How much disk space does Windows 8 take up?

If I bought a 60GB SSD, would that be enough for a boot partition and then I can run everything else from a slower SATA drive?

If not, I may be able to stretch to a 80 or 120GB drive - but that's extra $$$.

 

No one can say for sure, and a lot depends on your other software, but I would say 60 will be more than enough under any circumstances.
Personal taste, but I like to kepp a second HD running - it does'nt have to be a monster - for backups and general saves.

 

Thankyou davehc, that will save me $60 that can go toward something else.

Do you know what a clean Windows 8 installation will use in terms of drive space? Even an approximation based on your install would be helpful. If it's less than 30GB then I'll be fine.

 

You need at least 16GB/20GB (32bit/64bit) of free space to install Windows 8, so that should give you a good idea of how much you'll need for a minimal install.

Hope that helps!

 

Thankyou efraz, that's good to know.

 

I have Win7 64 Pro installed with some of my most used applications, and a 5 GB page file, and have been using it for a while so all the normal data has been saved to the user forlder. Total at this time 21.1 GB used space.

 

16.4 here, without e recovery running.

 

Should I take the plunge and try to download/install? I'm a bit leary as I am not as sophisticated as you guys. Any suggestions? Anything I should be looking to do or not to do? Any help is appreciated.

Cheers

 

As DaveHc, it took approx. 16 gig; that's a clean installation. Also, as Ian answered to Kalario, I would go ahead and install it...dual boot does it for me.

But be aware that this is a test copy of the OS and may not be stable. Also, if you are not familiar with beta software, you may come across with issues, especially since it's different than any previous Microsoft operating system. But if you are persisting and willing to learn, you'll be amazed at how easy mastering the OS will become. By the time the final version comes around, you'll be an expert.

 

Fwiw. Now installed my software. It all works. Microsoft Office and some other "heavies" also. Total disk space so far is 31GBs.

 

Says Microsoft – but this is not the truth.

OK – if you have 4 Gb of RAM and enough free disk space Windows will create a 4 Gb "pagefile.sys" and a 4 Gb "hiberfil.sys". Together with 8 Gb Windows files you will have 16 Gb.

BUT: What happens when you install Windows 8 x64 with 4 Gb RAM on a 10 Gb partition ?
"hiberfil.sys" will not be created and "pagefile.sys" is created with 1 Gb.

So it fits to a 10 Gb Partition.

 

Thank you, I didn't know that .