Back up too big??what to do now.

[ayabrea38]

To put this as simply as I can-bought pc with Windows 7 and a load of other educational stuff already on it,all pre configured set up etc.The hard drive was already partitioned in to two partitions,each 60 Gb.Ok so far.
I downloaded something that messed up the computer and had to phone the company I got it from and they talked me through a restore.Then when the pc was back to normal,I checked the drives and another one had appeared,calling itself recovery drive f.It said it was aprox 23Gb big.
Anyway(sorry)I tried to back up my system now,months later(cos its running great and I love the way I have things set up eg Firefox add ons)and I cannot because drive f is not big enough.I tried to alter the partitions to make it bigger,but for some reason it wouldnt let me expand it,even though I had created free space.
Sorry this is long winded,but now I have explained that bit,my questions are
Where did this mystery drive f suddenly appear from?
Why can I not expand it
What use is it now-I seem to of been able to clear all the space on it,but it just aint big enough for a back up now?
Is there a way I can save just all my internet settings,add ons etc on a USB pen,for example,if I got a new pc,everything could just be transfered,not just favourites but add ons too?
Sorry this is so long,I am not exactly tech minded.just trying ;-)
Thanks all
Aya B

[ChuckFickens]

Drive F is (as it says) the recovery partition, it's where the file are stored to enable you to recover the computer back to factory settings, it would have been hidden in the original install and since your reinstall it's not.

You should not be trying to write anything to the recovery partition, if you want to backup then do it to an external hard drive.

[ayabrea38]

Oops.....
Thanks Chuck,I was hoping for a grain of sense from you.
IF I had sort of tried to delete everything on drive F,would it still be hidden somewhere,ie where it was originally,or once it shows itself that's that?
Thanks again (you cheeky monkey Chuck)
Aya