Where do i find the installation folder of windows?

[popflop]

Hello, im quite new to this forum and i recently got an SSD therefore i wont to migrate my windows to it, I have a program which does this for me but when i go into my c: the "Windows" Folder is 37.7GB. But after looking on the web i noticed that most users installation size is around 10-15GBs

Note: Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit.

Thanks to anyone that can answers where the installation location is.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

My complete C partition (no personal data) is 30 gigs.

It was about 18 or 20 with before I began to install applications.

My Windows directory is 16 gigs.

Not sure what the problem is unless you have a 30 gig SSD. Most of Windows does go in that Windows directory, but there are always a few other folders following an install.

You could run WinDirStat to see what is taking up the space if you are curious.

 

[popflop]

There is no problem as my ssd is a 64gb. But i thought windows took up way less space than 37.7gigs

 

[ignatzatsonic]

There is no problem as my ssd is a 64gb. But i thought windows took up way less space than 37.7gigs

That does sound largish. I'd run WinDirStat and see if there are any particularly large files on C.

Have you done a disk cleanup with CCleaner or Windows itself--although I seriously doubt it would find enough to explain the situation?

Have you checked how much space is allotted to System Restore or your page file?

How much RAM do you have? Your hibernation file is about the same size as your RAM.

 

[popflop]

16gigs sounds fair.

If im correct the Windows is the folder you put on your SSD to improve the boot-up speed?

I have 6GB of RAM.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

16gigs sounds fair.

If im correct the Windows is the folder you put on your SSD to improve the boot-up speed?

???

You install Windows on an SSD to improve boot speed. You DON"T simply move the Windows folder to the SSD. You need to reinstall.

WinDirStat shows you have over 12 gigs of temp files. Run CCleaner or something like that and get rid of them.

You have 187 gigs of program files, so you obviously have a lot of applications and a sizable installation in general. You have 17 gigs of DLL files---I have 11 gigs of them.

I'd do a general cleanup and investigate the top 6 or 8 file extensions shown on the right side of WinDirStat. Maybe you need all of that stuff and maybe you don't.

But you certainly should dump all those temp files.

You can also get rid of the hibernation file and save 6 gigs if you don't use hibernation.

 

[popflop]

There is no problem as my ssd is a 64gb. But i thought windows took up way less space than 37.7gigs

Have you done a disk cleanup with CCleaner or Windows itself--although I seriously doubt it would find enough to explain the situation?

I ran CCleaner which decreased the size of my Windows folder by 10Gigs by removing the Temp files. Now its 26.7GB still too large?

 

[popflop]

Yes i know i just dont move the folder over to my SSD. Im migrating my OS using a program which doesnt require a clean install.

Thanks for the suggestion of removing the hibernation file.. this would mean my windows folder will be around 20gbs which sounds quite reasonable..

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Sounds pretty good given that you have a big installation in general.

But you could check how much space is devoted to System Restore and page file.

Turning off hibernation would save you 6 gigs.

The command is:

powercfg –h off

 

[Corazon]

I just want to make sure that you have the right idea about moving your Windows system to the SSD - it's not a matter of simply moving a folder over, Windows or otherwise.

What you want is a cloning program that runs outside Windows (meaning you'll need to boot it from a CD or USB stick) and which copies your entire system including all programs and all of your personal data and settings to the SSD.

This is your goal, right?

EDIT: I had this thread open too long and other posts came in before mine. Anyway, you'll have to move your entire system to the SSD. Given the fact that this won't be possible because you're using 380 GB on your harddisk, you may have to install Windows completely from scratch on the SSD and then reinstall all your applications and games to the harddisk.

 

[popflop]

Im using Paragon Migrate. But i was told that the only folder i have to move was the Windows folder. And change the boot order of the drives so the SSD is first.

 

[Corazon]

Who told you that? I'm sorry to say that's complete nonsense.

 

[popflop]

I just want to make sure that you have the right idea about moving your Windows system to the SSD - it's not a matter of simply moving a folder over, Windows or otherwise.

What you want is a cloning program that runs outside Windows (meaning you'll need to boot it from a CD or USB stick) and which copies your entire system including all programs and all of your personal data and settings to the SSD.

This is your goal, right?

EDIT: I had this thread open too long and other posts came in before mine. Anyway, you'll have to move your entire system to the SSD. Given the fact that this won't be possible because you're using 380 GB on your harddisk, you may have to install Windows completely from scratch on the SSD and then reinstall all your applications and games to the harddisk.

So it seems like ill just have to do a complete reinstall onto my SSD.
but the questions is: My system is overclocked and if i do a complete windows reinstall onto my SSD will i lose the overclock settings or will they stay saved in the BIOS?

 

[gregrocker]

I would try the install without the overclocking as you may not need it with the SSD, and it isn't recommended anyway. Wait and see what changes with the new SSD.

You actually chose the best-regarded method short of clean reinstall. Read:

SSD - Install and transfer the Operating System
Paragon Migrate OS to SSD - System migration to Solid State Drives (SSD) - Overview
SSD Tweaks and Optimizations in Windows 7

 

[theog]

Do you really need 187gb of programs?