Elliot B. Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I am interested in finding out: How large Window's OSs files are before install (e.g. Windows 95 is 19 MB) How much space it took after install General hard drive space requirements After some brief research (Wikipedia!), I believe: Windows 3.1 - installed size between 10?15MB. Windows 95 was 19 MB and needed 50?55 MB of hard drive space depending on features selected. Windows 98 needed at least 500 MB of hard drive space depending on features selected. Windows XP needed 1.5 GB or higher of hard drive space depending on features selected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason S. Global Moderator Posted February 28, 2012 Global Moderator Share Posted February 28, 2012 and suddenly Vista and 7 use like 15GB in a default install :laugh: Muhammad Farrukh and remixedcat 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Japlabot Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 If I recall correctly, I could get Windows 98 down to less than 100MB without any impact to compatibility just by deleting files that were not necessary (eg: help files). It made Windows 98 (Windows 98SE of course) really fly :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firey Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 and suddenly Vista and 7 use like 15GB in a default install :laugh: I read that was due to the inclusion of as many drivers as possible to ensure 90% of computers were up and running from a base install without the need to hunt for drivers. Sadelwo and -Alex- 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo1911 Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Would like to see a comparison between Vista and Windows 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiddingguy Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Those were the days. Even now GPU-drivers are over 100 MB... remixedcat 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkey13 Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 What I never understood is if it is all drivers why they install all of them. You only need the drivers for the hardware at first install to get it running. Why not only copy those across? Would making the installer that bit smarter have been that much work? Also when you add a new piece of kit who uses the default windows drivers? Half the time there isn't any proper ones if it came out recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neo1911 Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 What I never understood is if it is all drivers why they install all of them. You only need the drivers for the hardware at first install to get it running. Why not only copy those across? Would making the installer that bit smarter have been that much work? Also when you add a new piece of kit who uses the default windows drivers? Half the time there isn't any proper ones if it came out recently. All the drivers are copied over so that if you happen to replace that AMD Radeon graphics card with shiny New Nvidia, your PC won't show the colorful rainbow on screen or even worse, refuse to load windows. Or demand you to insert your Windows CD which you may have happily donated to some charity. -Alex- 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yusuf M. Veteran Posted February 28, 2012 Veteran Share Posted February 28, 2012 The minimum disk space requirements should be a good indication of how much space it takes up. Would like to see a comparison between Vista and Windows 7. I think the requirements are the same except for the disk space requirement which is slightly less, if I remember correctly. Those were the days. Even now GPU-drivers are over 100 MB... And hard drives are over 3 TB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cybertimber2008 Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 And hard drives are over 3 TB.Can't boot a 3TB drive though ;) ...at least without GPT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remixedcat Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 The minimum disk space requirements should be a good indication of how much space it takes up. I think the requirements are the same except for the disk space requirement which is slightly less, if I remember correctly. And hard drives are over 3 TB. and 200 bucks.... :-( money I don't have...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c.grz Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 If you want to save space you can use pnputil to clear out the driverstore in Windows 7 to bring the size down but it's a bit of a pain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Can't boot a 3TB drive though ;) ...at least without GPT Good thing Apple has been shipping computers that can boot >2TB drives since 2006 :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firey Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Good thing Apple has been shipping computers that can boot >2TB drives since 2006 :rolleyes: I don't know anyone with a >2tb hard drive, unless it's a raid setup but even then they have multiple 1tb or multiple 1.5tb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPressland Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I don't know anyone with a >2tb hard drive, unless it's a raid setup but even then they have multiple 1tb or multiple 1.5tb You do now, Me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firey Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 You do now, Me. You took my "Knowing someone with a >2TB Harddrive virginity", how do you feel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zhangm Supervisor Posted February 28, 2012 Supervisor Share Posted February 28, 2012 What I never understood is if it is all drivers why they install all of them. You only need the drivers for the hardware at first install to get it running. Why not only copy those across? Would making the installer that bit smarter have been that much work? Also when you add a new piece of kit who uses the default windows drivers? Half the time there isn't any proper ones if it came out recently. I don't think it installs all of them during setup. The new-age installers copy themselves entirely to the drive prior to running the actual setup, which expands the OS and installs the drivers for all devices that are detected at that time. It seems that running the setup off the home drive rather than the installation media significantly speeds up the installation process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArialBlue Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Those were the days. Even now GPU-drivers are over 100 MB... This ****es me off so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threetonesun Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I don't see the issue with drivers taking up space. It's pretty amazing how much you can plug into a Windows computer and expect to have it run right away without any setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudy Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I don't see the issue with drivers taking up space. It's pretty amazing how much you can plug into a Windows computer and expect to have it run right away without any setup. Personally I would rather if the computer would just go directly online and find the latest and greatest driver and download it right away. Mind you that would mean that Ethernet and Wireless drivers still have to be included ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPressland Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 You took my "Knowing someone with a >2TB Harddrive virginity", how do you feel? Like a boss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulsiphon Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Windows 3.1 took a bit(s) more than what Wikipedia says...it ran on top of DOS :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinggus Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I ended up using nlite to make my installs smaller and more customizable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threetonesun Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Personally I would rather if the computer would just go directly online and find the latest and greatest driver and download it right away. Mind you that would mean that Ethernet and Wireless drivers still have to be included ;) Really? Have you ever searched for drivers online? Most hardware manufacturers have god-awful sites, if they're even in English. I'd rather not have a hardware install rely on my internet connection, a server in China, and a valid link between the two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomoko Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Really? Have you ever searched for drivers online? Most hardware manufacturers have god-awful sites, if they're even in English. I'd rather not have a hardware install rely on my internet connection, a server in China, and a valid link between the two. What kind of cheap hardware are you buying. :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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