What is the "recovery partition"?

[freewheeling]

I'm now in the process of re-installing all of my software in the new installation (after a harrowing session on the phone to Microsoft to get it activated). The funny thing is that after reconnecting the 640GB drive that crazy recovery partition is still there, and I still can't do anything with it. After I verify that everything is working in the new install I'll try to use TestDisk to delete all the partitions on that drive and then see if I can re-initialize it somehow. I wonder what Gateway did to get that partition indelibly embedded on that drive? Perhaps it just can't be deleted?

 

[MacGyvr]

Any partitioning tool can remove the recovery partition IF there are no errors on your disk. I suggest using GParted (google it). A partition on a standard hard drive cannot be configured so as to be non-removable.

 

[gregrocker]

The only partition that will resist is an EISA and it is removed using special DISKPART commands easily Googled.

The tool you need is free Partition Wizard CD, just right click on the partition and delete it.

Then right click the Win7 partiiton and Resize it into the deleted space. Apply steps.

Then boot into Win7 DVD Repair console and repair or rewrite MBR to Win7 if necessary.

What was blocking these operations before was the Dynamic disk. If you have left that behind, use PW correctly to delete and recover the space as dozens have done here successfully recently.