How much space does each of the 3 versions of Windows 7 take up?

ChorniyVolk

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Sep 1, 2009
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I'm going to be installing on an SSD so I'd like to save as much space as possible. I'll be going with an x64 version.

I was wondering how much each versions takes up, as I can't seem to find a comparison based on the 3 main versions no matter how much I google. I'll probably be going with Professional just to have XP mode in case I need it, but I usually go for the highest/best version of an OS, even if I don't need to, just in case there's some feature I'd like in the future so Ultimate would fit that bill.

I definitely won't need the hibernation file, because if I usually leave me computer on doing some activity, and when there's nothing for it to do then I shut it down.

And I'll have 6GB of RAM, so I'm thinking I can disable the page file no? I mean, I've heard of people reducing it to a small size like 512MB, but at that point why even bother having it? Just so the OS and applications that are set to use it should they need to don't freak out when they see you've disabled it?

So what's the estimates based on the 3 versions excluding hibernation and page files?

Thanks.
 
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JackMDS

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Oct 25, 1999
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Starter without Hibernation file and 512MB pagefile about 9GB.

Regular Ultimate/Enterprise/Pro with No Hibernation File about 15GB.

Home versions in between the above.

Full Working Ultimate workstation with some basic applications (Like office 2007 Pro, Nero, Paint Shop, pdf, IE8, Firefox, basic utilities, No big games) about 20GB.

Adding a basic installation of XP Mode (Virtual XP Computer) + 3GB.
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ChorniyVolk

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Sep 1, 2009
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All of this you've gotten through your own testing?

Hmm, interesting, thanks.

Assuming I'm just talking about the OS, then even Ultimate tops out at 15GB? So Pro and Ultimate are roughly the same size?

The "Full Working Ultimate workstation" is just your estimate with common apps right, nothing different from the 15GB OS stat you gave?

And what did you do about page file with them, is it still 512MB like with Starter?
 

ChorniyVolk

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Sep 1, 2009
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Hmm, well then I suppose it comes down to saving a couple GB by going with Home, or skipping straight ahead to Ultimate for all the features.

So what about the pagefile then? 512MB for all of them?
 

ChorniyVolk

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Sep 1, 2009
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Er, that's for Windows Vista...

Anyway, I stuck Ultimate on, and with the hibernation file gone and the pagefile reduced to 512MB, it was actually quite a bit lower than 15GB, more like ~12GB, if not less.