Win 7 stripped but functional

[Archimede]

I still have great memories of the custom Windows XP installation I made with Nlite a few years back... I remember that I could (Acronis True) image my C: partition well under 3 minutes and produce .tib recovery files smaller than 1 GB.

 

After switching to Win 7, the music has considerably changed and now the OS-used HDD space, even without pagefile, hybernation and whatnot, is really huge... No longer a few hundreds MBs but several GBs!

 

An Acronis image of my C: drive (basically the 32 bit OS + .NET as I keep most of my applications and docs on a separate partition) now takes 9+ minutes and is sized between 5 and 6 GBs

 

I am looking at a way to considerably reduce that and, with limited time on my hands, I briefly investigated a couple of promising options:

 

WinReducer (http://www.winreducer.net/winreducer-ex-70.html)

 

NTlite (https://www.ntlite.com/)

 

The objective is to reduce the HDD space footprint while remaining functional: No point to get to the barebone stage and face daily errors, if you get my drift

 

Surely there are a few more available options and tricks and in this respect any help or suggestion from my Nsane friends would be much appreciated

 

Thanks in advance for your kind feedback and happy weekend everyone!

[stylemessiah]

I have never figured out why people get obsessed with "slimming" down windows....in all my years the one common thing ive seen in forums where people congregate to discuss this weirdness is "i removed such and such, now such and such doesnt work", and the forum fills with people doing similar silly things.

 

Its 2016, the smallest hdd you can get now is commonly 500Gb, smallest sdd is 120Gb

 

Time to give silly practices like this the flick, there no valid fricking reason to obsess over install size

 

No one will give you a medal for having the smallest windows install, i know because i watched wankers try and shrink windows for years solely for epeen. No one remembers them

 

Move on and do something worthwhile with your life.....

[Archimede]

While I am grateful to stylemessiah for having provided the perfect example of what I consider a totally useless and redundant reply to my request for help, I am now hopeful that other friendlier members of this wonderful forum can see (in stylemessiah's patronizing reply) what it's NOT needed and can therefore possibly provide a productive and creative reply to my post.

 

Thank you!

[Paft]

Pre Windows 7 I used to use:

 

 

Spoiler

Windows XP Pro Performance Edition SP3 November 2010

Original Size: 595 mb
New Size: 358 mb (Difference of 237 mb)
(This is the Size of the ISO)

BEFORE COMMENTING OR ASKING ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS THOROUGHLY!

This supports ALL Languages and ALL Keyboard Layouts.

This is a FULL Install. You CANNOT Upgrade from previous versions of Windows.
There is no validation required. This PASSES WGA. This works 100% with Windows Update.
I have included the CD-Key already in the install process. This means at no point will you have to enter it.
Some people using Macs or Virtual Machines might need the serial. See Serial.txt if you do need it.
Serial.txt is located in the download folder and in a folder on the disc/iso.
This has all windows updates through November 2010. This is has been tested numerous times with no errors.
This has minimalist Internet Explorer 6. (Use It To Download Firefox, Opera, Safari, Chrome, Etc)
This is the x86 version (32Bit).

Almost all drivers have been stripped from this release. You must install all necessary drivers on your own.

Updates currently work fine and this also currently passes WGA.

This is set to automatically log you in each time you start up. If you want to be prompted for a username and password
please see the "TJ" folder on the disc. It contains a registry patch that you can run to have it prompt for username and password again.
This folder on the disc also contains numerous other little tweak applications, registry patches & More.

I have integrated the latest DirectX & System runtimes. I have removed the original Net Framework that ships with XP. It's super old and outdated.
You can still download and use a newer version however. Just download the latest version from Microsoft.com or Windows Update.

This CANNOT be installed via a USB Drive. Sorry, Critical files needed for a USB install have been removed to keep size very small.

The Following has been Removed From This OS...

Applications:
Briefcase
Games
Internet Games
Pinball
Screensavers

Drivers:
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
Display Adapters
IBM PS/2 TrackPoint
IBM ThinkPad
ISDN
Logitech WingMan
Microsoft SideWinder
Modems
Multifunctional
Printers
Scanners
Serial Pen Tablet
Sony Jog Dial
Tape drives
Toshiba DVD decoder card

Hardware Support:
ATM Support
Brother Devices
Gravis Digital GamePort
Iomega Zip drive
Multi-port serial adapters
Ramdisk
Windows CE USB Host

Multimedia:
AOL ART Image Format Support
Images and Backgrounds
Intel Indeo codecs
Media Center
Mouse Cursors
Movie Maker
Music Samples
Old CDPlayer and Sound Recorder
Tablet PC
Windows Media Player
Windows Sounds

