Hi there, me again
I wanted to inform you that there is very stable, reliable and unbelievably small version of Windows 7 SP1 lite floating around. I am using it every day for making music and it's simply EXCELLENT. Not only it's super fast, it occupies just 2.85GB of space.
There are some things missing, but none of them affects audio production in any way.
So far I have come across only three drawbacks:

• Wi-Fi profiles are not visible in explorer
• Some DirectX games won't work (reason unknown)
• Component management in Programs and Features does not work

Windows Update DOES work in offline mode.
And it comes with IE 9 too.
So if you wanted super small and stable system, you just found it. I forgot to mention, it's 64bit (and 32bit as well)
Even though I cannot link on it from here, if you enter "windows 7 lite x86 x64" on Pirate Bay, you'll find a torrent by hemu.moto. And that's it.
Lastly, I don't profit in any way from telling you this, I am not the author so credits goes to uploader and Microsoft as well, it's just occured to me that it might be useful for someone.
That version is 100% tested by me and 100% bloat-free, if you have any questions, fell free to ask.

BTW, this is the Windows, I'd recommend installing on your new machine, Catalyst

(I just hope such topic is allowed )

 

works very well on low spec machines

 

Problem is, you never know about root kits and security issues with those stripped versions, so it's always better to strip it down yourself.

 

There is no virus inside it as far as I know. Tested it with Dr. Web, Malwarebytes and NOD32.
Plus windows updates work on it.
I would not recommend something I haven't checked before. Been using it since January 2013 and everything OK.
Also it works on high-spec machines

In addition, I assumed that the system will be used exclusively offline, which minimizes the security risk considerably

 

I remember buying windows7 home edition when it first came out, bought it direct from MS, downloaded and installed it, first software I installed after was the anti virus stuff, did a full scan, malware found

Removed the offending items and then downloaded (from the darkside) and installed the top version with absolutely no problems with spyware/malware/rootkits etc etc

 

The malware it found was the OS itself

(or maybe the included NSA-report tool )

@ Andrew

Thank you for this info.
Is there somewhere a list that shows what exactly has been removed from this version?

 

stuff like aero etc, I'm pretty sure there is a list, remember seeing it somewhere, I'm sure google will find it

 

From the torrent description:

Code:

What has been removed:

All the languages except English (keyboards layouts are intact). *Language Packs cannot be installed*.

Drivers -> video cards, modems, printers, scanners, TV tunners, fax machines, some storage controller.

Following gadgets are not here -> Currency, MediaCenter, PicturePuzzle, RSSFeeds, SlideShow & Weather.

All the games -> card games, Chess, Mahjong, Backgammon, Checkers, Spades, Minesweeper & Purble Place.

Hardware support for the following devices -> iSCSI devices, Microsoft Multi-Path Bus and Smart cards.

Multimedia -> Media Center, music and video samples, except these needed for Windows Experience Index,
all sample pictures, all screensavers, all sounds, all the desktop themes except the default aero one.

Network -> Internet Information Services, Remote Desktop & Assistance (Remote Desktop Connection here)
RIP Listener, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), Telnet Client, Telnet Server and TFTP Client.
.
Services -> Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC), Error Reporting service, Offline Files, Quality
Windows Audio Video Experience, Windows Search (Indexing service only but not built-in search option).

System -> most of Tablet PC components, BitLocker Drive Encryption, Manual Install and Upgrade option,
Help, Windows Easy Transfer, Sync Center, Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications (SUA), Welcome Center,
Windows Defender, Accessibility, Speech Support & Narrator, Windows Journal, Migwizard, Microsoft IME,
Jet Database Engine, Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ), Parental Controls, System Recovery disc creation,
Natural Language, Microsoft Client for NFS, Software Quality Management, built CD/DVD burning support.	

BTW: Avoid nileshtambe lites, they does not work properly (stability issues)

 

Andrew beat me to it

 

Thanks Andrew.
I'm a mac user, but once in a blue moon I leave the dark side and fire up a virtual windows so this looks very interesting.
Good looking out

 

Oi, is this SP1 by any chance if you happen to know that?

Edit: it is.

This is great! I've been using "lite" version of XP for about a decade now.

 

Yes, this is SP1.
I wrote you PM about it some time ago and possible issues with XP 64bit. Hope you can read it some day

 

As I don't do torrents for security reasons hopefully that thing sometimes will pop up at the sister site, like to test it in a virtual environment.

 

Andrew - thanks.

Do you use the x86 or x64 version?

"So far I have come across only three drawbacks:
Wi-Fi profiles are not visible in explorer
Some DirectX games won't work (reason unknown)
Component management in Programs and Features does not work"

- can you explain why these would be 'drawbacks' for DAW use?

 

I installed this Win7 x64 lite just a few days ago as my second OS.

It works quite well, but I don't have patience to update offline. If this is not a problem I recommend it.

 

Nlite good for doing just that and you can put all your drivers in as well to make your own personal copy

 

It is not a problem for audio production, I only pointed those drawbacks should someone use it differently

I use 64bit.

 

Hey DokX, check your PM.

 

Agreed. In fact, this Lite version list of changes could be a good guide to start with.