Can I offload SYSTEM_SAVE from an old Compaq Presario?

[ahhaa]

I have this old Compaq 1700 Presario laptop with a 20 G HD. It came with ME, which is now pretty obsolete; it has about 5 gigs tied up in a D: SYSTEM_SAVE partition.
I've been fooling around with some Linux distros (which now read/write to NTFS drives). I've added all the security, etc, updates that are available for ME; ditched unnecessary software, defragged, and came to this question...

There are a couple things I need Windows for (a fussy printer for one), but I won't be upgrading anything in there anymore- Linux will let me use current Open Office & Firefox 3, and I've confirmed that the wireless works for general browsing & email... but I could use the drive space from that S'_S' partition.

I am not sure exactly what the SYSTEM_SAVE would change over the future. Can I just offload it somehow onto a DVD? Is it just a bunch of cabs? I may be unique in never having had this lappie go down, so I don't really have any idea how this partition is supposed to act if needed...

thanks!

[aedipuss]

it probably is a partition that could be used to restore the c:/ to original state in case windows went belly up. some used f12 during boot to get to the restore function. i'd get rid of it if it were mine.

[Ai Haibara]

Yeah, I believe it is the system-restore partition. It's not uncommon for HP/Compaq (among other manufacturers) to use that only, as opposed to giving the user a restore CD/DVD (or giving them the restore partition AND a restore disc).

If you haven't already, the setup should theoretically allow you to make a single recovery disc (couldn't say where exactly you'd need to check in ME, unfortunately). I'm not sure if making a direct copy of the partition would work (offhand, though, I don't see why not... but it wouldn't surprise me if there was some reason you couldn't.)

The question is, though, do you want to make a WinME recovery disc?