Installing Windows 11 or 12, limiting used space for the OS

Hello all,

I'm preparing a new build which will run Windows 11 or possibly Windows 12 if I don't get around to it sooner.

Installing on a SSD (e.g. 1TB, all of it unpartitoned space), will the installer let me define which space to allow for the installation (e.g. 100 GB) and let the rest (e.g. 900 GB) remain as free space for a data partition?

I seem to remember reading a recommendation to prepartition the SSD as I would prefer it (e.g. 100 GB / 900 GB) and then remove the first partition. That would only leave 100 GB of free space for the installer. Would this be a necessary step?

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

It is possible to partition a blank drive when installing windows - Google for disk partition while installing windows 11.
I would be concerned with your proposal of 100 GB for Windows - my (clean) installation of Windows 11 on a 1 TB SSD occupies 161 GB and there are no major software suites installed - only 22 GB under Program Files folders. My data is stored on a heavily partitioned 2 TB conventional hard drive and backed up automatically to a second 2 TB hard drive and manually to an external hard drive on a weekly basis. I suggest that you consider installing a 1 TB hard drive for data storage in addition to the 1 TB SSD.

 

Yes, I realize that 100 GB isn't enough space for Windows 11/12. I have considered a 500 GB SSD dedicated to Windows 11/12 and a separate SSD for data or partitioning a 1 TB SSD.

My current Windows 10 (upgraded from Window 7) is installed on a 500 GB SSD (transfered from a 500 GB HDD), partitioned 150 GB system (80 GB free space) and 350 GB data (300 GB free space) so, I really don't need a 1 TB data partition. (Those SSD's don't come cheap!)

Good to know that the SSD can be partitioned during installation and if the current SSD is "fresh enough" it can be reused for backups.

Thanks guys for your thoughts!