win 8.1 too big

[vinstreet]

This machine had linux installed. I returned it to factory condition using a recovery USB stick purchased from HP. The recovery was OK, apart from broadcom wireless LAN, but the install has eaten 11 GB for a recovery partition, and about 14GB for windows. I have installed 2 applications and I am out of storage space. Why is win 8.1 so big?. If i is the ancilliary programs that microsoft have included, how do I remove them.

Regards

vinstreet

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Hello @vinstreet

Welcome to the HP Support forum. Thank you for posting.

You are one of the very few people I have read about returning from Tux world (a.k.a. Linux) to Microsoft. Most people who pass the light to Tux-world never return back (to Windows, I mean).

I think that if you can (and want) to return to your Linux distro, this would be the fastest, the smartest and most easy solution. Possible reasons to remind you about >> http://whylinuxisbetter.net/en/

Typical Ubuntu distro is about 5-7.5 GB full.

If you want to run Windows 8.1 on this device you will have to get used to its size and patterns. You will probably need an exteranl drive (e.g. USB or memory card) to store some of your files. 

Windows is way bigger than a typical Linux disto.

You probably have Windows + drivers + some preinstalled apps

Not sure if you have run Windows already ? If not, don't, you will fill up the entire eMMC drive

HP Steam 11 or 13 are budget class mobile notebooks - created with nice design and designed for mobility in mind. These computers are made to some typing (e.g. chat, Facebook, emails) , Internet surfing, casua videos watching, etc.

You can use free disk space analyzer software such as the great TreeSize >> http://www.jam-software.com/treesize_free/

It can tell you which stuff you have on your computer uses the most space.

You can run programs such as CCleaner (www.piriform.com)  or

the built-in Disk CleanUp  to delete unnecessary temporary files

>> http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3012-disk-cleanup-open-use-windows-10-a.html

You can move some personal files (e.g. documents, pictures, videos etc.) to external device (e.g USB pen drive  or  SD memory card). Please, do not directly move/cut program files or important Windows stuff unless you are 100% sure what you are doing.

You can uninstall some preinstalled apps you do not need/want to use.

[vinstreet]

Thanks for the info, particulally the steer to the useful software.  I was quite happy with Mint, but the broadcom wifi chip has no adequate linux driver, and constantly drops the network.  I moved back to win 8 (I prefer win 7) with factory load, in the expectation that my broadcom problems would be over.   Sad really, Iv'e spent money to restore software that i have already purchased, and my wi-fi is still intermittent.  It is ok on the 2 other win7 , winxp and linux machines that I have here.

Thanks anyway for your comments.

[IT_WinSec]

You are welcome. Please, next time post here and ask for a suggestion. 🙂

If you are happy with Mint, you may try using an external USB Wi-Fi adapter for a workaround for your wireless issues.

Their price starts from 10-15 US $. Example:

> http://www.bestbuy.com/site/tp-link-mini-wireless-n-usb-adapter-black/2080328.p?skuId=2080328

They use different drivers or you may have tried different Linux kernel (e.g. Linux Mint v17 with kernel 3.13, 3.16, 3.19, 4.2)

or Linux Mint v18 with kernel 4.4, 4.8 or 4.10

I recommend you purchase some USB wi-fi adapter, use it for a few days (plug and play, use), test it and if necessary you can return it. Most counties allow you to purchase online and if necessary return it back and get a refund. You may test with different router in another place (different home, office, public networks, etc.)