If using Ghost, any reason to keep HPA?

[serpico]

I created the R&R discs when I first got the laptop. Now I'm using Ghost. Disk has 3 partitions: HPA, boot/OS/programs, and data.

Is there any reason to keep the HPA? If I have a problem with the boot partition, I can just restore the last Ghost recovery point I stored in the data partition (means I have to carry my Ghost bootable usb flash drive with my laptop). If there's a problem with the hard disk, well, the HPA won't do me much good anyway, and I'll need to use the Ghost recovery point stored on my USB hard disk. So it seems to me that the HPA isn't doing anything that I'm not already doing with with Ghost.

And if I ever wanted to return the laptop to factory fresh state, I can use the R&R discs. Not that I would ever wish to do that unless I'm selling the laptop. After all, installing and changes settings on all the software that I use takes up far more time than installing XP. So a recovery of my last good build is a far better solution than a restore to factory fresh state.

Am I thinking about all this correctly?

[ashleys]

Removing the hidden partition was one of the first things I did when I got my T30 many years ago.

No need for it as I do regular backups to an external USB device and can restore my system from there.

[Kyocera]

Am I thinking about all this correctly?

Yes. Recovery with the discs takes a little longer and you'll need to carry them if you travel but that's the only downside I've noticed. I usually get an image where I like it, clone it with acronis to another HD and keep that in case my drive fails.

[l2karl]

Removing the hidden partition was one of the first things I did when I got my T30 many years ago.

No need for it as I do regular backups to an external USB device and can restore my system from there.

Pardon me for interrupting on your thread, but I too have that hidden partition and an external USB drive. I would like to remove that hidden partition, but am not sure how to do it and then use either acronis or ghost for backup.

Tks
Karl