Windows 7 slimmed down to 69 MB

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 a file list.

"This was more of a fun proof of concept rather than something usable," @XenoPanther said. "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."

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.

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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 – with a disk footprint of 400 MB.

Microsoft later 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.

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. ®