Installed Windows 11 using a compact 2.4GB ISO, resulting in a final installation size of 8.36GB, which is two-thirds the size of a typical Windows install, thanks to Nano11 Builder.
In the tech world, size matters, and that's exactly what NTDEV's Nano11 Builder project is all about - reducing the size of the Windows 11 installation ISO. This project, recently covered in a tech story, aims to provide developers and testers with a minimal and streamlined Windows 11 environment.
The base Windows 11 ISO from Microsoft weighs in at a hefty 5,695,402 KB (5.69GB). However, the nano-sized Windows 11, developed through the Nano11 Builder project, is nearly two-thirds the size of the base image, at 2,145,104 KB (2.14GB). The Tiny version of Windows 11, also a product of the same project, claims 1.5GB more space, making it a 10.1GB installation.
The author, known for their advocacy of Linux and Raspberry Pi, has successfully installed both the Windows 11 Nano and Tiny ISOs in a virtual machine (VM), but the full Windows 11 ISO would not install. Interestingly, the nano-sized Windows 11 installation took up 8.36GB of the virtual hard disk, two-thirds smaller than a typical Windows 11 installation.
The Tiny and Nano installations result in smaller final installations compared to the base ISO. The installation size for the Tiny ISO is 10,865,098,752 KB (10.1GB), and the Nano ISO is 8,984,236,032 KB (8.36GB).
However, the nano-sized Windows 11 comes with its trade-offs. The OS intentionally lacks a web browser, and apps can only be obtained by downloading executables on another machine and copying them via USB. This minimal setup is designed primarily for testing or VM use rather than daily usage.
The developer, NTDEV, has removed nearly all bloatware and core components to achieve this tiny and fast install. This approach intentionally sacrifices features like updates and servicing for minimal size and speed. The project has been tested on various devices, including virtual machines and low-resource systems, to ensure functionality despite extreme size reduction.
The author, who has not yet migrated to Windows 11 due to an IT request and the need to move files, suggests using the nano-sized Windows 11 as a base to build appliances with limited purposes that require Windows.
On a separate note, the author has had difficulty installing DaVinci Resolve for video editing on Linux, a software that can be installed on the platform but has not been successful for the author. Instead, the author suggests using an emulation system like LaunchBox on an older gaming rig with Intel eighth to tenth-generation CPUs or AMD Ryzen 3000 series and an Nvidia RTX 2000 series GPU for emulating Nintendo Gamecube, Sony PlayStation 2, and OG XBOX era machines.
The author plans to send a form to IT before October 14, which might signal a potential move to Windows 11 in the near future. Stay tuned for more updates!
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