Win 7 x64 actual space requirements

Hi,

could someone provide me with and hard-disk recommendation for Win 7 x64. I want to partition C: to approximately the required space its gonna take up.

I'm still using Vista x64 without Indexing, user files and temporary data but its already using up all of my 30gig partition !

Did they improve something with Win 7 so I can leave my 30gig partition.

Clean install FTW btw....

Thanks.

 

IMO, 30 GB would be the smallest you should go, especially with 64bit.

 

64-bit is like 2 Windows in 1... Not only you have 32-bit versions of Windows program but also the 64-bit, and you have all the system files in both versions to ensure that all 32-bit applications works perfectly.
To ensure future update leave 50GB for Windows 64-bit.

 

We,,, I cannot agree with either of you guys.

I installed 7 Pro x64 and out of my 30GB drive I still have 18GB free, which means it takes 12GB.

I do not install any rubbish games and maybe that is why 30GB for system drive is enough.

Of course I have some other apps, but games AFAIr are the most space-wasting apps.

 

That is because you did not inslude:
- Application library files.
- 2x Service Packs that will be eventually released (size based on Vista 64-bit).
- Appdata after you install all your application,
- Program Data after you install all your application.
- Free space for Temp.
- Free space so that Windows doesn't freak out on you becaus eyou are low in space.
- Free space for deep defragment.
- And most importantly system restore point, which grows over time, allowing to go back in time on your files, folder, drive and even OS.

All of the above has been included in my 50GB. And I rounded the number to the largest I can to be safe.

With 50GB you will not need to worry about space, even if you put documents in your profile folders, some videos/movies, high-quality MP3's, and install software.

 

Well ... my Win 7 RTM x64 takes up about 20GB in total ... with all of the necessary programs installed.

I have a 50GB partition on which the OS in question and the programs are installed.
So ... I really cannot say that you have anything to worry about size-wise.

Pretty much most of the mid-range laptops come with 250GB HDD anyway ... so reserving 50GB for the OS and the programs should be more than enough while keeping the remaining 200GB for everything else.

 

I have mine installed on a 150 GB partition on my desktop, but I would recommend at least 50 GB. Are you super pressed for space, or is there some other reason why you want to use the same partition for 7 as you did for Vista?

 

Actually I'm thinking about getting a new faster and bigger HDD. But I do like things orderly and efficient. Why waste space?

But I do think I have learned my lesson and will take all of yours advice and go with a 50gig partition. There is nothing more annoying than knowing you have to reinstall windows just because its already so fat an bloated up it wont even be satisfied with an enormous 30gig.

Thanks

 

This is a bit of an overstatement. The SysWOW64 directory (containing the infrastructure for WOW64) is about 1GB in size. Also, very few of the apps in Windows x64 come both 32-bit and 64-bit. Internet Explorer and Media Player come to mind but not much else.

 

I'm using 41 gigs, with all my apps installed + XP virtual machine. That's pretty crazy, 30 gigs on a clean install? I have VS 2008, a virtual XP machine, Autocad, Office 07, 4 gigs of documents...

But my C:\windows is taking up 14GB, which seems large too :S

 

The restore points probably are the biggest culprits when it comes to HD space consumption. I have no idea exactly what System restore chooses to backup, but I know I can stuff about 15 restore points using the default settings.

 

It backups the entire OS partition. You can add other partitions. If you do the system restore of the additional drive will be store on that one.

It's preatty crazy how it works, as it's doesn't do a copy of files and compresses it, that is clearly the not the case. I don't know the details, but I am sure it's some serious deep stuff. All I know is that it works very well.

 

my actual installation of just win764 + windows updates + dell drivers amounted to 20gb
ms office 2010 64bit technical preview was 1.6gb

 

this is a thing of the past now. you can safely resize partitions with or without an os on. i use acronis disk manager and boot-it (there are others) and change partition sizes almost weekly ( i have 5 os's and various movie files which take more or less space, even on my 500GB)
you can go for 30GB or the safe 50GB, but change your mind later.
having said, a reinstall every, say, 6 months will clear out a lot of bloat, and is no bad thing.
my 2c