Partition size for Windows 7 dual boot?

[Black Panther]

Somewhere I read it should be 16GB... somewhere else I read it should be 10GB... what would you suggest?

Another thing, I never dual booted before so I'm very noob on this - To play all my games on Windows 7 would I have to reinstall them under the new OS? I am assuming so but thought I'd ask just in case.
If yes... then I'd be needing to make my Windows 7 partition at least 50 or 60GB... (I've got 150GB free HDD space on my desktop).

Thanks for the help

 

[cdawall]

16GB should be fine mines @19GB with stuff installed/DL'd

 

[spearman914]

U don't have to reinstall ur games. http://lifehacker.com/5126781/how-to-dual-boot-windows-7-with-xp-or-vista Quick guide.

 

[Duxx]

You really only need i think 9, it was 8xxx mb or something but always having a little extra is nice, I have 12, and I probably should have made it larger, too lazy to re-partition though so it works.

 

[Black Panther]

What about installing on a separate partition on raid0 drives (ie my laptop)? Could things get complicated?

I'll be doing it first on the desktop, but if I like it and see it worth I'll also install it on the lappie... if that wouldn't be problematic...

 

[Deleted member 24505]

When i tried win7,my partition size was 40gb,it was using about 15-20gb of said space.

 

[DaMulta]

I'm eatting 20GB and I have not had this os installed but a few days with no games installed.....

 

[kid41212003]

Yeah, my partition is 40GB. I got the x64 version from MS website, and it took 21GB, with only Windows and drivers installed.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I think 40gb is a good size for a vista/win7 install,it gives the os room to breath.

 

[TRIPTEX_CAN]

I think 40gb is a good size for a vista/win7 install,it gives the os room to breath.

+1

I wouldn't go for less than 40GB because you might realize you like it and the limitations of a drive closer to 20GB will manifest really fast.

 

[AsRock]

My win 7 ultimate install is 12.8GB without so i would say 30GB at least to give it some space at least.


If you plan to use it a lot concider doubling that at least.

 

[DaMulta]

What about installing on a separate partition on raid0 drives (ie my laptop)? Could things get complicated?

I'll be doing it first on the desktop, but if I like it and see it worth I'll also install it on the lappie... if that wouldn't be problematic...

Just install Vmware(that was created by a woman btw) and test out 7 in your current o/s.

 

[DaMulta]

http://www.vmware.com/products/ws/

free 30 days.

 

[Black Panther]

+1

I wouldn't go for less than 40GB because you might realize you like it and the limitations of a drive closer to 20GB will manifest really fast.

So, if say I make a partition of 40GB and install 7 on it, when I log into 7 rather than Vista it'd be like my HDD is only 40GB big?
Or am I confusing things?

 

[TRIPTEX_CAN]

So, if say I make a partition of 40GB and install 7 on it, when I log into 7 rather than Vista it'd be like my HDD is only 40GB big?
Or am I confusing things?

Exactly, when you log into to 7 your "C:\" will be 40GB you will still have access to the other partitions and HDD space available.

Make sense?

 

[Black Panther]

Exactly, when you log into to 7 your "C:\" will be 40GB you will still have access to the other partitions and HDD space available.

Make sense?

Lol would you believe me if I say I never did this before? I normally just install the OS and put the whole disk as an entire 'partition' so to speak... Never dual booted so never seen the need to play around with this before.

So (I'm burning the 7 iso as we speak) will my partitions have different letters like my normal C disk will be divided into C which is for Vista and another letter which would be for 7?

Someone said I don't need to reinstall my games. That means if for example I got Fallout3 I can keep same game same saves and choose whether to play it under Vista or 7 depending on the choice I make when I boot?

IE I don't need to do anything else? Win 7 will use the same Program Files and registry where my games are, same mobo drivers, graphics, sound card drivers which I use for vista? Same antivirus will also work?

 

[TRIPTEX_CAN]

Before you install Windows 7 have you partitioned the disk yet? Partioning a disk that already contains data or an OS is not usually recommended but can be done. How do you plan to do this.


To your questions ....

