Small Windows installation footprint

philjayj · 10 Jul 2010 at 22:11

Hi, I'm looking to build a home virtual server, but rather than run the host OS on a dedicated hard drive, and waste space, I was hoping to install either XP Pro x64 or Windows Server x64 on a 4GB integrated solid state drive.

How can I reduce the footprint of a fully-patched Windows Install to less than 4GB?

Cheers

wesley · 10 Jul 2010 at 22:18

nlite

philjayj · 11 Aug 2010 at 23:30

Hi, I created a bootable ISO using nLite, but I get BSODs every time I turn the machine on.

Also, how will nLite reduce the installed footprint of XP to less than 4GB? I went through the nLite ISO creation etc, but I didn't come across anything obvious which would reduce the install size.

Thanks

SiriusB · 11 Aug 2010 at 23:38

4GB is going to be a struggle I think once you have software installed. Though I can't remember off-hand the size of a regular XP install.

philjayj · 11 Aug 2010 at 23:42

Thanks for the reply. The only software that will be installed is VMware Server v2.

bledd · 12 Aug 2010 at 00:08

It's doable with 32bit XP, and possibly 64bit XP, no chance with Vista

However, nlite is a dead app now, the creator stopped making it

eXor · 12 Aug 2010 at 12:21

RLBUHT said:
Hi, I'm looking to build a home virtual server ... footprint ... less than 4GB?

Would a Linux distribution be an option?

Base + X + Vmware Server would be very tiny indeed.