Guide to Maximizing Disk Space on your Dell Venue 8 Pro (or other Windows 8.1 system)

Initial Space Saving Techniques

Wipe and Install Windows Fresh

Create a Custom Streamlined Windows

Delete the Recovery Partition

Reduce the Size of the Hibernation File

Move the Paging File to microSD

NOTE - This likely will not work on the DV8P (though may on other tablets). In my tests, though Windows showed the pagefile as setup on the microSD, it didn't actually initialize there and show in the total pagefile allocated amount. Additionally, I got low memory issues because the lack of an active file on the main drive. This may just be my microSD card, but be sure to test this.

Reduce the Size of the Paging File

Install Office to microSD

Delete Built-In Metro Apps

Install Metro Apps to microSD card

WARNING - This may no longer work on Windows 8.1, giving error 0xd00002b8 as the result!

Mount your microSD as "Permanent Storage"

Relocate SkyDrive and User Folders to microSD

Open File Explorer from the Desktop

Long click (right-click) on SkyDrive (assuming you have set one up) > Properties

(assuming you have set one up) > Go to the Location tab

tab Change the C:\ to the drive letter for your microSD

Click Apply

Click Yes to create the folder

to create the folder Click Yes to move content

to move content Click OK to close (system may hang for a minute)

to close (system may hang for a minute) Optionally, long-click on the SkyDrive folder again and select "Make Available Offline" to download your entire drive to the tablet

Turn Off Windows Updates

OngoingSpace Saving Techniques

Decrease the Size of the WinSxS Folder

Run Built-In Disk Cleanup

Run a 3rd party Cleanup Utility

Cleanup the Software Distribution Folder

Reboot your system to ensure no current updates are in-process Open Computer Management Go to Services and Applications > Services Stop the Windows Update service Delete the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder Restart the Windows Update service

Find Out What Files are Eating your Space

Compress your Files

C:\Windows\Installer

Remove (Don't Install) Unnecessary Apps

Use Win 8.1 (Metro) Apps, Cloud, and Remote Services