How to free 28GB of disk space reserved by Windows after a fresh Boot Camp install

[nomopah]

After a fresh Windows x64 Boot Camp install on a 16GB rMBP, I noticed that 28GB of precious SSD space was already taken. Since the Boot Camp partition was relatively small, I wanted to recover that unavailable space.

Turns out it's due to Windows' Hibernation and Virtual Memory (pagefile). Hibernation reserves a file that's 75% the size of total RAM, and virtual memory reserves a file equal to 100% total RAM. So for a 16GB rMBP, Total used = (16*0.75 + 16) = 28GB, before even starting to use Windows.

Here's instructions on how to recover the space.

http://danalexander.org/2012/07/macbook-pro-boot-camp-disk-space-recovery/

Disabling hibernation is fine for most people, so long as you don't use Windows for work (ie. you won't lose any sleep over the laptop shutting down without saving if the battery dies). Lastly, please don't try to disable/customize your pagefile if you're unsure about something.

I hope this helps anyone trying to do the same thing.

 

[jcpb]

I don't think your MBPR has only 16GB of SSD storage.

 

[mdapple]

you failed math didnt you..

 

[Dangerous Theory]

I don't think your MBPR has only 16GB of SSD storage.

Is this a bad attempt to be funny or did you genuinely not realise he was referring to the MBP with 16GB RAM?

 

[danpass]

Is this a bad attempt to be funny or did you genuinely not realise he was referring to the MBP with 16GB RAM?

agreed

this thread is going to go places before getting back on track lol

(tagged so I can later apply the 'fix' to the partition)

 

[jcpb]

Is this a bad attempt to be funny or did you genuinely not realise he was referring to the MBP with 16GB RAM?

28GB can be a lot of space or barely perceptible depending on both the size of the SSD and the size of the bootcamp partition.

Either way, OP could have searched the forums first...

 

[macjolt]

I don't understand why OP needed to point out his machine had 16GB of RAM in his original post, it just makes for a confusing read.

 

[icowboys]

I don't understand why OP needed to point out his machine had 16GB of RAM in his original post, it just makes for a confusing read.

Because the size of reserved disk space is directly proportional to the amount of available RAM.

 

[yezza]

OP - I see value in your post, and had no trouble in understanding your explanation. Thanks.

 

[nomopah]

28GB can be a lot of space or barely perceptible depending on both the size of the SSD and the size of the bootcamp partition.

Either way, OP could have searched the forums first...

Searched for what? Allocating 100GB for Boot Camp, then discovering that over a quarter (excluding Windows itself) of that space is tied up before installing any applications is discouraging.

Because the size of reserved disk space is directly proportional to the amount of available RAM.

That's right. rMBP with 16GB of RAM have 28GB of disk space reserved, while rMBP with 8GB of RAM have 14GB reserved.

 

[polyh3dron]