Cutting Windows 7 Down

The Halk · 14 Jan 2011 at 21:43

Happy with Windows 7 x64

However I've noticed it likes to collect lots of files, and seems to grow in size over time.

There's about 30GB taken by Windows.

Of that there's an 8GB page file and a 6GB (I have 8GB of memory.. never noticed it wasn't the full 8 before) hiberfile. They're pretty much required.

That leaves 14.3GB in the \Windows\ directory alone.

I did read somewhere about software that causes Windows to get rid of the legacy files it keeps around for compatibility. Or that in some way reduces space usage.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of where I can get more info?

Raumarik · 14 Jan 2011 at 21:51

powercfg /hibernate off
at an elevated (admin level) command prompt will remove any hibernation rubbish for starters, usually at least 2Gb.
^^ this might be the hiberfil you mentioned.

VaderDSL · 14 Jan 2011 at 21:52

Just lowered my system restore to 1% and disabled hibernate and it took me from 23Gb to just over 18gb.

The Halk · 14 Jan 2011 at 21:53

I don't want to remove hiberfil though, as I do hibernate.

Raumarik · 14 Jan 2011 at 22:00

You could look at compressing the HDD using the built in NTFS compression on Windows 7. I have no experience of using it and it will hit the CPU a little, depends where your priorities are.

I haven't found anything on a respectable site yet about cutting down the Windows 7 install footprint.

The Halk · 14 Jan 2011 at 22:47

Compression is out of the question entirely.

I appreciate the suggestions, but it's not what I'm looking for at all.

Windows 7 builds a collection of stuff, and there was at least talk of a way to purge some of it - although there were some issues.

HangTime · 14 Jan 2011 at 22:57

Sounds like the WinSxS folder. I'd leave it alone personally.

ubern00b · 14 Jan 2011 at 23:04

Yea, Leave WinSxS alone. Look somewhere else to recover space.

UnworthyBean · 14 Jan 2011 at 23:19

You can probably get away with a 6 or 4gb page file. You could also see what disk cleanup and ccleaner have to say.

Raumarik · 14 Jan 2011 at 23:52

WinSxS is rather important, personally I wouldn't touch it but I'd love to be able to remove it on my laptop with my little 60Gb SSD

Dinkas · 15 Jan 2011 at 04:39

Yeah, WinSxS is the bane of small SSD's :<

The Halk · 15 Jan 2011 at 05:19

Yes, now I remember it is Winsxs, and a quick google refreshes my memory on what it is. Sadly there doesn't seem to have been any movement on it since I last looked, which was during the W7 beta.

I did come across a huge batch file, but I'm reluctant to use it. It doesn't give me the confidence I'm looking for.

I guess winsxs can continue to sprawl, and if it turns into a big probem I can flatten and reinstall WIndows.

trentlad · 17 Jan 2011 at 15:46

I like to use 'Space Monger' to view the size of my files and folders. Really helps locate the large folders/files. Then you can research into whether it's required or not (e.g. hibersys).

jyounguk · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:04

trentlad said:
I like to use 'Space Monger' to view the size of my files and folders.

Just tried this out , great little program.

Raumarik · 17 Jan 2011 at 16:12

Spacesniffer is the new spacemonger