vostro 1400 help

hi
i recieved my vostro 1400. but have a question about it.
my system have a recovery partition of about 2GB.
i cameto know that this partition is not for recovering vostro to original factory setting.
so i tried to check it.
1:after pressing ctrl+F11 nothing happened and windows started nomally.
i then tried by pressing F8,it shows option to log in, it didnot allow me to log in as administrator(it said it was disabled, and i have to log in as local user to access recovery options), so i log in as local user and tried system recovery but it shows message that no restore image found on hard drive.
does any one checked this on their vostro?
if this partition is not for recovery, then what is the function of it?

2:also whenever i started my computer before windows welcome screen (before computer starts and shut downs) there is a dark wave like cloud moving from bottom to top of display. is this normal with all LCDs or mine have a problem?

3:i checked my system performance and tools in event logs, it shows a long list of error messages, some of them are just warnings and others are critical ones, mentioning that some programs are taking longer than usual to start and shut down which mey slow system performance.each time program are different.

4: in the same system performane and tool event logs, it shows that my system have an error that have an event date of last year. i am wondering that might they send me refurnished one? (to check this, go to control panel,then performance information and tools, then advanced tools on left link,then click on view performance details in event log).

i will be very thankful for help