Windows 8.1 Fresh Install Hard Drive Space

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by kiteboy, Oct 27, 2013.

  1. kiteboy

    kiteboy MDL Novice

    Aug 19, 2012
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    #1 kiteboy, Oct 27, 2013
    Hi all

    Just trying to install 2 laptops with Windows 8.1 64bit

    Just querying - on one laptop with an SSD a very basic nothing else installed takes up 28GB!!!!

    On the other laptop its about 18GB

    Im not sure if windows 8 was the same but does anybody know what this is about??

    Cant believe 28gb.......this was done with an integrated 8.1 installation disc available on here
     
  2. OldMX

    OldMX MDL Senior Member

    Jul 30, 2009
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    #2 OldMX, Oct 27, 2013
    Pagefile and hybernation file size depends of the ammount of ram installed, how much ram are we talking about on each computer?
     
  3. Helmutcheese

    Helmutcheese MDL Member

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #3 Helmutcheese, Oct 27, 2013
    With 16GB Windows will assign about just under 12GB to the pagefile at auto setting and reducing this will make little difference unless you disable the hibernation file which is also used for the fast boot option.

    On a 64GB SSD you are going to loose a large % due to both the above, some reviews claims these fast boot files take up less space than the older hibernation files but they both assign the same space which is about 12GB on my system.

    I set the pagefile to 2GB and disabled hibernate (means I cannot use fast boot).

    Also check the system restore size ands recycle bin sizes.
     
  4. kiteboy

    kiteboy MDL Novice

    Aug 19, 2012
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    #4 kiteboy, Oct 27, 2013
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2013
    (OP)
    Right cool so its pretty much normal behaviour then - on my new latop I got 16gb ram in it
    On the other one theres 6gb

    System restore is disabled on both machine too - use acronis for backups

    Is it recommend to change the pagefile and disable hibernate ........cant remember what their used for so will google a bit?
     
  5. f33nix

    f33nix MDL Member

    Apr 4, 2012
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    #5 f33nix, Oct 27, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 20, 2017
    Yes the amount of RAM has allowed Windows to calculate a huge swapfile and hibernation file as Mr helmutcheese/oldmx tells you.
    Pagefile size depends on what programs you are going to run... no one can say 1GB, 2GB etc... other than a rule of thumb offering.

    I also set mine to 2GB on 16GB of RAM machine but I rarely use what I have... just when I play with Virtual Machines I like to have it all in RAM.
    So try 2GB and see how you get on.

    Pagefile dumps some of your RAM out to the hard drive so it can free up RAM and allow you to load more programs.
    Hibernation file is for when you power off your machine with suspend to disk.
    With hibernation on you can put your laptop to a deep zero power sleep where the RAM contents are saved into the hard drive, then when you power on your machine it will read this file and you carry on where you left off.
    Otherwise if you close the lid on your laptop then you get suspend to RAM (if configured this way) and it will use low power... and if laptop batteries die then you will loose your work.

    I disable hibernation files on laptops unless needed.
    Using admin command prompt, type in: - (no need for CAPS just written for clarity)
    Code:
    POWERCFG -H OFF