[dizzo]

Ravic,
I'm really interested to hear about the 4gb W7 install. Please share details or even the drive image, it's not like the beta is licensed or mini9s are different from each other.

-D

[ravic]

Here is how i got it installed on a 4gb drive

I initially used a ghost image that someone created for the eepc. It was of 1.8 gb in size after it is restored. That is the best version you can use. Change the launguage to "English" in control panel once you restore. Uninstall eeepc specific software.

I later create my own VM and created ghost image out of it. But it is larger in size 2.7GB and achieves the same thing. I did not spend enough time cleaning up the image yet.


Here is how you can restore the ghost image.

1. Create a Ghost 11 boot CD
2. copy the ghost image to a usb thumb drive.
3. Connect a usb cd-rom and the usb thumb drive to the mini
4. Boot to CD ROM and then restore the ghost image.


If you want to use a USB drive only, you would need to extract the contents of the ghost 11 boot cd and then copy the contents to the usb drive then make it bootable and boot off of it.

Here is a command that will make it bootable in vista.

bootsect /nt60 {usbdriveletter}: /force /mbr

There might be some tinkering needed to make it bootable.

[Cruleworld]

Originally Posted by omegamanex

I have an 8gb mini and yes it is possible, but only with a vLite'd install. I got my beta .iso down to 1.3gb, and it installed in 3.2gb.

I basically used the guide from here : http://rickatnight11.com/?p=71 to do the install from a usb stick. You can safely follow everything listed there, except do not remove the UAC because it will cause headaches down the road ( put it into silent mode if it annoys you later ). Also make sure to disable hibernation and the paging file after the install to reclaim the space ( dependant on your memory ). Oh yea, dont do an unattended install cuz it wont work

fyi, A full non modified install recommends 10gb for the install and my vLite'd install recommended 7gb. Also just if anyone ask in the future, for missing software and drivers just download the official stuff from dell.com for the mini 12(vista)

I'm about to try this out, wish me luck.

[Smitty2k1]

Any updates on this? I would like a stripped down version of Pro to put on my 8GB but I don't trust my vLite skills to do it myself!

[holmes4]

Sharing the drive image would be a copyright violation.

[MoInSTL]

I have attached my vLite ini file. I can't upload a .ini file so I included it as a .txt file. The ISO comes in @ 1.36GB. Installed, it's somewhere around 3GB. But I also turned off hibernation & did most everything on the tweak thread.

vLite images are a matter of taste and tools or components needed.

Please note I did not include the following: Any inbox games, only solitaire. No Side bar & gadgets, no storage controllers, no TV tuners. The list is long, but note everything listed was removed. I left in printer support, Aero, etc.

So take a look and adjust accordingly if you want Windows Defender, Media Center, etc. Pay special attention to the Options.

This vLite was from Ultimate. The end result was a stripped down version. I have created much smaller ones in the past but this one has more included. One very small one I created failed to install because I went nuts on removing services. Note the ISO created from these settings is far less than here: rickatnight11.com Blog Archive Install Vista on Dell Mini 9 (USB)

This file is for reference only and I am not responsible for any images you create from a legal disk or any other issues you may have including a messed up file or PC. It's just a guide to help give you a starting point to customize your own small vLite ISO..

[Markman]

Originally Posted by MoInSTL

I have attached my vLite ini file. I can't upload a .ini file so I included it as a .txt file. The ISO comes in @ 1.36GB. Installed, it's somewhere around 3GB. But I also turned off hibernation & did most everything on the tweak thread.

vLite images are a matter of taste and tools or components needed.

Please note I did not include the following: Any inbox games, only solitaire. No Side bar & gadgets, no storage controllers, no TV tuners. The list is long, but note everything listed was removed. I left in printer support, Aero, etc.

So take a look and adjust accordingly if you want Windows Defender, Media Center, etc. Pay special attention to the Options.

This vLite was from Ultimate. The end result was a stripped down version. I have created much smaller ones in the past but this one has more included. One very small one I created failed to install because I went nuts on removing services. Note the ISO created from these settings is far less than here: rickatnight11.com Blog Archive Install Vista on Dell Mini 9 (USB)

This file is for reference only and I am not responsible for any images you create from a legal disk or any other issues you may have including a messed up file or PC. It's just a guide to help give you a starting point to customize your own small vLite ISO..

I am just learning how to use vlite. Should I just rename the extension of your text file to an ini file or do I need to use it to follow along what was removed? If I change it to an ini file do I just double click it to open it?

Thanks

[MoInSTL]

I suggest using it to follow along with. I am pretty certain I also removed printer services from that image as well. I have since changed my vLite to one that includes it.