Solved Recovery Partition: To remove or not?

pappi

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Recovery Manager has an option to remove Recovery Partition which in my PC is a 27.1 GB Drive(D:). I already have created 6-DVD Recovery Disc set. Any particular/practical reason/s why I should not opt to remove? I thought 27 GB of idle space is a lot...just sitting there. Unless it has uses other than system recovering sans discs.
 

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Hello pappi,

I (personally) would only attempt to remove that recovery partition by doing a clean install to ensure that all embedded "pointers" to that recovery partition are removed as well.

Kirk out!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
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    PC/Desktop
Can you back up the Recovery Partition to a USB drive, DVDs aren't that reliable.
IF you CAN backup the recovery to a USB, then it is safe to remove the Recovery.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64
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    Lenovo Y520
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Recovery Manager has an option to remove Recovery Partition which in my PC is a 27.1 GB Drive(D:). I already have created 6-DVD Recovery Disc set. Any particular/practical reason/s why I should not opt to remove? I thought 27 GB of idle space is a lot...just sitting there. Unless it has uses other than system recovering sans discs.
Wouldn't do it unless you truly need the space. My understanding is that you won't be able to reinstall it on your computer once removed (per a google). But, that seems to be the only real downside unless you can't run the normal troubleshooting options via the disc set (e.g., automatic repair and refresh) once the partition is deleted. I'd check this point out carefully before deleting the partition. Be sure and create a system repair disc (see my sig). At least that way you could do some of the troubleshoot items. Backup your disc set for safety.

Note that you might want to create an image of your drive so that you could put everything, including the recovery partition, back the way it was originally. See sig again.

Clean install would be tidy as norepli says. But, then you'd need to purchase additional media. As an alternative, I suppose you could remove the partition and restore using your disk set--having backed up your data. Having purchased media and installed you'd have access to all the troubleshooting options.
 

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Clean install would be tidy as norepli says. But, then you'd need to purchase additional media.

Hello znod,

No additional media purchase would be required as the creation of a "system image" (immediately after the clean install) would now suffice as a recovery media (eg, return to the clean install defaults).

Cheers!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I thought you were talking about a clean install that would obliterate all bloatware. That's what I was talking about. You'd need new media to get that done.
 

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I thought you were talking about a clean install that would obliterate all bloatware. That's what I was talking about. You'd need new media to get that done.

Maybe we're talking about two different scenarios here but when I do a Win 8 clean install, I delete all existing partitions as part of that process, and that gets rid of the bloatware for me.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
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    PC/Desktop
If doing a clean install, I would at least get to having only unallocated space on a drive (which would imply removing all partitions). Also, I might use diskpart/clean all command to really clean the sucker up. Regardless, to me, a clean install also entails reinstalling no bloatware--which could only be accomplished by him using new media (i.e., it presumably couldn't be done by him using his recovery disc set--which typically also would reinstall his OEM's bloatware).
 

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  • OS
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    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
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    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
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    Gateway
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    Dual Boot:
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    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
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    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
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    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
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    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Hi znod,

OK, now I understand what you mean by new media (as in Windows 8 ISO).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I would do a clean reinstall of Windows 8 to begin with from an OEM PC, best way to deal with evilware. But the recovery partition, that depends. It's handy to have it when you do a Reset or a Refresh of Windows as you don't need to track down the drive it's on, such as a USB or DVD.

What I'd do is do a thorough reformat of the hard drive (with user data backed up elsewhere and this is after doing several wipe down passes on the drive to obliterate every literal bit of data on the drive) and reinstall Windows. Then, after you have installed programs and configured it to your liking and it's running smooth and sleek, make a recovery partition.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3610-refresh-windows-8-create-use-custom-recovery-image.html

This is the process to show you how, you make one (takes about an hour or so depending on how much you have installed) and then register it with Windows so it knows that's the one to use. Basically, it makes a custom system image for you to use if you need to reinstall Windows if it acts up.
 

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    Crosshair V Formula-Z
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    16 gig DDR3
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Hi znod,

OK, now I understand what you mean by new media (as in Windows 8 ISO).
Yes, or retail upgrade disc, or system builder software.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
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    PC/Desktop
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    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
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    EVGA 570 SC
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    Gateway
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    Dual Boot:
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I would keep the recovery partition. You never know what's going to work best the day you have to recover.

I rely on my images. I use free Macrium because history has taught me that the native Windows imaging is not very reliable.

But in my case, Windows 8 backup is real easy. I run Windows 8 in a virtual partition and if I want to make a backup, I just copy the VMware folder to my external eSata disk. Nothing could be easier.
 

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  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
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    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
All I want to know is why I should keep a huge space occupying folder(or partition)if it is actually untouchable(every time I click it, my PC warns me to stay off...leave it alone. I do not even know what's in it). As I said, I already have created a 6-DVD recovery set. Is there any function of the files in the recovery partition that the recovery DVD's cannot or do not do?

For instance: If I start having problem with cold boot, which recovery tool is better to use to try fix the problem? The recovery DVD's or the recovery partition? If the answer is either, why then should I keep it?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8 64bits
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP ENVY dv7-7230us
    CPU
    quad core AMD Processors
    Motherboard
    1833 55.24/F.13
    Memory
    6GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Microsoft Basic Render Driver/AMD Radeon HD 7640G
    Sound Card
    IDT High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Microsoft Basic Render Driver
    Screen Resolution
    1600/900
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541075A9E680 SATA Disk Device
    Mouse
    only keypad
    Internet Speed
    not too great
    Browser
    IE 10
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender and MBAM
I recommend to keep the recovery partition because you never know whether your recovery DVDs will work. And it is the easiest way to reinstall the system.

But if you are sure your DVDs work and maybe have images as a second option, you may delete the partition (in Disk Management). Just a word of warning, if your PC is a Dell, your bootmgr is sitting on the recovery partition. So if you delete it, your system will not boot. Better check that first.
 

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System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
i suggest you leave it alone ,some day you will wish you did if you do remove it ,and in today's standards 27 gigs is not a lot of space really ,if you ever find yourself need that much storage just go buy a 32gig thumb drive
 

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    updated enterprise apr 2/14
System image will be removed with Blue - judging from the current build.

That will be nice for 3rd party imaging program vendors.


Clean install would be tidy as norepli says. But, then you'd need to purchase additional media.

Hello znod,

No additional media purchase would be required as the creation of a "system image" (immediately after the clean install) would now suffice as a recovery media (eg, return to the clean install defaults).

Cheers!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I always blow away those recovery partitions. I've thought numerous times, "but what if I want to go back to the way it was from the factory". But then I realize, "that will simply never, ever happen"
 

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  • OS
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All I want to know is why I should keep a huge space occupying folder(or partition)if it is actually untouchable(every time I click it, my PC warns me to stay off...leave it alone. I do not even know what's in it). As I said, I already have created a 6-DVD recovery set. Is there any function of the files in the recovery partition that the recovery DVD's cannot or do not do?

For instance: If I start having problem with cold boot, which recovery tool is better to use to try fix the problem? The recovery DVD's or the recovery partition? If the answer is either, why then should I keep it?
I think you have enough answers above to decide what you want do. At this point, I vote that you leave it alone.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
leave it alone

performing a system recovery (when the time comes) will just bring them back anyway

We're in the age of terabyte hard drives now, and 128GB SSD's are cheap as chips. Tiny hard drives are more trouble than they're worth, especially when they cause people to try removing recovery partitions which are very very handy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro Pack x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    JohnOfE Special
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    Too many systems and combinations!
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