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If you need more than 60GB, I’d recommend going for a 256GB SSD, for reasons that will be explained in the next section. … Of course, it is better to have 256GB than 128GB, and larger SSDs perform better. But you don’t actually need 256GB to run “most modern computer programs”.

The Windows.old folder contains your old system settings, in case anything goes wrong with the new version. But the Windows.old folder can sit on your hard drive for days, taking up valuable space before it finally self-destructs. At one point, for various reasons, I ended up with three Windows.old files, taking up a huge amount of space. The drastic increase in size relates to an alteration to the Windows 10 update process. Previously, an update would have to wait until there was enough space on the host device to download and install. However, the Windows 10 May 1903 update permanently reserves 7GB of disk space to ensure future updates can complete without fault.
Is 32 GB of RAM overkill?
As for video editors, programmers, creative individuals as well as serious gamers, it is better to opt for an external HDD or have additional storage of at least 500 GB on your computer. The Windows 11/10 operating system generally takes 20 GB of free storage for a 64-bit operating system during installation. Further down the line, Windows saves 7 GB of free storage for future updates so that you can enjoy a seamless Windows 11/10 experience without the prompt to clear your disk. You’ll need an SSD with a storage capacity of at least 500GB. Games take up more and more storage space over time. On top of that, updates like patches also take up extra space.
On your C drive you will see two partitions with drive letters; one is labelled System Reserved and another one with normally no label visible . So if you require more than 20GB storage then we recommend upgrading to a larger hard drive. If you would like more information on how much space does windows 10 take up please contact us below. The storage space required on your Windows 11/10 is a highly debatable concept. It depends upon the tasks you want to complete with your system.
Related Windows 10 Install Size FAQs
A 1TB hard drive stores eight times as much as a 128GB SSD, and four times as much as a 256GB SSD. … The advantage is that you can access your online files from other devices including desktop PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones. If you use an SSD to improve computer system performance, then I have to say that you install all applications on the SSD drive. It works with chips that do not contain rotatable heads—secure, high-performance speed. Install all applications on SSD and save all data files to the hard drive. To install Windows 10 your system needs to meet the minimum system requirements.
To know more information, refer to this post - Microsoft Reserves 7GB of Disk Space for Windows 10 Updates. I would advise Windows 10 installation reduction beginners to stick with the WinReducer presets under the first tab. Also, please note that you need a Windows 10 ISO to begin stripping files from. Without it, you won't be able to use WinReducer.
How much space does Windows 10 take up?
By shrunkening or dividing disks, users are able to optimize disk storage. The majority of this space is occupied by reserved and system files, while around 1 GB is devoted to games and programs by default. Hibernation support files (hiberfil.sys) and virtual memory also utilize disk space.
That is, the more RAM is, the more hiberfil.sys files are and the more disk space taken by these files is. Before you do, it makes sense to look at the minimum amount of storage it requires, particularly if the hard drive doesn’t have much capacity . Unless there is sufficient disk space on your computer disk, many storage issues may occur frequently when having a Windows operating system that doesn’t have much free disk space left. When Microsoft releases a major update, Windows 10 creates a Windows.old folder.
You’ll need a monitor or a laptop display that supports High Dynamic Range, and games that run on DirectX 11 or higher. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Now, let’s cut to the chase and see what Windows 10 install size is. MiniTool reseller program is aimed at businesses or individual that want to directly sell MiniTool products to their customers. MiniTool ShadowMaker helps to back up system and files before the disaster occurs. MiniTool ShadowMakerBackup and Restore data with ease.
An average PC game takes up about 40GB to 50GB. It can work, but it spends a lot of time massaging the space. SSDs require 1520% free space, so with a 128GB drive, you can only actually use 85GB.
Furthermore, although reducing the size of Windows 10 sounds like fun, you shouldn't replace your existing Windows 10 installation with it immediately. Take it for a test drive in a virtual machine or separate hardware if available to ensure your changes are stable. That said, it does come down to user preference.

Then you will be left with about 15 GB of free space, which is still more than enough to have a couple of games and a few other apps installed. Windows 10 should start up much faster now that there are less things running in the background. The installation process itself also takes significantly less time than it would with a bunch of programs still installed on your PC. Many people are planning to upgrade their Windows 7 laptops and desktops to the latest version of Microsoft‘s OS, Windows 10.
You might find after installation that something you thought was innocuous is vital to a tool you want to run. WinReducer EX-100 does come with a heap of handy tooltips and an information panel to give you an overview. But if you're unsure, search the web to figure out if removing a tool will break Windows 10 down the line.