Reinstallation on SSD, how much GB needed for clean install?

I have a 256GB SSD; which has 117GB of FREE space available.

It ONLY has my Windows installation on it, and a few other key applications, while the bulk of my other apps and games are on a HDD via Steam Mover.

I now also have, a brand new ASRock Z97 Extreme6 Motherboard, and an Intel Core i5-4690K, and a new computer Case and I'll be using the rest of the parts from my current PC.

Essentially it will be the exact same computer, just with a new motherboard and a new CPU.

I am debating either (Option 1) using this...
Make Windows 7 bootable after motherboard swap

Or (Option 2) partition the SSD and put a fresh clean installation of my Windows on the new partition, then gradually migrate data (ie My Docs, Etc) from the old to the new, and then just reinstall a few essential applications... the only catch being my Steam installation has a number of junctions created to the HDD using Steam Mover; so I'll presume that after reinstalling Steam, I'll probably have to copy the original from the old partition, over onto the new.

Then just gradually change size of the partition as things are moved over, and the old windows is no longer needed... until the SSD is just a single 256GB drive again...

But I am unsure as to whether or not I should attempt option 2 cause well I forgot just how much space a fresh and clean installation of Win 7 Ultimate 64bit will need; and what would I need to do to get it "reactivated" with Microsoft without having to go buy another copy that I can't afford?

I dont have an OEM...

Its a boxed retail copy of Win XP Ultimate 64bit...

Nyarlathotep said:

I dont have an OEM...

Its a boxed retail copy of Win XP Ultimate 64bit...

Are you asking about Win XP or Win 7 ?

I use apx. 42 GB on a Win 7 64 Bit OS installed over 5 years ago.
No gaming, CAD, CAM, PhotoShop, ... etc.
I have over 100 programs installed, my DATA is stored on a spinner as the [D] drive.

Try WinDirStat and/or TreeSize free to see where your space is being used.
https://windirstat.info/
JAM Software - Windows Freeware

MS Win 7 requirements:
Windows 7 system requirements - Windows Help

Min space is 20 GB, I wouldn't use less than 60 GB

Gah!

Sorry, it's Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit!

You can migrate Win7 retail to any other hardware you want for life. Why would you need to buy another copy?

I would try doing the adaptive restore to see how it performs, then if not to your liking you can reinstall.

Ok, I had no idea that the retail version could do that.

How do I try an adaptive restore?

This is what I've got, and I'm presuming its a retail copy...

There is nothing on it that says anything about it being an OEM.... and I've got another copy of Home Edition that IS, an OEM which I bought for another PC... and it actually does state that it is OEM...

But this Ultimate version, is in a plastic box that opens like a book, which in turn is slipped down inside this black cardboard sleeve.

OH!

The Paragon Adaptive Restore!

I'm an idiot! lol

I've been really freaked out about this new PC rebuild, and in fact I was preparing to do the Paragon Adaptive Restore when I missed on on prepping my USB Drive for it... and accidently deleted the volume on my Data Storage HDD...

Accidently deleted/recreated HDD Volume, did NOT format, need recovery

I've pretty much been in a tailspin panic ever since trying to do two things at once... finishing the new PC build, and trying to recover that lost partition... so, my head wasn't thinking right when you suggested trying the adaptive restore first for my Windows installation.

I will try that...

After I figure out what to do about my hdd accident...