Is there a way to make Vista take less disk space?

[Navid]

The reason I'd like to do this is to make imaging of the partition easier and more manageable.

I have already moved the pagefile to another physical drive, moved all my folders (music, pictures ...) to another partition, disabled hibernation and system restore (I will enable the ones I need after I restore the image). But, Vista is still taking 5.4GB.

Are there folders that I can safely delete? I don't care if I have to put the Vista DVD back in if some day I want to install a new hardware.

I searched and did not find this topic discussed. If I missed, please point me to the thread.

Thanks!

 

[bsobel]

Upgrade or clean install? If upgrade run the disk clenaup wizard and delete the old OS files it saves (was about a gig for me)

 

[Navid]

This is a clean install (not upgrade) of Vista Business in a 20GB partition.
I ran disk cleanup and the only folders it has identified to empty contain a total of about 200kB.

 

[Navid]

This may be what I was looking for.
http://www.vlite.net/

I am checking it out.

 

[oldman420]

tried it out the smallest i could get is 1.5 gigs still not bad

 

[Navid]

vLite allowed me to reduce the size to less than 3GB for the 32-bit version of Vista, which is good.

Now, I am trying the 64-bit version.
Using vLite, and removing the same things I removed from the 32-bit version (drivers, speach, languages, etc.), it reduces the size to about 4.5GB!

Is it expected that the 64-bit version of Vista would occupy more disk space than the 32-bit version?

 

[InlineFive]

I guess I really don't understand why this is that much of a big deal. Hard disk prices per gigabyte are very low right now and backing up an additional gig of information is only going to take a few minutes.

Not to mention that either way you would still have to use at least DL DVD media so it's a moot attempt, IMHO.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: InlineFive
I guess I really don't understand why this is that much of a big deal. Hard disk prices per gigabyte are very low right now and backing up an additional gig of information is only going to take a few minutes.

Not to mention that either way you would still have to use at least DL DVD media so it's a moot attempt, IMHO.

I create and restore images a lot. It is just a matter of preference to have smaller images.

Even if the difference in size may not matter to some, I am still interested to learn if the 64-bit version is expected to take more space than the 32-bit version and why.

 

[nerp]

I've heard some bad things about vlite. Weird, random errors, etc.

 

[Nothinman]

Is it expected that the 64-bit version of Vista would occupy more disk space than the 32-bit version?

Yes, 64-bit binaries are typically larger than 32-bit versions of the same code.

 

[d4mo]

Uninstall Vista and install something like...say Linux

 

[SimMike2]

Get bigger hard drives and stop worrying about it. I think you are fighting a losing battle if you want to keep your image backups small.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Is it expected that the 64-bit version of Vista would occupy more disk space than the 32-bit version?

Yes, 64-bit binaries are typically larger than 32-bit versions of the same code.

Thanks!

 

[pcslookout]

Don't do it because the problems it cause are not worth the exact disk space. You will run into unforeseeable problems.

 

[AllGamer]

minimum package size after installation vista ultimate takes 6 Gb disk space, there's nothing to remove, unless you want to junk out all the sounds, themes, colors, wall papers, screen savers, animated desktops, etc, etc...

which essentially makes AERO pointless if you are going to remove all that stuff

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: AllGamer
minimum package size after installation vista ultimate takes 6 Gb disk space, there's nothing to remove, unless you want to junk out all the sounds, themes, colors, wall papers, screen savers, animated desktops, etc, etc...

which essentially makes AERO pointless if you are going to remove all that stuff

I can remove languages, since I personally only need the OS in one language.
I can remove all the drivers. I download the ones I need from the manufacturer's web site anyway.
I can remove the speech capability, which I personally never use.
I disable hibernation on my PC. I move the pagefile to a secondary hard drive.

That allows me to reduce the size of my 32-bit version to 3G, none of which has anything to do with Aero.

 

[AllGamer]

i do multi language, and speech

i never enable hibernation, if hibernation was included then the default Vista install will take 6GB+RAM size (in HDD ) so potentially making it 7 GB to 10 GB in average.

as for drivers..... it's safer to have them there in case of roll backs and Troubleshooting.

but if you want total raw Vista, then yeah, all that stuff can be removed.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Penny-wise, pound foolish?

 

[AllGamer]

with the super cheap prices for HDD now in days, it is indeed a bit foolish to go to such drastic measures to save space.

so why bother? unless you are trying to make a USB keychain Vista bootable OS, so you can hack any computer you access

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: AllGamer
with the super cheap prices for HDD now in days, it is indeed a bit foolish to go to such drastic measures to save space.

so why bother? unless you are trying to make a USB keychain Vista bootable OS, so you can hack any computer you access

Foolish is to pass judgment without having all the facts.