You'll find a partial answer here: (Compaq Diagnostics)
http://webpages.charter.net/dperr/compaq.htm
I'm sure you could get a better answer with a more detailed Google search.
These partitions may contain all kinds if info, including drivers and
routines unique to the machine involved. It's beyond my ken why these
partitions are not alway re-created when a restore disk is used.
I recently ran a repair install on an XP clone. The completely
unbootable machine was restored, with all data intact in about 45
minutes. Most OEMs would be unable to do that, in my experience.
I suspect the reason for OEM restore disks is economic, but I haven't
really researched it. The obvious lesson here: If you value your data
and want to control your computer, get a clone or build your own.


Richard Glazier wrote:
> The question is, does the special Compaq partition need to be there,
> and why?  (And yes, it is old and I have newer computers.)
>
> A friend gave me an old Compaq 7360 computer (p-500) to
> fool around with. The HD was blown, but I also got the factory
> restore disks.
>
> I did a factory restore on a different totally clean HD.
> I had the box working fine and started fooling with the HD
> using Acronis Partition Expert2003 and True Image7 or 8.
>
> Along the way (somewhere), I deleted the partition that Compaq
> had put a lot of their stuff in since it was around 1 G or 2 out of a
> 20G hd. The clean HD was an archive drive of mine (I cleared) and it
> had seen very little actual running time.
>
> The reason for the question is: After the partitions were fooled with,
> the computer rarely boots anymore. (But it still does sometimes?.)
> The hardware boots fine from a floppy (win98) IF the HD is disconnected...
>
> It is an odd set of circumstances that I have not dealt with before,
> and I can start to understand why some members have been very
> vocal about these OEM type restores, etc...
>
> The question is, does the special Compaq partition need to be there,
> and why?
>                                                   Rick Glazier
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.8/183 - Release Date: 11/25/2005
>
>               The NOSPIN Group Promotions is now offering
>                 our special coffee mugs and mouse pads
>              with the PCBUILD logo...  at a great price!!!
>             http://freepctech.com/goodies/promotions.shtml
>
>

         PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
                     visit our download web page at:
                  http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml