Windows 7: Install 64bit HomeP on SSD

I'm planning to re-install window's home premium on my desktop. I want to replace the HDD that the OS is currently installed on with a SSD. My plan is to have the SSD hold the OS and maybe 1 or 2 key programs and then add a large HDD for all documents, pictures, videos, etc.



My question is, how big of a SSD is recommended for my plan to succeed? That is, how much space does the OS need initially and, as updates for the system come in, how much space should be available for the future?

Hi Eduede,

I have a 60GB OCZ Vertex 2 and it holds the following:

Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (plus very latest updates)
MSOffice Professional (everything)
Several other applications incl. anti-malware and virtualisation software

and I still have 22GB free. What make and size of SSD were you considering?

Regards,
Golden

If you go for a 50 GB one, it would be enough according to your plan .

EDIT : Golde posted it much faster

Thanks! I was looking at anywhere from 60-128GB. I really didn't know, though. As for make of SSD, I'm not sure who to go with. I was thinking that reliable RAM manufacturers might be a good bet: Corsair, Crucial, Kingston or Samsung. How are you liking OCZ? I'm seeing great prices on OCZ SSDs on Pricewatch at the moment.

Hi,

I'm no expert, but Intel, Crucial and Samsung are by far the most popular here and recommended by our hardware experts - I only got the OCZ because I didn't know better, but it has been very reliable for me. I'm getting the 128GB Samsung H830 around Christmas if all goes well.

http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/m.../MZ-7PC128N/AM

Regards,
Golden

Here's a side question: when I go to install the OS on the new drive using the same product Key, how will MS know to allow the install? I'm obviously going to wiping the drive that currently has the OS on it but how does MS know that?

Follow these steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

I would buy a large enough SSD to install all of your programs and contain your paging and hibernation file.

Back up your User folders by dragging them to a special data partition on the HD, then after install rightclick on each to add it to the related Windows 7 Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums or create your own. This is the easiest way to link data to Windows 7.

If SSD fills up edit your Programs or uninstall and reinstall the least used ones to HD data partition.

The correct way to uninstall Windows 7 is to delete its partition in Disk Mgmt after marking it Inactive: Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums. Even cleaner method is to wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command if you can move your data off to do so.

I think it works like this: The Windows Activation servers will see if any computers are online with the product key that you have and since yours will be wiped withpout Windows, it won't seee the old Windows 7 installation and it will allow your product key to be used in a new installation.

If there is a previous activation of the Product Key then you will be prompted to use phone activation, which will ask how many computers this copy of Windows 7 is installed upon. The only answer for this is one. It will then take this as authorization to change to the new hardware signature for that Key.

When Windows 7 connects to the internet it periodically queries MS activations servers to see that it is installed on the same hardware signature. So the next time the overwritten install connects to the net it would be deactivated.

I believe the old hardware signature remains in MS Activation servers until it is overwritten thusly.

Windows 7 per se takes maybe 20 GB with SP1 and updates.

I have 50 applications installed--total occupied space of 29 GB on an 80 GB SSD. I have no intention of buying a larger one until I can get at least a 1 TB SSD (for data) very cheaply or until 80 GB proves to be too small for whatever Windows version Microsoft may offer down the road.

Many people operate successfully with SSDs of 60 GB--or even less.

Put all possible apps on the SSD. You may as well take advantage of its speed. Games can go on a spinning drive if necessary.

You can save a lot of SSD space by turning off hibernation and restricting the size devoted to the page file and System Restore.