Vista is HUGE! Help me get rid of unneeded stuff from the OS.

Lowfat · Feb 27, 2007, 02:48 AM

I have Ultimate installed, and my Windows folder is almost 8GB!! Any tips on getting it a bit smaller? I disabled System Restore, I disabled the page file for now. I disabled most of the Windows Features i didn't use however I do not believe that removes them. Also does anyone know how to remove the storage used for hibernation? I do not have hibernation on, however with XP you needed to completely disable it to free up the space. Any thing else I might do?

Lowfat · Feb 27, 2007, 02:51 AM

wow, i just found the drivers folder which is over a GB. Think it is safe to delete it?

Lowfat · Feb 27, 2007, 03:22 AM

if anyone is interested here is how to disable hibernation...

Disable hibernation

Zelig · Feb 27, 2007, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowfat

Also does anyone know how to remove the storage used for hibernation? I do not have hibernation on, however with XP you needed to completely disable it to free up the space.

Really? I find this hard to believe, any sources?

vlite (nlite for Vista) offers a much smaller install, but can't be run on an already installed system. Both hte nlite and vlite websites seem to be down atm though, so I can't go get more information.

You can remove Windows features from the add/remove thinger or the like, I can't remember exactly, and am away from my computer, but it shouldn't be too hard to find.

And I'm curious, why exactly do you want to free up a few GB of space? Do you have so little storage space in you Core 2 Duo/2GB ram rig that somewhere between a 1-8GB OS installation, you become constrained for space? I find it odd that so many people seem to find the Vista installation size large, when it amounts to under $3 worth of HDD space.

Lowfat · Feb 27, 2007, 08:25 AM

I use partitions, and only keep my OS on my main one which is only 10GB. I do not want to go and reformat my entire hard drive. Which is why I want a smaller.

I know hibernation must be disabled to free the space. I used the CMD prompt, and by disabling it I was able to free over 1GB of space.

clicker666 · Feb 27, 2007, 09:40 AM

Well, you could move the swap file to another partition, the temp dir, and the print spooler. Relocate all the "documents" folders to another partition. That should make the install "mostly" static. Install all your apps to another partition.

Judas · Feb 27, 2007, 04:05 PM

imo..... when ever i've started disabling services beyond system restore and hibernation, i've found vista to perform a little bit more irratically, glitches appear to happen even when the service disabled doesn't have any relation (or you wouldn't expect to have any relation)...

However the install size may be large, but really, are we REALLY the short on space? btw, imo, i wouldn't delete any system critical folders...

clicker666 · Feb 27, 2007, 04:33 PM

Like I said above - if you eliminate or reduce the number of folders and files that will dynamically change from that partition, you should be in a good place. I've had to do this with servers that weren't well planned out and starting crashing because of full temp files and spool directories.

narwal · Feb 6, 2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowfat

I have Ultimate installed, and my Windows folder is almost 8GB!! Any tips on getting it a bit smaller? I disabled System Restore, I disabled the page file for now. I disabled most of the Windows Features i didn't use however I do not believe that removes them. Also does anyone know how to remove the storage used for hibernation? I do not have hibernation on, however with XP you needed to completely disable it to free up the space. Any thing else I might do?

I found this guide (TweakHound - Tweak & Optimize Windows Vista, page 6) can help you to free up the space.

Happy Tweaking!

Mr cairo · Feb 7, 2008, 09:30 AM

nice i just disabled hibernation and freed up over 2 gig of HD space

cheers

mkk · Feb 7, 2008, 01:44 PM

Also keep in mind that games following Microsoft regulations also store data under the user account, like for instance savegames. After having played The Witcher for a couple of weeks I had a little revelation when looking at the user folder. The Windows folder was clearly the junior.

