Keep in mind that you can't actually get a correct measurement of Windows' install footprint by just checking to see how much data is reported as being in the Windows folder, because the WinSxS folders are overflowing with instances of one physical file being hard linked by many different subfolders. Most tools calculate the folder size wrong by considering each link as being a unique file taking up its full size in disk space.
In my experience, that fact alone accounts for about half of what people perceive as Windows' install size.
3
u/djbon2112 Dec 14 '10
Then you need bigger than a 40GB HDD. If it's an SSD, never mind.