Windows 7 consuming 20GB ... why?

Bleek · 17 Jul 2012 at 19:30

I only created a 25GB partition because I never run apps run on the sys drive.

- hibernation is OFF, file is removed
- system restores are OFF
- swap file is on it's own drive
- no apps installed on C:
- Windows dir ~20GB

Any ideas how to reduce that down, it seems stupidly large, winxs is nearly 9GB on it's own?

djshauny1 · 17 Jul 2012 at 20:45

Ive allways wonderd how to decrease the file size too

PiKe · 17 Jul 2012 at 20:47

Well that was silly wasn't it, I always allocate a minimum of 60GB for mine.

32bit version uses less if you don't need 64bit.

hyperst · 17 Jul 2012 at 20:54

My 64 bit windows 7 file is 15.2GB, for reference.

darael · 17 Jul 2012 at 20:56

Have you tried compressing the winsxs folder?

lurkio · 17 Jul 2012 at 21:19

win7 32 = 9G install
win7 64 = 15G install

Take your pick , these are average install sizes

Bleek · 18 Jul 2012 at 14:37

hyperst said:
My 64 bit windows 7 file is 15.2GB, for reference.

So why is my Win 7 64bit 30% bigger? That's quite a difference! :confused:

Bleek · 18 Jul 2012 at 14:37

PiKe said:
Well that was silly wasn't it, I always allocate a minimum of 60GB for mine.

32bit version uses less if you don't need 64bit.

60GB for an O/S... WTF?

Bleek · 18 Jul 2012 at 14:38

darael said:
Have you tried compressing the winsxs folder?

I thought about it, is that safe to do?

Read conflicting reports on the winsx dir.

reflux · 18 Jul 2012 at 14:40

I've got W7 64bit Ultimate. Been installed for a year. Folder size is 19.7GB.

I've heard drivers take up a lot of space.

PiKe · 18 Jul 2012 at 14:42

Work PC is 25gb for the windows folder.

PR. · 18 Jul 2012 at 15:16

Windows Home Server 2011 allocates itself 60Gb for the OS. When I've built machines needing partitions I always go 60Gb-80Gb as not having enough is a real pain.

HeX · 18 Jul 2012 at 15:18

I always bung 60GB for the OS drive, as I chuck office, drivers, apps, and what not all on the same partition.

NealR · 18 Jul 2012 at 15:22

Games and applications still install files onto your Windows partition, regardless of where you told it to install.

Also some save game files will automatically put themselves into the Documents folder, hosted on your Windows partition

Hagar · 18 Jul 2012 at 15:49

Initial install is usually 15GB. Updates can add a few GB, you can always delete update install files if these stay on the drive. I think a sensible OS partition is about 50-100Gb.

Repath your user files (docs) onto another partition.

Frosty81 · 18 Jul 2012 at 16:36

Have a look in c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\download It likes to store its update files in here its usually pretty safe to delete it

Bleek · 18 Jul 2012 at 17:53

NealR said:
Games and applications still install files onto your Windows partition, regardless of where you told it to install.

Also some save game files will automatically put themselves into the Documents folder, hosted on your Windows partition

Not on mine, docs re-direct to data volume.

nkata said:
Initial install is usually 15GB. Updates can add a few GB, you can always delete update install files if these stay on the drive. I think a sensible OS partition is about 50-100Gb.

Repath your user files (docs) onto another partition.

It's a bit contradictory to build a big sys vol then re-point everything else?

I already do hence my sys volume is literally Windows only.

Anyway, I've compressed a load of installer folders and moved one to another drive which free'd up 4GB of space.

Bleek · 18 Jul 2012 at 17:54

Frosty81 said:
Have a look in c:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\download It likes to store its update files in here its usually pretty safe to delete it

Re-directed to another volume, saved me 2GB of space on sys vol.

lokkers · 18 Jul 2012 at 18:11

Have you run the SP1 cleanup? That should free up ~1.5GB.

Bleek · 18 Jul 2012 at 18:55

lokkers said:
Have you run the SP1 cleanup? That should free up ~1.5GB.

Yep done that, thanks.