Losing disk space after each fresh windows install!

[Seijun]

Hey guys,
I like to wipe my HDD and run a clean OS install every once in a while after my computer has had a few months use. Its a 250 GB hard drive, with 233 GB reserved for the OS and related files. I ended up having to reinstall Windows 7 twice yesterday (wiping the hard drive twice) but noticed that after the second reinstall, W7 had used up more of my HDD than it had on the first install. After the first install, I had 197 GB left (after deleting windows.old). On the second time, I only had 191 GB left (again after deleting windows.old). So out of morbid curiousity I redid the install twice more, getting 188 GB remaining, and then 186 GB remaining. Why is W7 taking up more and more HDD space after each new install? Shouldn't it take up the same amount of space each time? Or are there a bunch of old windows files piling up somewhere that I dont know about?

 

[Uber Philf]

I doubt it, but possibly do a fresh install, as in full formatting the HDD, so your NOT left with the windows.old folder.

 

[Jacee]

Seijun, I just posted this http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/34585-windirstat.html

Take a look at where everything is on your Disk

 

[Seijun]

@ Philf: That is something I have never done before, is there a recomended method to it?

Also, is it normal for a computer to lose disk space like this after each new Windows install? I tried googling the problem but couldnt find anything relaated to my issue.

 

[Uber Philf]

Yes have a look here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
another decent program to use TreeSize Free

I've uploaded the file and displayed what the output looks like.

If you do a clean install on a clean partition the size shouldn't change until you start adding applications -- there aren't many initial install options.

Cheeers
jimbo

 

[Seijun]

@ Jacee, I downloaded the program you suggested, but dont know enough about what it is showing me to tell anything usefull.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi Seijun
Try the one I've attached
You can see what the files are and how big they are
save the output to a file,
then if you re-install windows again compare the windows C size with the previous install.

(Separate User data from your OS -- have say a 50 - 60 GB partition for your Windows install partitiion and use the rest of the disk for user data).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[MacGyvr]

Format the flippin drive before you install!

 

[Seijun]

Hey guys, it worked! Now Im back up to 213 GB remaining-yay! The ONLY thing that confused me is that based on the tutotial, I thught I would need to reinstall all my drivers myself, but after checking device manager there was only one thing with a yellow mark next to it (which dissapeared after about 5 seconds) and only a few drivers needed updating, which microsoft update solved. Did I do something wrong or did drivers only need to be reinstalled with W7 beta?

 

[Uber Philf]

When windows update did it, that's technically ok, you've done nothing wrong.

Congratulations, and enjoy Windows 7!

 

[Snufffed]

ITS FREE-IT WORKS-100% guaranteed

Guys there is a very neet FREE program included with ALL VERSIONS OF WINDOWS.

1. CLICK MY COMPUTER
2. LOCATE C:\
3. right click
4. move down to properties
5. click Disk Clean Up
6. click cleanup system files
7. click more options
8. READ - System Restore and Shadow Copies.
9. click cleanup
10. click OK
11. click delete.
All the crud left over and the windows.old is deleted... is that not nice
Windows does this all for you...