15GB to install

[new]

I noticed that a clean installation of windows 7 64 bit uses 15gb of hard drive is this usual. If so I feel sorry for people with small hard drives who hope to upgrade from XP.

 

[win7clutz]

Yep, that's probably 'bout right... Hello new hard drive!

 

[logicearth]

System Restore can easily eat away at the space. But the base of Windows 7 is under 8 GB, however, it takes 16 GB to install because first the image from the DVD is copied to the HDD then expanded. The copy is residing on the HDD while it is being expanded into place. In theory two copies, means double the space. Remove all of the extra stuff like System Restore and other expanding data like pagefiles and hibernation, under 8 GB.

But you know...good 1 TB HDDs are under $100 these days and they continue to fall in price.

 

[seanlivo]

good 1 TB HDDs are under $100 these days and they continue to fall in price.

Lack of storage should be a thing of the past..

 

[MacGyvr]

I noticed that a clean installation of windows 7 64 bit uses 15gb of hard drive is this usual. If so I feel sorry for people with small hard drives who hope to upgrade from XP.

Honestly, if 15GB is a pinch, they probably shouldn't be installing 7. They should be getting a new computer.

 

[new]

I noticed that a clean installation of windows 7 64 bit uses 15gb of hard drive is this usual. If so I feel sorry for people with small hard drives who hope to upgrade from XP.

Honestly, if 15GB is a pinch, they probably shouldn't be installing 7. They should be getting a new computer.

Of course I agree, however I have lots of pensioners living close who are using computer bought several years ago when Hard Drives of 10 or 20gb were the norm. Some of these pensioners are still even using Windows 98SE. To be fair most only use the computer to access the internet or send a few e-mails. To try to persuade them to buy new computers would be difficult, but they see adverts for Windows 7 and think they can simply upgrade.

 

[jimbo45]

I noticed that a clean installation of windows 7 64 bit uses 15gb of hard drive is this usual. If so I feel sorry for people with small hard drives who hope to upgrade from XP.

Hi there
probably a non issue -- even laptops from a few years ago have around 100GB hard drives -- and with cheap HDD's available this isn't really an issue for most people I would have thought.

Computers only having 20GB HDD's are actually quite old and most probably were made when Windows 98 was common. - Pensioners aren't always as un-savvy and lacking in Funds as one might think --not to say that there are of course others for which price is a very serious consideration.

In the main however this isn't an issue -- if your computer only has a 20GB HDD it probably won't have more than 512 KB RAM -- I'd recommend in this case the machine be left as it is. Paying 140 USD or so for a "Windows 7 Upgrade" to use on this type of machine doesn't make much sense when for around 250 - 300 USD you could get a cheap NEW machine with W7 already installed.

Incidentally if you visit your local TIP you could pick up a decent serviceable deskop for ZILCH.

I'm running 2 W2K3 Servers on 2 Machines I "Liberated" from a Tip in South London UK when I was visiting a large Client in Croydon S. London for a few days.

(Well with Copenhagen talks on - I can do my own piece of "Re-cycling too").

Works fine. Pic enclosed. - But then I'm a cheapskate --have to be now as our Banks have NO MONEY LEFT.

BTW it's not actually that difficult to replace a HDD on a laptop -- or at least most laptops. In the rare case where it's hard you'll see at a stroke whether it's do-able or not.

On Desktops usually no prob whatsoever to change / add a new one.

HDD's are REALLY CHEAP - even 2.5 inch 320GB / 500 GB laptop one's (SATA).

Enc of where I "Liberated" 2 Desktops from.

Cheers
jimbo.

 

[Barman58]

I noticed that a clean installation of windows 7 64 bit uses 15gb of hard drive is this usual. If so I feel sorry for people with small hard drives who hope to upgrade from XP.

Honestly, if 15GB is a pinch, they probably shouldn't be installing 7. They should be getting a new computer.

Of course I agree, however I have lots of pensioners living close who are using computer bought several years ago when Hard Drives of 10 or 20gb were the norm. Some of these pensioners are still even using Windows 98SE. To be fair most only use the computer to access the internet or send a few e-mails. To try to persuade them to buy new computers would be difficult, but they see adverts for Windows 7 and think they can simply upgrade.

For what your "clients" are looking to do there are a number of schemes getting of the ground presently that should allow pensioners to get on line for web and email for free or very low cost - check with your local council or other support agencies to see if and when these schemes will apply to your area