Solved Which partitions do I actually need?

[ignatzatsonic]

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

So download a Windows 7 ISO from mydigitallife.info and burn it to a disc. It will give you a clean install with your current Product Key.

 

[Petey7]

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.

Exactly my point. The recovery console gives options to restore your computer from the system images you have made with Windows Backup and Restore, do startup repair and several other options. You can also do this from a Windows 7 disc, which you do not have currently. Ignatzatsonic will happily help you make a Windows 7 install disc if you would like.

The best advice I can give is, if you don't feel comfortable doing it, don't. It seems that you feel uncomfortable doing some of the things we have mentioned, so if I were you I would leave well enough alone.

 

[Tomtom111]

Sorry if I seem cautious, I'm just trying to work it out in my head.

So your saying, that if I feel comfortable with it, it would be fine to delete the HP_tools partition, create a new partition, and install the new OS on there. While also to keep the option of a windows 7 restore, that could be done without the HP_tools partition and without discs as long as I keep the recovery partition. And don't touch the system partition.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Well, if you put another OS on this PC and later use the recovery partition to "restore" your PC, that would wipe out your new OS and leave you with whatever the PC shipped with.

Personally-----I would hose it all and do a clean install with a downloaded ISO to get HP completely out of my life.

 

[Petey7]

You are right to seem cautious. It was just a piece of general advice that I find comes in handy, especially when make changes on a computer.

You can delete the HP_Tools partition AND the recovery partition. What needs to stay is the System Reserve partition. I mention it because it seemed that ignatzatsonic was recommending removing it, which some do not realize is needed for certain functions to work properly.

 

[Tomtom111]

Well, if you put another OS on this PC and later use the recovery partition to "restore" your PC, that would wipe out your new OS and leave you with whatever the PC shipped with.

Personally-----I would hose it all and do a clean install with a downloaded ISO to get HP completely out of my life.

But if I did that would I still have a recovery partition that I could use to restore the system without using discs?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Well, if you put another OS on this PC and later use the recovery partition to "restore" your PC, that would wipe out your new OS and leave you with whatever the PC shipped with.

Personally-----I would hose it all and do a clean install with a downloaded ISO to get HP completely out of my life.

But if I did that would I still have a recovery partition that I could use to restore the system without using discs?

No.

You would repair or reinstall with the very same installation disc. You would restore with an image if you did not want to reinstall.

Anybody who builds their own PC does NOT have a recovery partition and the sun continues to rise in the east.

 

[Tomtom111]

You are right to seem cautious. It was just a piece of general advice that I find comes in handy, especially when make changes on a computer.

You can delete the HP_Tools partition AND the recovery partition. What needs to stay is the System Reserve partition. I mention it because it seemed that ignatzatsonic was recommending removing it, which some do not realize is needed for certain functions to work properly.

I have no intension to remove the recovery partition, but just anther question, would removing the HP partition mean the recovery process was slightly different? Ie not going through HP's recovery manager, and having different options to when the partition was in place.

 

[Tomtom111]

Well, if you put another OS on this PC and later use the recovery partition to "restore" your PC, that would wipe out your new OS and leave you with whatever the PC shipped with.

Personally-----I would hose it all and do a clean install with a downloaded ISO to get HP completely out of my life.

But if I did that would I still have a recovery partition that I could use to restore the system without using discs?

No.

You would repair or reinstall with the very same installation disc. You would restore with an image if you did not want to reinstall.

Anybody who builds their own PC does NOT have a recovery partition and the sun continues to rise in the east.

Well I've downloaded the iso, so I'll take reinstalling everything into consideration, as I'll be able to restore my settings and files through windows backup. But a thought that has just come into my head is, would I still be able to use windows update as I have a mate who has had various windows os's installed, but when he tries to update it mucks up the system or something.

