where are my system restore files stored?

hi
ive just aqquired a new PB laptop - i was wondering if at some point in the
future i was to change the hard drive, or were to accidentally delete
essential system files on the main c: drive (which is the only one
accessable to me) whether the restore factory settings would work?
where are the files kept? is it a protected partition on the HD or are they
hard-wired into the motherboard these days?
it hints in the manual that the disk may be formatted, but what would happen
if i were to delete the primary dos partition? would the factory restore
work then?

any comments appreciated