What's the smallest Win 7 version that anyone has compiled?

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videobruce

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Just how small can Win 7 get without updates and additional drivers from the original 3.1GB iso size from M$?
 
w7 pro(might have been ultimate) x64(w 3125574), 1.26GB installed - NTLite 1.2.0.2871(?). proof was supplied. :cool:

the 4.6/7GB installed recent test is a much better all rounder.
 
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But, did it still work at all??? :eek:

Was that the size of the iso and/or the separate folders versions or what it was installed?

I did this twice and the smallest was 2.9GB for the iso and 3GB for the folder (Win 7 Pro w/ 100 updates up to yr 2016). That included removing;

Windows\winsxs\Backup (2/3 down on page) takes 4-12 minutes; 3300 files, 545MB,
Users\Public delete all folders except Favorites, Libraries & Public Desktop 56MB
Windows\Globalization\MCT delete that folder 19MB
Windows\Resources\Themes delete all but Aero
Windows\Resources\Ease of Access Themes delete all but basic & classic
Windows\System32\Recovery\wimRE.wim 165MB
Windows\Web\Wallpaper delete everything except Windows folder 38MB

Which came to 823MB.

Also removed (according to NTLites sizes listed) was another 680MB of 'fluff'. But that doesn't included all the drivers that were removed (with no size listed) including video & printers which are substantial.

Which rounds out to be 1.5GB removed (more or less)
The 103 updates added back 190MB.

But it only reduced the size 200MB (from 3.1 to 2.0GB). using RT7Lite 5 years ago and again 3 years ago, I had it down to 1.8GB with the updates (1.5GB w/o).


Ok, whats wrong, the math doesn't add up?
 
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of course it worked :cool:, but the degree to which it worked wasnt for everyone. it would make an ideal media player/DAW pluus other basic stuff.
it wasnt built in 1 go though, it was built up over many months with each new ntlite which had new removals. prolly over the course of a year at least.
 
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v1.2xxxxx was 2016 and i cant remember the full details. i cant remember if 1.26GB was the drive space used or the size of the windows folder or the combined size of all the folders at c: . either way it wouldnt have been much over 1.3GB.

as for your build i dont know. rt7lite(built for vista) was unsupported by the time nuhi came back to the fold so by build 1.2.xxxxx it was way better than rt7lite. i know you dont want to, and i have said this before, do a new w7(edition to suit) build with all .nets, ie11, language packs, capture then run through ntlite, you will get much better results.
 
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I have and that USB communication problem is not there, but there are functions/features that are missing starting with changing the boot & login screens which I miss, thou that can be done later (but why??).
I realize this was written for W10, so seven was a offshoot (so to speak) thou hitting "apply" to every page was easy to forget doing. :(
 
you mean written for vista. one thing that nuhi got spot on was UI layout and workflow(look at nLite), unlike other tools.
one tool opened and closed windows all over the place, another tool is a command line window with options. :(
 
videobruce said:
Just how small can Win 7 get without updates and additional drivers from the original 3.1GB iso size from M$?
Click to expand...
I think tiny7 made a 700mb iso. Granted this was without SP1, but I'm sure someone could do it even with updates. Someone did the same with win10
 
Could be you didn't remove all the stuff he did. If it helps, I can pm the log file and you can use that as a starting point.
 
I'm not looking for the smallest, but at least less then 2GB. I'm not in any contest.
Ok on the PM.
 
My last 64-bit ISO is 0.99 GB (with untouched boot.wim) and install.wim is 836 MB with all updates as of February 2021 listed by WHDownloader (ESU updates included) and .NET 4.8 updated to the same date installed in audit mode using a slim repack I created with these tools by abbodi86 . It is possible to reduce further by converting to ESD and using Windows 8.1/10 setup files but I haven't done that yet.
 
videobruce said:
I did this twice and the smallest was 2.9GB for the iso and 3GB for the folder (Win 7 Pro w/ 100 updates up to yr 2016).
Click to expand...

Windows 7 has many third-party drivers and takes up a lot of space. Windows 8.1 and 10 have far fewer drivers included.

Try disabling Servicing Stack compatibility and if not getting better results remove Component Store (WinSxS).
 
These sizes you guys are reporting are they the iso/Folder created fro NTLite or the actual installed O/S?

I thought the Winsxs was absolutely required.
 
i quote actual install sizes, occasionally i quote the Windows folder size, i make it clear which one when i post.
 
I referred to the size of the files (install.wim) and the ISO created by NTLite.

Installed size is around 2.6 GB.

2021-06-23 16_06_59.png

videobruce said:
I thought the Winsxs was absolutely required.
Click to expand...

It depends on whether you intend to install updates later or need to enable or disable features in Programs and Features in the control panel.

As I don't use Windows Update and I remove almost everything that is listed I remove WinSxS as well as it becomes almost useless. And it also takes up a considerable portion of the size in the image.
 
AeonX said:
I referred to the size of the files (install.wim) and the ISO created by NTLite.

Installed size is around 2.6 GB.

View attachment 5019



It depends on whether you intend to install updates later or need to enable or disable features in Programs and Features in the control panel.

As I don't use Windows Update and I remove almost everything that is listed I remove WinSxS as well as it becomes almost useless. And it also takes up a considerable portion of the size in the image.
Click to expand...
how do you remove winsxs?
 
if you build an EOL image and dont plan on ever using ESU's, never use SFC then remove winsxs and bits by all means.
 
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