Installing Win 7 but the size is enormous

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

I got a SDD that I just put into a new build. I'm trying to install Win 7 on it but at each restart I notice it keeps installing more and more files. At the moment it's over 100 GB used and just keep cutting my usable data. I recall my last copy of Win 7 using 40 or so GB. Why is this happening? Should I just format the drive and try again?
This seems like a lot of space. I did follow other forums that talked about removing hibernation files and turning other features off like system restore and moving your libraries.
Is the best solution to do all that work after the installation or is it possible this massive install is just how big the installation is already?

reedo_43 · Oct 27, 2014

I did a clean install of win7 64bit last night with nothing else. Takes 18 gigs of my c drive and only 1 re-boot. I do not know what you have going on there.

boosted1g · Oct 27, 2014

For just a base Windows 7 install without other programs 100GB is enormouse. Should be around 40, closer to 30 once you dissable hibernation and page file (assuming you have 8+ GB of ram).

Yeah I would just reformat and start over.
Possibly even redownload windows 7 from digital river.

EDITED:
For base home premium version of windows drop 10-15gig off of my quoted numbers. so 25-30GB for install and 15-20GB once you dissable pagefile/hibernation.

huilun02 · Oct 27, 2014

Installing off the Windows disc or?

USAFRet · Oct 27, 2014

A clean install of 7 or 8 is 18-20GB.
My well used install of 8.1 Pro, with ALL my applications (not incl games) is around 65GB.

You have something else going on.
Start over and try again.

cirdecus · Oct 27, 2014

check temporary files through C drive, properties and clean up. Also check to see if your page file is behaving properly in system settings, advanced.

Sounds like something is growing that shouldn't be, like log files or something.

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

huilun02 :

It's a copy of Windows I got from school so I downloaded from the website they provided.. I put it on a USB. This is not the first time I've used the USB to install windows but I built a new PC so trying to install it again.

reedo_43 · Oct 27, 2014

Is it installing proprietary software for your school?

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

boosted1g :

Could you provide a link to where you think I should download Win 7 from? I'm using a copy I got from a school website.

USAFRet · Oct 27, 2014

Sovva :

From here:
http://www.w7forums.com/threads/official-windows-7-sp1-iso-image-downloads.12325/

But your school copy should be fine.

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

reedo_43 :

I never noticed such things before. It offers other software but it uses a third party website that allows me access w my school information to downloaded various software. It's just an ISO for Win 7 Professional.

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

USAFRet :

Okay. I'll just try installing it again after formatting the SSD.
It just takes a long time of sitting around so if it goes wrong it wastes a lot of time.
Also, it says my computer will restart several times during the installation process. When it kept building it would restart and make me accept the license agreement and select default or custom install every time? Should this happen or should it just keep installing automatically?

USAFRet · Oct 27, 2014

When it kept building it would restart and make me accept the license agreement and select default or custom install every time?

Ahhhh...I think we have hit upon the problem.
I think it is attempting to install several times.

It should only do that once.

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

USAFRet :

I thought that might be it but I really don't know.

So if this current installation restarts and doesn't continue after restart I should assume I need to just get the copy of windows 7 again ?
Could I try booting up my SSD after the first restart or would that just be an unfinished copy of windows?

USAFRet · Oct 27, 2014

Sovva :

You're installing from DVD or USB?
If from DVD (and you've left the DVD in the drive), it might say, upon restarting, "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD..."
Do not do that. Just let it run.

Basically, after the first boot from your install media...don't touch anything until it asks for specifics, like the license key, or setting teh time zone.

USAFRet · Oct 27, 2014

For whatever is on the drive now, you need to wipe all of that off and start with a clean partition.

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

USAFRet :

Sovva :

You're installing from DVD or USB?
If from DVD (and you've left the DVD in the drive), it might say, upon restarting, "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD..."
Do not do that. Just let it run.

Basically, after the first boot from your install media...don't touch anything until it asks for specifics, like the license key, or setting teh time zone.

I'm using a USB.

USAFRet · Oct 27, 2014

Sovva :

Either way, I believe it is installing several times.

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

USAFRet :

Okay I'll try that.
EDIT:
To do that I disconnected another HDD I had plugged in with the system while installing perhaps that will help since it had a lot of files already on it.

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

USAFRet :

If I have it set to boot the USB first could that be the reason? Should it be booting from the SSD after I use the installer on the USB?

huilun02 · Oct 27, 2014

You can't boot to a blank SSD.

Windows installer is on your USB, so boot to USB.

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

huilun02 :

Hm, well since that just sends me to the beginning of the installation I have no more ideas. I'll try installing window on the USB again. If that doesn't work I'll just see if I can get someone to help me in person.

Sovva · Oct 27, 2014

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/2693-63-windows-installation-repeating-itself

This stopped the repeat install. Thanks for your help getting to this point.

Installing Win 7 but the size is enormous

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