Triflexer :
which would you suggest i do? are there any risks to doing the recovery partition
The only risk to the Recovery is if it fails partway through and leaves a borked up install.
So...
First:
In the Recovery function, there should be a function for you to create a DVD set. If you can, do this.
Secondly, find the existing Windows license. You may not need this, but it doesn't hurt to have written down.
Belarc Advisor can retrieve this.
Third, save off anything you may want to keep. Save it elsewhere.
Boot from that Recovery DVD you made, and see what it does.
If you can't create that DVD set, then just invoke the Recovery partition and this will do the same thing.
This should leave you with a system just as it came from the store.