Windows 10 takes less disk space than 7?

Brian111 said:

Does anyone know why the size of the Windows directory grow so fast a day or so after a clean install?

I'd assume updates, unless you are not connected to the net or have specifically postponed updating.

Of course, you always have to take reported size with a cubic yard of salt.

Brian111 said:

Does anyone know why the size of the Windows directory grow so fast a day or so after a clean install?

Windows updates. Copies of all updates are kept by default, even after they are replaced by newer updates. This became a problem over the long life of W7 so the ability to clean up superseded windows updates was added to W7 in 2013. This ability is also built in to W8 and W10. Regular cleaning after installing new updates should stop the Windows folder growing by much over the supported life of the windows version.

Microsoft released an update on October 8, 2013 that allows you to remove outdated Windows Updates using Disk Cleanup in Windows 7.

Windows Updates - Remove Outdated Updates in Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

I thought Disk Cleanup>Cleanup System Files was supposed to remove unnecessary files, but it doesn't seem to release much space.

Brian111 said:

I thought Disk Cleanup>Cleanup System Files was supposed to remove unnecessary files, but it doesn't seem to release much space.

Use the dism /cleanup-image command with the /resetbase option.

To free up space see this link:

Free Up Drive Space in Windows 10