm having dual boot,both windows seven,one is working and one not.I have backed up my files a long time ago from now,but still didn't format that partition,and today I decided to do it.
And here is what I don't know.
When I created my C partition for win7 first time,I got an extra 200Mb partition,but when I've installed win7 second time on that "E"partition,I didn't have to make that 200Mb extra partition.
And now I wonder should I merge that 200Mbs with another partition and format them together,or do I have to leave it where it is?
I'm not sure,and I don't even know if another win 7 installation is using that 200Mb partition or not?
What should I do?
And one more thing,I have deleted windows folder from ex "C" partition couple weeks ago.

 

[swarfega]

This has been discussed before and the creation of the 200mb partition is normal and is used by windows for boot data which is why you had the trouble booting.

see:

1. http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/3320-200-mb-hidden-system-partition.html
2. http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/3991-serious-help-needed.html

 

[limneos]

Hello drazen...

You should leave tha partition as it is, no need to re-create or merge.
The second Windows 7 installation you made located if and updated the boot records in it. Now you only need to format your old partition, nothing to do on the 200mb partition, it has its reason for being as it is.

Hope it helps

 

[Iknewitwin7]

From what I understand this 200MB partition is used to recover your system. I could be wrong, but if you mess with the 200MB partition you will end up with the same problem you originally had.

 

[drazenn]

Thank you,guys.
That's what I didn't know,leave it as it is,or merge it and then format it together with old system partition.

 

[darkassain]

hello drazen
my advice leave as is...
and if you can clean install the way you like it (excluding the 200mb partition)
its better to leave it separate from the actuall OS
(think of it as a recovery OS)