Solved Which partitions do I actually need?

[Tomtom111]

Tomtom:

To answer your original question "how many partitions do I need"?

As your PC sits now, you need 2: C and System

If you move your boot files from System to C, you will need only C.

As nice as that would be to do, I can't access 'system' partition or 'HP_tools' partition. I can delete or resize them in the partition manager but that's it. Unless you know how to access those files, that's not possible.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You should be able to move your boot files from System to C using this tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/209885-bootmgr-move-c-easybcd.html

What "partition manager" are you using? The recommended tool is Partition Wizard bootable disc.

 

[Tomtom111]

The one that comes with windows 7

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I assume you are referring to Disk Management?

It works for most operations but has it's limitations.

 

[Tomtom111]

Yeah that's the one! Would the system still boot ok if I move the system partition?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You wouldn't move the system partition. You would move files from it to C.

Just like the tutorial says.

 

[Tomtom111]

Yeah that's what I meant, but would it just be safer to delete the HP tools partition and make a new partition in its place?

 

[Petey7]

I would leave the system reserved partition alone. Gregrocker was the first to point out to me that without the system reserve partition, you cannot use the Repair console with advanced boot options (F8 menu accessed at startup). It is actual recommended to extend the system reserve partition when dual booting.

 

[Tomtom111]

I would leave the system reserved partition alone. Gregrocker was the first to point out to me that without the system reserve partition, you cannot use the Repair console with advanced boot options (F8 menu accessed at startup). It is actual recommended to extend the system reserve partition when dual booting.

Ok I'll bear that in mind when I install the other OS. Would it still be ok to remove the HP tools partition? Could I still restore windows 7 without it? And does it contain the quick dock install files? So they wont be installed during reinstalling win 7

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If I had no interest in the HP tools or recovery partitions, I'd get rid of them.

As far as I know, there is nothing in either of them that is needed for Windows to boot or run properly, but you might get a second opinion.

Your "system" partition is marked as both active and system.

You say you have already made recovery disks and that your PC is out of warranty.

I'd also download a Windows 7 ISO and burn it to a disk so I could do a clean install using the existing Product Key.

 

[Tomtom111]

If I had no interest in the HP tools or recovery partitions, I'd get rid of them.

As far as I know, there is nothing in either of them that is needed for Windows to boot or run properly, but you might get a second opinion.

Your "system" partition is marked as both active and system.

You say you have already made recovery disks and that your PC is out of warranty.

I'd also download a Windows 7 ISO and burn it to a disk so I could do a clean install using the existing Product Key.

I don't want to get rid of the recovery partition because it would make a restore more of a faf, with getting different discs and stuff.

 

[Petey7]

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.

 

[Tomtom111]

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.

 

[Tomtom111]

Also I can't delete the system partition, only shrink it. I can't even extend it.

 

[Tomtom111]

If it makes a difference all the partitions are formatted as ntfs other than the HP tools which is fat32

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What's wrong with the "delete volume" choice on the HP tools partition?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You cannot delete the system partition as long as it contains your boot files.

 

[Petey7]

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.

 

[Tomtom111]

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.

 

[Tomtom111]

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.

As windows 7 came preinatalled on my PC, I have no install discs other than the recovery discs I made.