If I wipe my drive, will I have to buy a new copy of windows 7?

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smatdude13

smatdude13

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Aug 12, 2013
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So I have a SSD in my custom built PC with a extra Hard drive. my SSDis filled to the brim with useless programs that are gonna be a pain to remove, so I was wondering, if I wipe my SSD, will I have to buy a new copy of windows 7? and could I just move the windows files over to a external hard drive for a bit then move the files off the external hardrive back onto the wiped SSD?
Thanks.
 
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The_IT_Guy
Yes, Windows has them as hidden since they are supposed to be helpful system files.

1- The 'hiberfil.sys' is a hibernation file and i usually don't recommend it when space is running low. Here is how to remove it: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/15140/what-is-hiberfil.sys-and-how-do-i-delete-it/

2- The 'pagefile.sys' is space set aside to use when your system is system is running low on available RAM. With most systems have lots of RAM now days this isn't needed like it once was. Don't disable it. We can shrink the size, or move it to another drive that has space. Let me find a tutorial how to easily do this: http://www.howtogeek.com/126430/htg-explains-what-is-the-windows-page-file-and-should-you-disable-it/

Those two things...
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bryonhowley

bryonhowley

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Oct 24, 2011
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No if you are just wiping and re-installing the OS you do not need to buy a new copy of Windows. Just use the install media and choose custom install. Then from there format the drive and install. Use the key that came with Windows. As far as moving the Windows files off of the SSD the only things you can really use is the personal files and documents such as txt music movies and such but not the Windows folder or it's support folders such as Program Fines.
 
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K

Koodoo

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Dec 19, 2013
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Why dont you go in your SSD and manually drag all your files into your HDD, it would be very simple. There are also a ton of programs that delete everything in a harddrive but your OS. Ex.: ATF Cleaner or CCleaner.
Good luck!
 
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The_IT_Guy

The_IT_Guy

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May 29, 2013
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smatdude13

smatdude13

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Aug 12, 2013
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Thanks! I used the program to look around, but I found that 2 files, pagefile.sys, and hiberfil.sys are taking up a little over 50gb of space(I only have 108gb in SSD storage in total)
What are these 2 items and why are they so big? I cant find them in the drive, but thats probally because windows has them set to hidden.
 
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The_IT_Guy

The_IT_Guy

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May 29, 2013
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Yes, Windows has them as hidden since they are supposed to be helpful system files.

1- The 'hiberfil.sys' is a hibernation file and i usually don't recommend it when space is running low. Here is how to remove it: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/15140/what-is-hiberfil.sys-and-how-do-i-delete-it/

2- The 'pagefile.sys' is space set aside to use when your system is system is running low on available RAM. With most systems have lots of RAM now days this isn't needed like it once was. Don't disable it. We can shrink the size, or move it to another drive that has space. Let me find a tutorial how to easily do this: http://www.howtogeek.com/126430/htg-explains-what-is-the-windows-page-file-and-should-you-disable-it/

Those two things should set your system right.
 
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