Network:
Client for Netware Networks
Communication tools
Comtrol Test Terminal Program
Connection Manager
FrontPage Extensions
H323 MSP
Internet Connection Wizard
Internet Information Services
IP Conferencing
MSN Explorer
Netmeeting
NetShell Cmd-Tool
Network Diagnostic
Peer-to-Peer (Has Nothing To Do With Torrents, XDCC, UseNet, Gnutella, LimeWire, Etc)
Share Creation Wizard
Synchronization Manager
TAPI Application Support
Vector Graphics Rendering
Web Folders
Windows Messenger

Operating System Options:
NET Framework
Blaster/Nachi removal tool
Color Schemes
Desktop Cleanup Wizard
Document Templates
DR Watson
FAT to NTFS converter
File and Settings Wizard
File System Encryption
Help and Support
IExpress Wizard
Manual Install and Upgrade
MS Agent
MS XML 2.0
Out of Box Experience
Private Character Editor
Remote Installation Services
Search Assistant
Security Center
Service Pack Messages
Symbolic Debugger
Tour
Web View

Services:
Application Layer Gateway
Error Reporting
Indexing Service
Messenger
Network DDE
Remote Registry
Removable Storage
Route Listening Service
RPC Locator
Service Advertising Protocol
Simple TCP/IP Services
Telnet

Directories:
DOCS
SUPPORT
VALUEADD

I have disabled and deleted the Classic Windows XP Install Screens with the info about XP and the blue Background.
You will just see a black background now and the install will look similar to 2000. This saves Space and gives more
info while installing.

The Minimum HD and RAM Requirements have been lifted. You can try and install this on whatever machine you like now.
High ISO Compression has been enabled to save space.

Patches:
TCP/IP Half-Open Connections = 1000 (Default 10)
UXTheme Patch (Allows Unsigned Themes to be applied to XP)
Windows System File Checker Disabled (SFC)

