Dual boot system/recovery disk questions

Hi

I just got new HP Compaq nw9440 and am looking at setting it up as a dual boot system with WinXP Pro and WinXP64 and have a few questions.

By default, it has a 80GB HDD with two primary partitions.

C: 72GB where WinXP Pro OS is installed
E: 8GB where HP_Recovery files are kept.

I have already made my recovery DVDs. I know that HP recommend you NOT delete the HP_Recovery partition (where essentially your WinXP Pro OS install files are originally residing), but given I have made the DVD recovery disks, my first question is: is there anything I can't do with the recovery disks that I could otherwise do with the HP_Recovery partition? Is it really an issue deleting the partition and gaining 8GB of HDD to use for other purposes?

I understand that I can use a program like Partition Magic to create a new primary partition from the existing C:. I believe I must first REDUCE the size of the C: partition, then create a new partition from the HDD space freed up.
I would follow the instructions I found here: http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1910&page=1

Lets say i do this, will doing so muck up or make redundant/ineffective the existance of the E: HP_Recovery partition should I decide I keep it to use to reinstall and reset my WinXP Pro installation and all programs on C: back to factory defaults?

Finally, by default, the factory installation creates two directories C:/i386 and C:/SwSetup (approx 3GB worth). I understand these directories contain a suite of various program setup files and drivers and can be deleted. Does the data on the HP_Recovery partition (and associated Recovery DVDs disks) recreate these files if I ever decide to reinstall and reset my WinXP Pro installation and all programs on C: back to factory defaults using the HP_Recovery partition or Recovery DVDs? I have made a separate DVD backup of these directories anyway.

Thanks

Spidey

 

80 gb is not a lot for a duel boot system. I do not no how many programs and files you have. I would wipe off the 8gb recovery partition. You still have to set up the duel boot system and that can be a real headache.

 

Thanks but I actually intend to have a thrid partition for just data that can be commonly accessed by both OS and perhaps a fourth partition dedicated to a page file (4-8GB) that can be used by both OS. I won't be requiring too many programs so my allocation of space to the OS partitions would be around 20-25GB each.

Still looking for some answers to my original questions.

Cheers

Spidey

 

The recovery disc. you have will bring it back to the factory setings I have a duel boot system but do not have the recovery partition on it. . I do not no if using the recovery partition would wipe out your other partitions.

 

OK. I have been brave and just given it a go.

I used Partition magic to create a bunch of new partitions from the C:/.
I then engaged the HP Recovery program at boot up and it basically FORMATS C:/ and reinstalls the OS ONLY, WITHOUT affecting any of the partitions. It seems that the recovery program only looks at the C:/ partition.

BTW, the C:/i386 and C:/SwSetup directories were also restored.

I also tried renaming the HP_Recovery partiton form it's default E:/ to something else like Z:/ using Partition Magic. Despite doing this, the recovery program can still be involked at startup. I don't fully understand how the system knows where to look but it's good to know I can change it.

I know they say that if I delete the HP_Recovery partiton from the HDD it is gone forever (apart from the DVD recovery disks I have already made from it). I do intend to delete this partition and gain the 8GB of HDD space and just rely on my DVD recovery disks if I ever need them but my next step is to now attempt to create a complete backup image of the HP_Recovery partition (on to a DVD) using Nortons Ghost so that I could potentially (if I ever want to) recreate the deleted recovery partition as if it had never been deleted.

Anyone who knows if this is possible let me know. I will be posting my own results.

Spidey