I need to format and re-install Windows XP Media Center on this 2.5 year old HP Pavillion M400Y and there is a partition named D:/Recovery Disk, I think that was what the name was. I can see it in Computer management and when I right click on it I can see Format. Afraid to do that without asking you fellows first. I want to Format the drive and do a clean install. Suggestions please. TIA

That's your recovery partition where HP stores the recovery/reinstall files.

Whoa! You might want to ( I really mean need to) read the HP documents before you delete that. OEM's offer the original data on hidden partitions. If you delete that, you may not be able to re-install back to the factory state. I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you goober.

Thanks gentlemen for your replys. My friend wants to install only Windows Media Center without all of the games and other software that HP installs on their systems. What would be the problem with deleting the OEM software and after creating the newly installed Media Center, creating a system recovery disk through Windows Back Up? I wasn't planning on creating a Norton Ghost Back up copy but that is a possibility. I only have Ghost Version 9. Or would you leave that partition alone and just do a clean install of Media Center on the C: Drive. I normally partition to create a 16 gig partition for the OS, but I run XP Pro and that might not be enough for Media Center. I would then create two morepartitions for Data and Programs. Your thoughts please. Thanks again for your help.

So you are not using the recovery function of the operating system but a new install from a generic xp cd? In that case you can anything you want to. Just be advised if you format/delete that D: partition you are forever done with the recovery system.

Per I think you have talked me into leaving the Recovery Partition alone. Will the Recovery partition remain as Drive D: when I partition the C: to allow for 2 more partitions for Data and Programs and maybe a 3rd 8 Gig partition for the Windows Swap Drive? Or is that Recovery partition a read only (or some way protected) drive that cannot be moved? Thanks again for your support.

I wouldn't worry about the recovery console part, if you are having a lot problems using the recovery console is a half-a way attempt of fixing serious problems. Reformatting your pc when you are having serious problems is the best solution. Then again if you do reformat it you are going to have to re-reformat the D drive because the restorer disc will place all that garbage back on it again. I'd reformat it, but that's me. If it's anything like gateway's recovery console all it mostly stores is old outdated drivers. Deleting it won't mess up windows itself., you will just not have a recovery console anymore partition. No big deal. AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ OC 2.7ghz 2GB Dual Channel DDR 3200 Nvidia 7900GT SATA II 2x 300gig 7200rpm 16mb cache RAID-0+1 Gigabyte Nforce 4 SLI