Tweaks:
Boot and Shutdown-Auto-End tasks immediately
Boot and Shutdown-Auto-Kill hung applications immediately
Boot and Shutdown-Auto-Kill hung services immediately
Boot and Shutdown-Ctrl-Alt-Del at logon-Disabled
Boot and Shutdown-Disable automatic restart on System Failure
Boot and Shutdown-Disable saving Last Good state at boot
Boot and Shutdown-Logon Page-Classic
Boot and Shutdown-Setup Prefetch-Cache-Applaunch and Boot enabled
Boot and Shutdown-Status Messages-Extended
Desktop-Desktop icons size-32
Desktop-Internet Explorer icon-Hide
Desktop-My Computer icon-Show
Desktop-My Documents icon-Show
Desktop-My Network Places icon-Hide
Desktop-Recycle Bin icon-Show
Explorer-Add (un)register libraries in Context Menu
Explorer-Add 'Command Prompt' to folder context menu
Explorer-Advanced Search: preconfigure options
Explorer-Associate additional file types with Notepad
Explorer-Change Windows Explorer folder view-Details
Explorer-Classic Control Panel
Explorer-Disable Accessibility keyboard shortcuts
Explorer-Disable Autorun
Explorer-Disable Prefix: Shortcut to
Explorer-Disable shortcut arrow
Explorer-Disable Web Files and Folders connection
Explorer-Display the contents of system folders
Explorer-Launch folder windows in a separate process
Explorer-Show Drive Letters in front of Drive Names
Explorer-Show extensions of known file-types
Explorer-Show hidden files and folders
Explorer-Show Map Network Drives buttons in Explorer bar
Explorer-Show Statusbar in all windows
Explorer-Show the full path in the Address Bar
Explorer-Show the full path in the Title Bar
Explorer-Use small icons in Explorer bar
Internet Explorer-Disable information bar when popup is blocked
Internet Explorer-Disable Market Place bookmark
Internet Explorer-Disable Media Player 6.4 created bookmarks
Internet Explorer-Disable Outlook Express link creation
Internet Explorer-Disable Password-Caching
Internet Explorer-Disable sound when popup is blocked
Internet Explorer-Enable Google URL-Search
Internet Explorer-Keep IE URL-History for-0 Days
Internet Explorer-Set Homepage-www.google.com
Internet Explorer-Set Internet Explorer to accept 10 connects at a time
Internet Explorer-Set popup-blocker to high
My Computer-Add Administrative Tools
My Computer-Add Control Panel
My Computer-Add Control Panel to Context Menu
My Computer-Add Device Manager to Context Menu
My Computer-Add Drive Cleanup to Context Menu
My Computer-Add Event Viewer to Context Menu
My Computer-Add My Network Places
My Computer-Add Network Connections
My Computer-Add Registry Editor to Context Menu
My Computer-Add Scheduled Tasks
Network-Allow receiving Remote Assistance-Disable
Network-Disable restoring mapped network drives on logon
Performance-Disable Info Tips on Files and Folders
Performance-Disable Last accessed Timestamp on files
Performance-Disable Optimize harddisk when idle
Performance-Disable Tracking of Broken Shortcut Links
Performance-Disable WBEM logging
Performance-Do not cache thumbnails
Performance-Run 16-bit Windows applications in a separate process
Performance-Use Windows classic folders / No Tasks Sidepanel
Privacy-Disable Driver Update Internet prompt
Privacy-Disable File MRU-List
Privacy-Remove Alexa
Security-Always show Updates under Software
Security-Disable DCOM
Security-Disable Web Open With prompt
Security-Re-Enable user:pass URLs
Start Menu-Add Administrative Tools menu
Start Menu-Clear most recently opened documents list on logoff
Start Menu-Control Panel-Display as a menu
Start Menu-Disable and remove Documents list from the Start Menu
Start Menu-Disable Highlight newly installed programs
Start Menu-Do not use Personalized Menus
Start Menu-My Computer-Display as a menu
Start Menu-My Documents-Display as a menu
Start Menu-My Music-Don't display this item
Start Menu-My Network Places-Don't display this item
Start Menu-My Pictures-Don't display this item
Start Menu-Network Connections-Display as Connect to menu
Start Menu-Printers and Faxes-Display as a menu
Start Menu-Reduce popup delay
Start Menu-Remove Search For People from Search
Start Menu-Remove Search the Internet from Search
Start Menu-Remove Set Program Access and Defaults
Start Menu-Remove Windows Catalog shortcut
Start Menu-Scroll Programs
Start Menu-Use small icons in Start Panel
Taskbar-Disable Balloon Tips
Taskbar-Disable Group similar Taskbar buttons
Taskbar-Disable Hide inactive icons
Taskbar-Disable Language-Bar
Taskbar-Hide Volume Control Icon in System Tray
Taskbar-Lock the Taskbar-Yes
Visual Effects-Animate windows when minimizing and maximizing-Disable
Visual Effects-Combo box animation-Disable
Visual Effects-Cursor shadow-Disable
Visual Effects-Display mouse pointer trails-Disable
Visual Effects-Fade out selection-Disable
Visual Effects-Gradient captions in windows-Disable
Visual Effects-Keyboard shortcut underline-Enable
Visual Effects-Menu animation-Disable
Visual Effects-Menu shadows-Disable
Visual Effects-Menu style-Flat
Visual Effects-Show translucent selection rectangle-Disable
Visual Effects-Show window contents while dragging-Disable
Visual Effects-Slide taskbar buttons-Disable
Visual Effects-Smooth edges of screen fonts-Clear Type
Visual Effects-Smooth-scroll list boxes-Disable
Visual Effects-Tooltip animation-Disable
Visual Effects-Use a background image for each folder type-Disable
Visual Effects-Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop-Disable

Additional Features:
VLK Serial Number
Firewall Disabled (Can be re-enabled)
System Restore Service Disabled (Can be re-enabled)
Automatic Updates Disabled (Can be re-enabled)
Default Theme Set on Classic (Can Change to Luna Which is Still Included)

Install Notes:
1. Unrar the Archive(s) using WinRAR or 7Zip. This will produce an ISO file.
2. Burn the ISO using a program such as IMGBurn, Nero, Alcohol 120, Blindwrite, ect... (Burn at a slow Speed to ensure no errors, 1x-4x)
3. Change Bios Priority settings so it boots from the CD-ROM Drive First. (You may be able to skip this step)
4. Insert Disc and Reboot PC, Follow the on screen prompts and enjoy.

Notes:
If you are getting errors while copying files. It's your CD, not the release. Try burning it to different brand of cd/media and try burning at the slowest speed possible.
I just tested this in VMWare and it works flawless. You should get between 16-19 Processes and under 100mb of ram usage when using the computer initially.
Everything you install/use will obviously increase this, however its the leanest XP Copy around.

 

 

[Archimede]

Thanks Paft,

 

Now that I read through your post I see that that was basically my approach when I stripped my XP Pro SP3... So much unnecessary stuff to get rid of!!!

 

I still keep that XP lite version that came out quite nicely and in several years of usage never gave me errors nor BSOD.

 

Now, after having used Win 7 for a few years, I have a pretty good idea of the features that I do and don't need and hopefully soon I will be able to enjoy an error-free lite version of this OS too.

