SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Submission Preview
Windows 7 Slimmed Down to 69 MB
████ # This file was generated bot-o-matically! Edit at your own risk. ████
Windows 7 slimmed down to 69 MB [theregister.com]:
Stripping Windows to the bare essentials is a favorite hobby among enthusiasts, especially as Microsoft continues loading its OS with unwanted bloat. The latest achievement is Windows 7 being reduced to 69 MB.
A user going by the handle of @XenoPanther on X (formerly Twitter) has published [x.com] a file list.
"This was more of a fun proof of concept rather than something usable," @XenoPanther said [x.com]. "Virtually nothing can run due to critical missing files such as common dialog boxes and common controls."
The Windows 7 desktop does boot - barely – and "At least the genuine check is still intact." [x.com]
We'd quibble with the "virtually nothing" assertion. Anything with a graphical user interface would struggle, but would it be a problem to run a basic CLI app that only needed the Windows kernel?
The accomplishment is the latest in a tradition of "getting Windows to run in as little space as possible." This writer fondly remembers coaxing Windows 3.1 onto a floppy disk simply because it was possible.
- Microsoft gives Windows 11 a fresh Start – here's how to get it [theregister.com]
- No account? No Windows 11, Microsoft says as another loophole snaps shut [theregister.com]
- Microsoft keeps adding stuff into Windows we don't want – here's what we actually need [theregister.com]
- Windows 11 25H2 is mostly 24H2 with bits bolted on or ripped out [theregister.com]
However, there are legitimate reasons for wanting to reduce the footprint of Windows: reducing the size of virtual machines or container requirements, for instance. In 2015, Microsoft showed off a version of Windows Server – Nano Server [theregister.com] – with a disk footprint of 400 MB.
Microsoft later [microsoft.com] discontinued the Nano Server option to focus on the Nano Server base container image, which weighed in at less than 300 MB. That's ideal for swift pulls, but less good for anything that needs more than the very limited APIs available.
If only Microsoft would consider shrinking its flagship desktop operating system rather than leaving it to developers like NTDEV and the Tiny11 series of slimmed-down Windows 11 installations [theregister.com].
While Windows 7 is long obsolete, a 69 MB stub with selective files could prove useful for running legacy software without wasting space on a full install.
The weekend weather is looking a little crappy here in the UK, so attempting to beat @XenoPanther's record seems a fun way to pass the hours.
Why? Because it's there. ®
Get ourTech Resources [theregister.com]ShareMore about
- Microsoft
More like these×More about
- Microsoft
Narrower topics
- Active Directory
- Azure
- Bing
- BSoD
- Excel
- Exchange Server
- HoloLens
- Internet Explorer
- Microsoft 365
- Microsoft Build
- Microsoft Edge
- Microsoft Fabric
- Microsoft Ignite
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Surface
- Microsoft Teams
- .NET
- Office 365
- OS/2
- Outlook
- Patch Tuesday
- Pluton
- SharePoint
- Skype
- SQL Server
- Visual Studio
- Visual Studio Code
- Windows
- Windows 10
- Windows 11
- Windows 7
- Windows 8
- Windows Server
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2012
- Windows Server 2013
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Subsystem for Linux
- Windows XP
- Xbox
- Xbox 360
Broader topics
- Bill Gates
More about ShareMore about
- Microsoft
More like these×More about
- Microsoft
Narrower topics
- Active Directory
- Azure
- Bing
- BSoD
- Excel
- Exchange Server
- HoloLens
- Internet Explorer
- Microsoft 365
- Microsoft Build
- Microsoft Edge
- Microsoft Fabric
- Microsoft Ignite
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Surface
- Microsoft Teams
- .NET
- Office 365
- OS/2
- Outlook
- Patch Tuesday
- Pluton
- SharePoint
- Skype
- SQL Server
- Visual Studio
- Visual Studio Code
- Windows
- Windows 10
- Windows 11
- Windows 7
- Windows 8
- Windows Server
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2012
- Windows Server 2013
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Subsystem for Linux
- Windows XP
- Xbox
- Xbox 360
Broader topics
- Bill Gates
TIP US OFF
Send us news [theregister.com]
random
