install 64gb ssd as boot, present OS on 500gb

You really need to clear everything you can from C: down to just the Windows installation, you could then image the C: drive with Macriuam Reflect and restore the image to the new SSD. As it stands there's no way of doing what you want.

Some imaging/cloning applications (possibly paid versions) will allegedly allow you to control what folders you want to image/clone. If it works, this would allow you to clone/image without shrinking C first.

I can't name the apps because I have never needed that functionality, but it's at least one of the major players---Macrium, Acronis, Aomei, Paragon, etc.

Nor can I say whether or not it works worth a damn.

Even if it "works", it may be more trouble and take more time than it's worth.

If memory serves (and it may not) this capability is when cloning, not imaging.

I'd think you could find the apps that say they can do this with an hour or so of Google research of various product pages on the web sites of the major players.

Windows alone takes up maybe 20 GB.

I've never used more than 40 GB for C and dozens of applications, so 64 GB is tolerable if you are reasonably careful and don't have hundreds of applications or major gaming installations.

If I were going to do a clean install to an SSD, I would NOT use multiple partitions.

Even if you had a huge SSD, it rarely makes sense to put the OS and programs on different partitions.

Particularly if you have a relatively small SSD, like you do. Splitting stuff into partitions can be a problem because you can't accurately know beforehand how quickly each partition will fill up. So you end up with Partition 1 full and Partition 2 with a bunch of free space that you can't use because it's on Partition 2 rather than Partition 1.

With a single partition, you make the most efficient use of the 64 GB.

You could make your C partition BEFORE installing Windows, rather than have Windows make it DURING the installation. That would allow you to have just C, with no System Reserved. If you wanted to later image or clone your Windows installation, you'd only have to worry about C because System Reserved does not exist. The only shortcoming of this is that you give up Bitlocker capability, which few people use.

gabrielsmit said:

hi ignatzatsonic, how would i tell win7 during install not to make the system reserved?

Disconnect all hard drives other than the drive that will receive Windows.

Disconnect any external devices. All you need are monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Boot from the Windows 7 installation disc.

Hit Shift F10 at the first screen where you are asked to choose a language.

A command prompt will appear. Type diskpart at that prompt.

Type in the following commands one by one, followed by the Enter key to create a partition (text in parentheses are comments only):

list disk (to show the ID number of the hard disk to partition, normally Disk 0)

select disk 0 (change 0 to another number if applicable)

clean (this wipes the drive of anything on it; not needed on a brand new drive)

create partition primary (this will create one primary partition covering the entire drive)

select partition 1 (this selects the partition you just made)

active (this marks that partition active)

format fs=ntfs quick (this formats that partition)

exit (this quits the diskpart program)

exit (this closes the command prompt window)

Continue Windows 7 installation as usual. Remember to highlight and select the partition just created when you come to the partition screen asking you "where do you want to install Windows?”.

gabrielsmit said:

here goes...

OK; put a knife in your teeth and open a bottle of Scotch.