"(PeteCresswell)" wrote

| When I just restore the image to the 2 TB file, I get a system that works,
| but the additional space is unavailable for expansion of the "Data"
partition
| because "HP_RECOVERY" sits in the middle - between existing "Data" and the
| new unused space.
|
If it were me I'd clean out all the muck. Assuming Paul's
diagram is correct (I can't see your picture without
alowing Google to run script)....

Do a restore and clean that up. Install your software.
Get rid of System Reserved by putting the boot files on C.
Make a disk image of that, so you have a fresh copy. Then
get rid of the HP partition. So you just have C and data
partitions. It's more work now but easier and more efficient
for the future.

I don't know why you think the HP partition is critical.
I always delete those. It's only useful if you don't have
backed up disk images of C.