Hard Drive space required for Windows 7

Soybean, I'm talking about Windows folder only.

  I think where a lot of the difference is coming in here, isn't from what we've installed, for one, page file sizes are going to vary, mine at default is near 10 gig on an X64 win 7 business install. I have 6 gb DDR2 ram currently. Not to mention X64 versions will support a higher page file than 32 versions. Also, it coincides with the 1.5 X amount of ram so this is normal. I add this up, 8 gigs install + 10 page file=18 gig install. So those with a bare 8 gig install either don't have page file, or bare min, or obviously a small amount of ram.

[Moderator]

Using the above example:

8G = Windows

10G = Pagefile

2 to 6G = Restore points

Approx 20 to 26G HDD space.

Plus the recommended 15% of free drive space for normal Windows operating...you can see where it adds up quite rapidly.

Personally i don't give it a 2nd thought with the cost and sizes of drives today though...

windows folder is 8.6GB. I have 8GB of RAM, my pagefile is 8489MB.

the pagefile is stored in the root directory of the drive. NOT in the windows folder so it cannot be part of my windows folder.


the pagefile has NO BUSINESS being calculated as part of the OS install. Does MS determine the size of of the pagefile, or more precisely it's contents? No. Both are determined by RAM size, and besides, it can be changed. the 1.5x RAM thing is a misinformed guideline for the sake of a guideline; just read Windows Internals to find out why it's so misinformed.

the pagefile is stored in the root directory of the drive. NOT in the windows folder so it cannot be part of my windows folder

the pagefile has NO BUSINESS being calculated as part of the OS install.

That's not the point being made. It doesn't matter where it's stored, it's the point that it takes space on the drive and will vary per user. The page file statement was not directly aimed at actual space for Win 7, it was directed at the argument of how some have less space after the install or rather, use more hard drive space than the next person.

Does MS determine the size of of the pagefile, or more precisely it's contents? No. Both are determined by RAM size, and besides, it can be changed. the 1.5x RAM thing is a misinformed guideline for the sake of a guideline; just read Windows Internals to find out why it's so misinformed.

It may be misinformed, I agree, but for a very basic explanation, it works, no need to split the atom.  I don't understand where you say about MS determining the pagefile size, the point is the size of the pagefile will vary.

 My over all point is that the page file size, being part of the actual install or not, has an effect on the amount of space left over AFTER an install. It will affect what people see on their drive, space wise.
 

[Moderator]

The 1.5 number was from back in the days where 356Mg was alot of RAM...
Once over 1G of RAM it becomes a misnomer.