Vikingod · Feb 7, 2008, 02:20 PM

If you would like to make your Vista install smaller, check out vLite

MitchRapp · Feb 16, 2008, 03:47 AM

be warned ... if you install VLite you will most definitely not be able to update with SP1

Zelig · Feb 16, 2008, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pepiman

be warned ... if you install VLite you will most definitely not be able to update with SP1

Works fine on SP1 discs though.

mike2h · Feb 16, 2008, 04:13 AM

im surprised vista didnt give you some sort of notification about partition space during install. doesnt ms rec 20- 30 gigs min?
at some point soon you are going to have to reformat. why not just get it over with instead of what your doing. you are setting yourself up for a painful vista experience.

MitchRapp · Feb 24, 2008, 02:51 AM

I don't really see where this "hibernation" stuff is... is it just for laptops?

cuz I never noticed any random space being used for something that's invisible like hibernation

where can you see if it's on or off?

Feb 27, 2007, 02:48 AM	#1
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	Vista is HUGE! Help me get rid of unneeded stuff from the OS. I have Ultimate installed, and my Windows folder is almost 8GB!! Any tips on getting it a bit smaller? I disabled System Restore, I disabled the page file for now. I disabled most of the Windows Features i didn't use however I do not believe that removes them. Also does anyone know how to remove the storage used for hibernation? I do not have hibernation on, however with XP you needed to completely disable it to free up the space. Any thing else I might do?

Feb 27, 2007, 09:40 AM	#6
clicker666 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 327 Rep Power: 0	Well, you could move the swap file to another partition, the temp dir, and the print spooler. Relocate all the "documents" folders to another partition. That should make the install "mostly" static. Install all your apps to another partition. __________________

Feb 27, 2007, 04:33 PM	#8
clicker666 DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 327 Rep Power: 0	Like I said above - if you eliminate or reduce the number of folders and files that will dynamically change from that partition, you should be in a good place. I've had to do this with servers that weren't well planned out and starting crashing because of full temp files and spool directories. __________________

Feb 7, 2008, 09:30 AM	#10
Mr cairo F0rum For Humans Only Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Slightly to the left Posts: 1,780 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	nice i just disabled hibernation and freed up over 2 gig of HD space cheers __________________ *Please consider Sponsoring my wife for the race for life*

Feb 16, 2008, 04:13 AM	#15
mike2h DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: norcal Posts: 6,483 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	im surprised vista didnt give you some sort of notification about partition space during install. doesnt ms rec 20- 30 gigs min? at some point soon you are going to have to reformat. why not just get it over with instead of what your doing. you are setting yourself up for a painful vista experience. __________________

Feb 27, 2007, 02:51 AM	Thread Starter #2
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	wow, i just found the drivers folder which is over a GB. Think it is safe to delete it?

Feb 27, 2007, 03:22 AM	Thread Starter #3
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	if anyone is interested here is how to disable hibernation... Disable hibernation

Feb 27, 2007, 08:25 AM	Thread Starter #5
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,254 Rep Power: 101	I use partitions, and only keep my OS on my main one which is only 10GB. I do not want to go and reformat my entire hard drive. Which is why I want a smaller. I know hibernation must be disabled to free the space. I used the CMD prompt, and by disabling it I was able to free over 1GB of space.

Feb 7, 2008, 01:44 PM	#11
mkk Cthulhu/Dagon 2012 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Gefle, Sweden Posts: 4,495 Rep Power: 132 System Specs	Also keep in mind that games following Microsoft regulations also store data under the user account, like for instance savegames. After having played The Witcher for a couple of weeks I had a little revelation when looking at the user folder. The Windows folder was clearly the junior.

Feb 7, 2008, 02:20 PM	#12
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,197 Rep Power: 112 System Specs	If you would like to make your Vista install smaller, check out vLite

Feb 16, 2008, 03:47 AM	#13
MitchRapp a.k.a. pepiman Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 998 Rep Power: 51 System Specs	be warned ... if you install VLite you will most definitely not be able to update with SP1

Feb 24, 2008, 02:51 AM	#16
MitchRapp a.k.a. pepiman Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 998 Rep Power: 51 System Specs	I don't really see where this "hibernation" stuff is... is it just for laptops? cuz I never noticed any random space being used for something that's invisible like hibernation where can you see if it's on or off?