Partitioning and Repartitioning

Hey all.

Ok, I'm trying to dual-boot Win7 and Mint 12 KDE on my HP laptop, but the thing came with 4 partitions preset onto the hard drive. From my "research" online, this seems to be common problem for HP laptop users. (300 mb System partition; C: Drive; HP_Recovery; HP_Tools)

The general method to order the mess is to
A) Move the System Drive (34.5 of 300 MB) to the C:\ with EasyBCD
B) Make partition image files and create disks using Macrimum Reflect.
C) Repartition

The problem is that I've
A) No DVD drive for this laptop
B) Overseas atm, so things go awry, I'm on my own

atm, I've backed up the system, HP_Recovery, HP_Tools on an external drive as partition images (.mrimg) using Macrimum, and the main partition (c:\) using Windows' backup manager (Noted as "file folder" that will "Restore all my files from this backup" when executed). I plan on copying these files further onto the spare laptop and on another partition on this laptop.

The latter (vis Windows Backup) doesn't seem to be a partition image, but no matter. If needed, I can re-partition the drive to the original settings using the images I've made and carve out a space from which the contents of this file can be loaded onto the blank partition...i think. which brings me to...

**If I delete/merge all the partitions, will I be able to recover it to the original settings using the image files saved on the external hard drive (via External HD, a live booter [eg Mint], and a virtual DVD emulator [eg Daemon Tools lite]) should I need to contact HP for service? (though unlikely given that A) the year warranty expires before I head back to the States, and B) USPS has stopped international service for devices with Li-ion batteries [incoming unknown, but still]). I suppose I can back up on USB, but I tend to lose track of those things....
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HP Tools only has 3 folders: BIOS (only Current Folder has content), BIOSUpdate, and SystemDiag, which take up a grand total of like 8.2 MB of 5 GB. Safe to delete?

HP Recovery: 5 hidden folders (boot, recovery, System Volume Information, system.sav, and a recycling bin) and one hidden file (bootmgr). Safe to delete?

 

- Go to Disk management
- Remove the crappy HP partitions
- So now, you should have C:/ and other RAW partition (if not, expand all empty partitions to one empty)
- Rename Raw Partition (Mint or something)
- Launch Mint install (you'll be prompted for dual boot)

Or follow this tutorial (Mint 12 = same way to proceed as Mint 12) Dual Boot Mint 11 and Win 7

 

I'd remove the HP partitions also and then go for a partition setup sharing data between Win7 and Linux, like;
C: Windows7 OS (primary NTFS partition)
D: Data shared (music. movies, docs, pics etc) (primary NTFS partition)
E: Linux OS (Extended partition)
- F / (Logical partition)
- G swap (Logical partition)
- H /home (Logical partition)
So, you'd have to remove the system and HP partitions, shrink C, create D and E(with F,G,H inside)

You could also just remove the HP Tools partition, expand it if neccesary (and thus shrink C), then make it an extended partition and install Mint as above.
Just bare in mind that moving/shrinking/expanding partitions can take a lot of time and that as in scenario 1, you'll always have to be a bit careful with mounting/unmounting the shared Data partition while dual-booting.
I'd also perhaps keep a dedicated USB stick with me with a fresh Windows 7 ISO, so you can always reinstall Win7 easily if things go haywire, use the NBR info posted here link