All the drivers for Vista should work but there can be unforeseen compatibility issues.

Knowing a little about how partitions work is useful but not necessary. In the capture below you see a visual representation of a single HDD that has several partitions on it. One is the OS, one is for data, and one if from DELL that contains OEM crap.

I'll try to explain the drivers letter (assume the drive has 2 partitions for this example). If you boot into Vista you will see c:\ and d:\ for your local disks. Vista is installed on c:\. If you boot into 7 you will still see c:\ and d:\ in this case 7 is installed on c:\. Whichever OS you boot into will assume the drive letter c:\ and the other OS is on d:\

The OS you are using will always be c:\

If you boot into 7 you can launch any game installed on the Vista partition. Transferring your saved games can be a little more complicated but the games will work.

 

[Black Panther]

Thanks again Triptex, I was going to do the partition using Vista's disk management. My original problem was because some say 10Gb are enough, others say you need 17 or 20GB and yet others say you need 40 or 50GB for the partition... and that's what got me confused. I solve that... then work it out from there...

 

[AsRock]

Lol would you believe me if I say I never did this before? I normally just install the OS and put the whole disk as an entire 'partition' so to speak... Never dual booted so never seen the need to play around with this before.

So (I'm burning the 7 iso as we speak) will my partitions have different letters like my normal C disk will be divided into C which is for Vista and another letter which would be for 7?

Someone said I don't need to reinstall my games. That means if for example I got Fallout3 I can keep same game same saves and choose whether to play it under Vista or 7 depending on the choice I make when I boot?

IE I don't need to do anything else? Win 7 will use the same Program Files and registry where my games are, same mobo drivers, graphics, sound card drivers which I use for vista? Same antivirus will also work?

Some games will require reinstall, what i do is just install over were it was installed to with the other OS.

Just copy your saves games

It be some thing like this were they are
C:\Users\Admin\Documents\My GamesFallout3

I'm in XP at the moment but should be pretty right still though if not right.

 

[TRIPTEX_CAN]

Thanks again Triptex, I was going to do the partition using Vista's disk management. My original problem was because some say 10Gb are enough, others say you need 17 or 20GB and yet others say you need 40 or 50GB for the partition... and that's what got me confused. I solve that... then work it out from there...

No problem, I hope some of what I wrote makes sense.

I still think 40Gb is the least space you should use.

 

[Black Panther]

Thanks guys! Come to think of it I needn't make a fuss... I did a clean install of Vista 2 weeks ago and the only game I got on this pc is Fallout so I'll just copy the save games and be ready to go. I'll probably partition 50GB to be on the safe side.

If I like the way Win7 works I might try it on the lappie... but there it's a different story because I really got lots of games and stuff on it... Come to think of it my fallout is more updated on the laptop...

Edit: currently formatting 50GB partition on desktop...

 

[Black Panther]

Ewww.

This is just a half-hearted attempt to get a cross between XP and Vista!

I say again ewww.

It's bland.... It's like XP trying to imitate a vista interface...

Well I dunno. I just installed, got on the net, and gave my first 5 minute impression here.
Maybe I might change my mind?

 

[DaMulta]

You will, and to tell you the truth I like the 6850 build a little better than the 7000......

Adding quick links in 7000 pissed me off they got rid of them. IDK.

7 is the best o/s I have ever used.


wait your laptop does not have a 128meg video card so your !@!@ed when it comes to seeing the extra good in 7 over vista......

 

[Black Panther]

wait your laptop does not have a 128meg video card so your !@!@ed when it comes to seeing the extra good in 7 over vista......

You're kidding right?

Firstly I'm testing this on my desktop with an 8800GT.

Secondly.... check laptop configuration in my system specs

You saying "your laptop does not have a 128meg video card so your !@!@ed when it comes to seeing the extra good in 7 over vista" lol that just reminds me of that math thread of yours...work out the addition yourself and check whether 2 8800GTX 512MB in SLI on a laptop might add up to a "128meg video card"

Siggy material!!!

 

[mep916]

I set aside 20 GB. With the OS, drivers and FireFox installed, I have 2.1 GB free.