How can I tell if I have a recovery partition and if so, how do I perform this function? HP Pavillion about 4 years old, was a good machine but I can't get rid of some of the crapola that has managed to get on it over time. There are times when it becomes almost unusable. I am about ready to take this drastic action. The only stuff on it I need to back up is My Documents and My Pictures, the rest can just go away for all I care. I have discs for the important software and the rest is just "stuff" that can be replaced.

the best answer would be to go to HP support and look under the model number of your computer. Sometimes there will be a HP tools program installed under start > programs a boot disc will also show all partitions on the drive to see if there is a hidden one. In The Matters Of Style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, Stand Like A Rock "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

I don't have a boot disk, so I guess I'll try your first suggestion. I don't know if I'll have time tonight, but thank you, its a starting point at least.

Show hidden file/folders. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...

Look at Disk Management and see what partitions there are. Life's more painless for the brainless.

The computer I'm on now has it in the tools folder start menu, but the computer I want to fix doesn't. I see a couple of new suggestions, thanks I'll check those too, but I'm getting the feeling it doesn't have it. I'll come back tomorrow evening with some updates. Thanks again.

It has it and I found it. Its not in the tools folder its in some HP folder. I haven't tried it yet, but how hard can it be right? Back up pictures and docuements on a seperate drive and start the process right? This is cool.