Windows 7 Home premum on a 20GB HDD

zink1701 · Feb 22, 2014

Hi, I have an old laptop which had windows vista on but the HDD failed (It started clicking and stalled). I have a 20GB 2.5" drive spare from another broken laptop I can replace the broken HDD with. I was wanting to know if I could install Windows 7 home premium to such a small drive. The specs for win 7 say it needs 18GB (32 bit OS) but I know it will need updates ect.

So will 20GB be to small?

The laptop is only used for watching films upstairs and the odd Google search nothing else.

I am not familiar with any other operating systems other than Windows (95, 98, XP, Vista and 7) so if the drive is to small can anyone recommend an alternative OS that will suite the needs of a glorified movie player if win7 is not suitable.

USAFRet · Feb 22, 2014

Yes, a 20GB drive will be too small. In addition to the OS, you'll need AV, something to play movies, Windows updates, etc, etc, etc.
The base Windows will probably install, but you won't be able to use it for much.

You might try one of the smaller Linux distros, if you are so inclined.

photonboy · Feb 22, 2014

Windows 7 would be the most suitable OS. Windows 8 has backwards compatibility issues so there's no guarantees there.

You'd need to find out if you support 64-bit or not as well (the CPU) or else you'd need Windows 7 32-bit.

However, the cost of a new drive and a new copy of Windows is half-way to a new laptop.

*For fun, install UBUNTU for free on the 20GB HDD. You may need to also install VLC to play video, or look into other software but that may serve you well enough.

mbarnes86 · Feb 22, 2014

Hi

Theoretically win 7 could be installed in 20 GB but you would not have enough room for SP 1 for Win 7 and all the updates which followed

If you can find a cheap 2.5" 80, 120 or 160 GB hard disk that would be OK
No point in using 64 bit version unless you have at least 4 GB of ram in laptop

Regards
Mike Barnes

Memhorder · Feb 22, 2014

Too small. All the updates will overun that. at least at least 40-60

mouse24 · Feb 22, 2014

I use linux mint on an 8GB flash drive. So that an option.

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Windows 7 Home premum on a 20GB HDD

zink1701

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USAFRet

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photonboy

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mbarnes86

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Memhorder

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mouse24

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