Vista - What's the deal with my driver?

I have Window Vista 32bit. Why does my D: drive says that I have only 10% free space when I have never backed up any files. Also, how can I open that drive?

Any help would be much appreciated.

bennys, a lot of OEMs (HP, Dell, Lenovo, etc) have a (sometimes hidden) separate partition that is just big enough for the recovery image that they have there so that, in a worst case scenario, you can always go back to factory defaults.

***You do not want to use this partition for anything else***

Like many purchasers of OEM machines today, you probably did not receive a Vista DVD with your computer for reinstallation like with XP machines you did. This partition is the only thing that can save you if you have a massive problem with your system If you start trying to use it you're taking a chance on either you or someone else hosing it - and then you'll be stuck either buying a disc from your manufacturer or else be stuck cursing at Vista when it was your own fault in the first place.

Thanks.
That's very informative.
Now I know better not to do so.

Questions:
1. How do access to that backup drive if I ever need to retrieve any files?
2. What is stored in it? It just keeps filling up as it goes along.

You should have a link, possibly in the start menu, under HP, or else a way to access it when you first turn on the machine, something like "Press [X] to enter recovery Mode" or something similar.

Reading up on your machine with the supplied documentation as well as visiting the HP website for additional documentation *and* registering your machine will be beneficial to you in the long run - these types of things you really should know - now- *before* something catastrophic has a chance to occur.

Trust me, it sucks to have something go south on you, only to find out later on that now you can't do jack, because you didn't do something as simple as make a recovery disc, or something like that....