Is 128GB SSD Enough for Windows If I Have a 1TB HDD in My Laptop?

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Jerry· Answered on Dec 20, 2023

Yes, 128GB SSD is enough for your Windows OS if you have a 1TB HDD for other programs on your laptop.

Usually, 128GB of storage is regarded as plenty for a Windows operating system installation, especially if you have a 1TB hard drive for storing other files and programs. If you only run Windows on it with no other applications, a 64GB SSD may even suffice.

Transferring the OS from an HDD to an SSD will make your system boot up and perform faster, while the HDD will store additional data. As for migrating the operating system to SSD, you can use professional clone software like EaseUS Disk Copy to do so without data loss.

However, if you are a user who installs a lot of software and is obsessive about installing all optional applications, plus there are remnants of previous updates, it might be a challenge. If the space occupied by the OS and related files on the HDD is greater than 128GB, you will not be able to migrate the system to the SSD successfully.

Moreover, the bigger problem is that apps "leak". You install the apps to a different drive, but they need to move a few DLLs into System32 and add a font. They accidentally distribute an old DLL, which takes up space in WinSxS.

Besides, some apps are toolkits with their own chained installers. Those chained applications may not go to another drive as you wish. Some apps don't even provide you the option to choose where you want them to be installed. Those apps are hardcoded to install on the Windows drive.

Therefore, a 128GB SSD is sufficient for the Windows operating system as long as most software is correctly and reasonably installed on the HDD.

Related article: [Tried and True] How to Upgrade HDD to SSD Without Reinstalling Windows