How do I partition a HP dv2046TU hard disk with Partition Magic 8.0 The company I was told locks the HDD.?

Question

I recently purchaced a hp dv 2046TU Laptop. It has a PC recovery option in the HDD. No disk were provided. It also had a provision of making Rescue Discs. [It required 3DVD (eqivalent of 16CDs) for the rescue. WHAT DO THEY STORE IN IT?? since Win XP requires 1 CD and misc drivers require one CD. Few pgms max one more CD.] I purchased Partition Magic since I was told it is the best and the easiest to use. I do not understand the intricacies of the DOS partition method involving cylinders and heads.

After spending so much money I am at a loss since I will always have the fear of losing valuable data. Partition secures your data by placing it on a seperate partition securing it from viruses and corruption to some extent.

Most importantly how do i use the Win XP Home provided in the rescue disk and the drivers for the web cam, bluetooth etc. The rescue disk cannot be opened.

I wonder why companies make such laptops. Given an option I would never buy HP again.

Answer 1

Well, it's not totally clear for me what's your main question, but let's try to answer...

Laptop vendors usually ship the equipment with pre-bundled software that allows less experienced users to restore their system if some damage happens. You're right, most of HDD content should fit in a single DVD, but some rescue software will generate pretty large HDD images, archiving not only installed software, but user profiles, registry keys and other user preferences. They prefer to do this way to be able to perform a full system restore. Important to mention that not only HP, but many computer vendors provides this alternative to improve user's security. In fact, they are willing to avoid support calls, but it is causing more questions than answers.

Why do you need to partition your HDD ? Are you planning to install a second operating system ? Partition Magic is used to repartitioning a already formatted device and unless you have plans to change how your HDD is assembled, I'd suggest you not to change, despite PM use is really simple.

The WinXP rescue disk is used just in data loss scenarios, if your system hangs and you're not able to boot anymore, a rescue menu will be available.

Please be more specific if you need further information.

Good Luck !!!

Answer 2

Hi

You can partion your hardisk by using Disk Management-Computer Management utility in the Administrative tools from Control panel. And coming to the Partition that is locked, It contains the complete image of the softwares installed on your laptop. Includind XP home, MS Works, MS Money, Drivers, HP utilities, Registry info, You can see the list in the start menu. That locked drives acts as backup. Your laptop comes with DVD writed, you can create recovery discs using PC Recovery software that comes with your Laptop. I am using the same laptop, i dont have any problems with it. I think you dont have complete knowledge of the laptop and its utilities and its recovery procedure, you are unnessecarly blaming the company.

There is no need to buy Partition magic software for just creating the partition. Once you have created your recovery discs in DVD's you can delete the locked partition using Disk management utility.

After creating your recovery disks, Boot up the laptop with your boot disk which you can get from your freinds who have computers. Create the intitial partition of 20 Gb for primary drive and left out space you can divide in your terms. Then you can use your Recovery discs to install operating systems and all othe softwares.

The locked drive contains upto 12GB of data. Then store the information that is relevant to your laptop. When ever you handle your laptop to HP in case of any problem, They use that recovery locked partition to restore your laptop to the position as when you bought it.

If you have any issues with Disk management utility. Do mail me

Bye

Answer 3

first why are you partitioning the drive?
second win xp bloats up to over 4 gb then you have all misc crap hp puts in their pcs and drivers thats why 3 dvds
since the recovery partition is on the drive i wouldnt mess with it
you would be better off storing stuff on an external hdd