 

[Petey7]

As far as I can tell from what I've read, the recovery partition is useless without the HP_Tools partition. Doing a clean install on OEM computers (OEM means made by HP, Dell, Toshiba etc.) can be a bit tricky. In order to activate Windows you almost always have to activate by phone, a lengthy by relatively simple tesk. Also, some software that comes on OEM computer is necessary to use it properly, but cannot be easily reinstalled. For example, my friend has a ASUS computer that he paid $1500 for. He decided to do a clean install of Windows 7 and delete all the partitions on his hard drive without making recovery disk or a system image. He can no longer play blu-rays or get his webcam to work properly. Not saying the same would happen to you, just that it is something to consider. As long as you get Windows activated and you don't lose functionality, then everything else should be fine, including Windows updates. I can't say what your friend's issue with it is.

I have to ask why do you want to install a different OS anyways? Is there something about Windows 7 that does not meet your needs?

 

[Tomtom111]

No Windows 7 does more than what I need it to, I got asked about it ages ago and never did anything about it but I've recently just fancied the challenge, if you want to call it that, of doing a dual boot system. Also could you recommend a boot loader that would work well? And also how to actually apply it to the system?

 

[Tomtom111]

I thought something like Chameleon would work, but its only for Mac apparently. So would GRUB do the trick?

 

[Tomtom111]

As far as I can tell from what I've read, the recovery partition is useless without the HP_Tools partition. Doing a clean install on OEM computers (OEM means made by HP, Dell, Toshiba etc.) can be a bit tricky. In order to activate Windows you almost always have to activate by phone, a lengthy by relatively simple tesk. Also, some software that comes on OEM computer is necessary to use it properly, but cannot be easily reinstalled. For example, my friend has a ASUS computer that he paid $1500 for. He decided to do a clean install of Windows 7 and delete all the partitions on his hard drive without making recovery disk or a system image. He can no longer play blu-rays or get his webcam to work properly. Not saying the same would happen to you, just that it is something to consider. As long as you get Windows activated and you don't lose functionality, then everything else should be fine, including Windows updates. I can't say what your friend's issue with it is.

I have to ask why do you want to install a different OS anyways? Is there something about Windows 7 that does not meet your needs?

How could I lose functionality? Surely all the drivers for the devices will just be downloaded when required? Also, would it be possible to combine hp_tools and recovery partitions, maintaining the restore function without the CD's, and therefore freeing up a partition?

 

[Petey7]

Can't help with the boot loader. If you're doing it just to do it, I recommend either buying an older used computer to experiment on, or stick to VMs. If you put some time into it you could probably learn how to make them run better. Besides, most people do VMs instead of dual-booting these days.


EDIT: In reply to your issue abotu losing functionality, my friend losing the ability to play blu-rays is a good example. Windows seven doesn't have the ability built-in. You have to use software called CyberLink PowerDVD. Since he reinstalled Windows, ASUS seems unwilling to help him get it back without paying for it, and I believe he told me it would cost around $80 to buy it. I don't know enough about your computer to know if you would face such an issue or not. I'm also not familiar with what all HP has that you can download from their support site. All of their software may be available on their, assuming you even need it. Truth is, in your case, I would just leave things as they are. What ever decisions you make are your own of course.

 

[Tomtom111]

If I found the restore discs I made would I be able to restore without the recovery partition?

 

[Petey7]

Yes.

 

[Tomtom111]

Would it put all the HP stuff back on?

 

[Petey7]

Yes, it would.

 

[Tomtom111]

That may be the answer. So if I get rid of one of the partitions, HP_tools or recovery, the other of the two won't work?

 

[gregrocker]

That may be the answer. So if I get rid of one of the partitions, HP_tools or recovery, the other of the two won't work?

What exactly is it that you would like to accomplish?

What other OS would you like to Dual Boot? If it's Linux the best method is here to avoid GRUB corrupting Win7: Dual boot Ubuntu-Win7

I gave you the best way to add another OS partition earlier based on three years experience of adding another OS to Win7 HP's where the user wishes to keep Recovery and Diag Tools intact.

However most tech enthusiasts do not run the grossly bloated HP preinstall but instead Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. There are special notes at the end of the tutorial for HP owners.