 

 

[Jordan]

Slimming down an iso is not only about hdd size it will occupy when installed

Some users may want to remove things they never use or don't like

There are also users who's main goal is to get a light impact on the system i think

 

i personally did it many times on Windows 7 ISO's but i was removing only few things, adding my own apps and making it auto-activated

The global size of my customized iso's was increasing instead of decreasing!

 

But i agree to a certain point with the above replies : Removing too much things can effectively end up with errors

 

Microsoft has releasd a natively slimmed down version named Windows Thin PC exclusively for x86 systems

i never installed or tried it though!

 

 

[straycat19]

5 hours ago, jordan4x said:

Microsoft has releasd a natively slimmed down version named Windows Thin PC exclusively for x86 systems

i never installed or tried it though!

 

It is still available for download.  It only ever came in 32 bit version though.

 

http://download.microsoft.com/download/C/D/7/CD789C98-6C1A-43D6-87E9-F7FDE3806950/ThinPC_110415_EVAL_x86fre.iso

 

[knowledge-Spammer]

  cutout all the crap with Black Viper. Use either 7lite  WinToolKit.

or buy

http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/wyse-z-class/pd

[stylemessiah]

10 hours ago, Archimede said:

While I am grateful to stylemessiah for having provided the perfect example of what I consider a totally useless and redundant reply to my request for help, I am now hopeful that other friendlier members of this wonderful forum can see (in stylemessiah's patronizing reply) what it's NOT needed and can therefore possibly provide a productive and creative reply to my post.

 

Thank you!

Let me quote (myself) again

 

Quote

Its 2016, the smallest hdd you can get now is commonly 500Gb, smallest sdd is 120Gb

 

Whats not valid about that? or redundant?

 

Like i said, anyone else still fiddling about with windows install size reductions is still a fiddler...theres no point in doing it, unless you like breaking things.

 

You only get to feel superior to me when you have a cogent argument for why youre doing what youre doing, and so far, havent seen one

 

Unnecessary fiddling...its why ive been kept busy by end users in 30+ years of IT

[Archimede]

stylemessiah, I have already thanked you sufficiently for your contribution to my thread, now please excuse me if I don't have any more time to deal with your obvious personality disorder.

 

To everyone else: Thanks for your input so far

 

I have just finished installing Windows Embedded Standard (32-bit Thin PC / downloaded from the link below) and after a fresh install I see 6.1 GB of used space... Still lots of stuff that I don't need is there and probably it's a good base to start stripping from... That's obviously for us "wankers"

 

Site: https://cloud.mail.ru
Sharecode^[?]: /public/8KdB/CDX8npEdF

 

Anyone tried RT Seven Lite? It seems to be promising.

[go0gle]

Archimede did you try it THIS ?

 

Windows.7.Ultimate.N.x86-LiteOS - 2016

Iso=730MB/Installed=4GB

updates 17.5.2016

This version doesnt include Windows Media Player / Internet Explorer
 

[Archimede]

Thanks for the suggestion Go0gle, I am currently assessing which tool to use and then I am going to start removing all the features that I don't need (and integrate various tweaks and components that I do need)... I will use as a base a Win 7 SP1 Ultimate original DVD that I have.

 

It's surely a bit of work but I believe it to be worth my while as it will save me plenty of time when I install new laptops.

[Archimede]

Aaaand the winner iiiiis, RT Seven Lite (2.6.0 Beta was the latest version I managed to download)... Seriously the best application in this class!

 

Pity that Rockers Team apparently discontinued the development of this awesome tool.

 

After only 3 failed attempts I seem to have reached my goal

 

I removed almost all the stuff that I don't need (the amount of useless crap that RT Seven Lite permits to ditch is sensational) and I managed to shrink my Win 7 Pro (32-bit) iso file to 900 MB (original size 2.4 GB) keeping a healthy balance of features and components without breaking anything.

 

I purposely did not integrate stuff (drivers or apps) but only added some tweaks, loaded a "Safe" preset to select services and went for the unattended installation... Really cool!

 

The installation via USB pendrive took just over 12 minutes and the OS-used HDD space is 3.2 GB only... So far I am really happy... I have tested this new Win 7 Lite on one of my laptops extensively during the day and (touch wood) no errors popped up

 

Both boot and shutdown are considerably faster since the stuff to load is remarkably less.

 

In the next days I will continue several tests and plan to make/restore some Acronis images and hopefully I will be confirming that all works fine.

 

Once again, many thanks to all the nsane friends who brought creative and supportive comments to this thread