Windows 7 - SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

This will show how to remove / over-write all existing data from a Solid State Drive (SSD) or a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), it'll work for both, then how to...

Hello rcanino, welcome to Seven Forums!


1) Do I need to write zeros on a brand new drive? = No just install to the SSD and create the needed partitions with the Windows 7 installer; if you do want the 100MB "System, Reserved" partition, there's really no need to use this tutorial

2) What is the smallest partition I can use for Win 7 Pro 64-bit? = Unless you're going to install most programs/apps to a second Hard Disk Drive (HDD) you need at least 40/50GB, you'll regret it later if you make it smaller.

3) How do I create 3 partitions using DISKPART? = Don't use diskpart, use the Windows 7 installer to create all the partitions, have a look at these snips below to see what I'm referring to.

I would suggest you get a second HDD for a data drive so you don't have to be concerned with space issues on the Solid State Drive (SSD) that way, everything not OS related can be put on the HDD.

I'm running an 80GB SSD (actual size 74GB) and I have the page file set at default, I don't use hibernate so I have that disabled; and I have 30GB free of that 74GB SSD.

Just use caution handling the RAM, I'm sure you're aware that it's very susceptible to static electric charges from your body.


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Hey Kid - Thanks so much for your reply.

I definitely do NOT want a separate 100MB "system" partition.

And yes, I've got plenty of other drives for storage.

I want to use the SSD for my OS, apps and scratch disk - that's it.

So if I don't want that 100MB partition, I think I have to use your "Option 1" don't I?

And you think I should do 50G just for the OS is right? Would you have any idea what happens if I create a partition that's only...25G... and I point the installer at that partition?

Thanks again for your help !

If you do not want the 100MB boot partition, skip Step One (the "clean all") and just do Step Two to create a partition to install Windows 7 to.


You will be sorry in just a short time if you don't create at least a 40GB partition to do the install to, you will run out of space with a 25GB partition.

Okay I'll do 40-40-40 - something like that.

And so I'm doing Method One and skipping the "clean all" part in Step 1.

"you'll be sorry..."

Is that because of the programs I'll install?

What happens when the OS partition gets full? I definitely don't want to max it out - probably slows it down right? And then you have to reinstall - and get rid of programs...?

No - don't want to go through all that. I'm happy to take your advice and go 50G. I have another SSD with a XP on it - eventually I'll format that and install it in the new machine.

Any reason to go bigger than 50GB?

Thanks again! Your advice is very much appreciated!

Why don't you install some of the programs/apps to a second HDD; have a look at these snips from my machine to see what I'm referring to; all I install to the SSD/OS is security prog/app and everything else goes to a spinner to save space on the SSD.

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Nice! Thanks for the peek.

I plan something very similar. My SSD will need to host my Adobe apps and Cinema 4D (and the OS of course) because that's the whole point to buying the SSD for me - to get speedy response in the Creative Suite, especially After Effects. C4D too.

The Adobe products take about 16 - 20G, C4D much less, about 4G and the scratch space - another 35-45 total. I need Quicktime, VLC and a few raw converters that don't use much disk space, a browser and AV - and that's about it for the SSD.

Everything else will go on a 1TB Spinpoint and to external drives. Once I format my other SSD I'll install that too.

So space isn't really a concern - if you see what I mean. I need to allocate the proper amount for Windows and for my core products - but all in all I've got plenty of disk space.

Thanks again BFK! I appreciate it.

Sounds lik 50GB to me!

see yeah - that's where I guess I'm getting confooozed (!)

I thought the apps would be in their separate partition and the OS was approx. 35G - if you go by Microsoft's recommendation - 20 + 15 for XP mode.

But because I'm installing such heavy apps - does that mean the OS partition needs to bigger too?

I hope I explained my confusion - I can do 40G for the OS and 50G for the apps - the remaining for Scratch space. That's my plan now - but the way you say "sounds like 50G to me" it seems like the Apps have a greater impact on the OS size - more than I'm realizing I guess.

Hope that BFK will agree.

Let me see if I got this right, you want to install the OS only on the first partition, from above will be 40GB.
Next partition is 50GB, Adobe apps and Cinema 4D and similar apps, the remainder for scratch.
Other apps on another SSD or HDD.

Is this close to what you're planning?

To get a handle on your reasoning behind this plan, is this so you can re-install/restore image of the OS without having to re-install the apps?
Clean install of the OS will require re-install of the apps but, if you get an image backup of the OS and apps partition after they are both running as you want and do not add anything to either partition, this should work. You can restore the OS partition at a later date if you need to.

Any added apps in any other partition, SSD or HDD, after your OS backup image, will need to be re-installed.

If this is the scenario then the OS partition can be a little smaller due to the fact that you aren't planning on putting any apps in that partition.
As mentioned I wouldn't make it smaller than 35GB.
The OS and apps partition, most of the time these are in the same partition, for your setup would be a total of 85-90GB and is big enough.

Let us know if this is anything close to what you're planning.

Thanks for your reply Dave - between you and Kid I'm rethinking my partition strategy here.

I have 2 reasons for creating a separate partition for the OS (and avoiding that 100MB "system" partition). The first is organization. The 2nd is the one you mentioned, creating an image backup. I need to learn more about that strategy. Meanwhile at least I'll have the option once I get up to speed on its usefulness.

Beyond those 2 reasons I just like the idea of keeping the OS files in one place. Everything is easier for me when things are ordered. I've always partitioned my USB drives much the way Kid has his, probably for similar reasons: organization and ease of use.

The same thinking applies to my program files - when they're all on the same volume they're easier to find, to uninstall, etc.

I'm drawing the line at learning about partition alignment unless I really have to. Honestly I'm not looking to "reinvent the wheel" here; I just want a simple setup that has my major file-types together in one place - OS, Apps, Caches/Temp.

You mentioned putting the OS and the Apps on the same partition. Does that defeat my purpose - or does my purpose need defeating (lol, so to speak)? Like I said I'm rethinking the whole scheme here.

Thanks again for your reply Dave - I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.