Redazione RHC : 2 November 2025 09:09
Windows minimalists have set another record. Enthusiast @XenoPanther has reduced the size of a running copy of Windows 7 to 69 megabytes , smaller than the average mobile app. By comparison, a standard installation of this operating system requires tens of gigabytes.
According to the author, this was more of a fun experiment than an attempt to create a full-fledged version . This stripped-down image is almost completely non-functional : system libraries, interface elements, dialog boxes, and most graphics are missing. However, the desktop still loads, albeit with considerable difficulty, and Windows Authentication remains enabled.
While everything related to the graphical interface wouldn’t work, such a build could handle even the simplest console applications, requiring only the system kernel. Such experiments have long since become a distinct field among enthusiasts fascinated by the idea of running Windows with minimal memory . Older users recall installing Windows 3.1 on a floppy disk just for experiments.
Minimal versions of the system are useful for more than just curiosity. They are suitable for virtual machines, test environments, and containers, where compactness and quick startup are essential. In 2015, Microsoft had already attempted to create an official, lightweight version: Windows Server Nano, which took up about 400 megabytes. The company later replaced it with the basic containerized Nano Server Base , which weighed less than 300 megabytes. It started faster, but was too limited in functionality and unsuitable for tasks requiring a full set of interfaces and APIs.
Today, developers like NTDEV and their Tiny11 project continue to independently develop the idea of a compact Windows . Microsoft, meanwhile, adds more integrated services and auxiliary components with each new release, making the system increasingly cumbersome. Therefore, projects like the 69 MB Windows 7 serve as a reminder: it’s possible to build a lightweight and fast system, but in Redmond, it’s not yet possible.
While Windows 7 is long out of date and doesn’t receive security updates, this minimal set of files can be useful for running older programs that don’t require a full system installation. And for those looking for something to do on a rainy weekend in the UK, attempting to beat @XenoPanther’s record seems like a great way to spend an evening.
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