Thinkpad X300 recovery partition question

My X300 seems to have a recovery partition (SERVICEV, 4062MB). I'd like to free up as much space as possible, since the 64GB SSD doesn't offer a whole lot of space. I'd like to know:

1. How do I burn recovery DVDs (I don't want to mess around with the recovery partition until I do this)?

2. Is there a certain recommended way to remove the recovery partition / update the bootloader appropriately?

Also one more misc. question:

- Is it safe to delete the C:\I386, drivers, and SUPPORT folders? What purpose do these serve?

 

Double click on the recovery partition in My Computer. This should start a wizard that allows you to burn recovery DVDs (if it doesn't, look in the start menu under ThinkVantage for Create Recovery Media). At the end, you will be prompted if you want to eliminate the recovery partition. If you select yes, the partition will be destroyed, and your Windows partition extended to fill up the space.

The Support folder (as well as SWTools) contains Installers for the ThinkVantage tools and drivers. If you back them up to CD/DVD or an external HDD, it is safe to remove them from the x300.

I would recommend you keep the I386 folder if possible. This contains Windows drivers for many devices. If you remove this folder, you will be prompted for a Windows CD when you insert a new device, update some programs, or adjust the installed Windows components. However, it is safe to delete if you desire.

 

But the recovery partition doesn't show up in My Computer :/. Maybe it's because I have XP? Anyway, I think I figured out a way to back up to DVD with the backup tool, although I haven't tried it yet (I will tomorrow, then if it works I'll just have to find the best way to delete the recovery partition).

 

Is the option available for creating recovery discs if you press the blue ThinkVantage button during boot?

 

I tried that but couldn't find anything, however I did use the backup to CD/DVD option and it burned a Recovery / Rescue disk. Although it's only like 300MB which makes me wonder if it's a full recovery option (all I really care is that it will work in case my HD gets totally scrambled).

Next will be to find the best way to remove the recovery partition.

 

That's too small. In my experience, Vista requires 1 CD to boot, and 2 DVDs for the image. XP may only require 1 DVD for the image.

Search for " Create Product Recovery Media" This should make the recovery disks and delete the partition for you.

 

You should try a program called Acronis True Image. You can make an image of your drive and it can restore it in like 15 minutes, Its really quick.

I had my computer just the way i wanted it, but wanted a larger hard drive. So i made an image using acronis true image on a backup drive. it was like 12 gigs or 3 dvds. I installed the new hard drive unpartitioned. just raw out of the package. then booted with acronis disk and put the image i made back. restarted 15 minutes later and my computer was exactly the way it was except i had several hundred gigs more space. it partitioned it, did everything that needed to be done and copied my image over. its highly reccomended.

I cant imagine owning a pc without it. I have images of all my systems on a western digital passport. if anything happens i get a virus or just a sketchy program that i dont like i just pop in the acronis disk and 15 minutes later shazaam. back to the way i want it.