Windows 7 Successfully Installed on a Pentium II
What are the minimum system requirements for running Windows 7?
When Microsoft made the Windows 7 RC available, it also issued an official list of system requirements for anyone hoping to install the OS:
- 1GHz processor (32- or 64-bit)
- 1GB of main memory
- 16GB of available disk space
- Support for DX9 graphics with 128MB of memory (for the Aero interface)
Not exactly monstrous and the same as what you needed to run Vista years ago. That said, one Windows enthusiast decided to push the limits and in a kind of “how low can you go” scenario, managed to get Microsoft’s latest OS running on a Pentium II at 266 MHz CPU, 96 MB of RAM and a 4 MB graphics card.
The user hackerman1 posted about his efforts on the Windows Club Forums for the world to see and his fellow posters we, like the other users on the forum, were suitably impressed. Hackerman1 said he did three different tests (128 MB, 96 MB and 64 MB of RAM). Of these, he had success with both 128 MB and 96 MB, while his 64 MB attempt returned error messages reading “insufficient memory.”
Hackerman1 went on to say that he also has a Pentium I with a 166 MHz CPU and a 1 MB graphics card and says if he can dig up the PSU, he’s going to test that next. Check out the screenshots below.
(via TECHSPOT)
*All pictures credited to the original poster (hackerman1) on forum.thewindowsclub.com.
- Microsoft Windows,
- Windows ,
- 7 ,
- Pentium ,
- II
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talk about someone with allot of time on there hands
Interesting that he got it to run, though i wonder what exactly did he get to run ?
Obvious it booted to the desktop but will he be able to boot it to the desktop start a browser and post a reply to my message here in under 15 minutes ?
LOL! If you told me earlier... I took apart my pentium 2 cartridge like, two days ago. Just to see what they're like.
its' a shame the Microsoft windows use experience bottoms out at 1.0.....I would be interested to see where this actually falls. And yes, way too much spare time...
I have a 2 GB HP laptop that runs out of resources after several days if I leave it on and just log out when I'm not using it. This is only using the built in email client, Explorer 8 and Quicken. I should qualify that by saying there may be a couple of other things running in the background, but I've never had this happen with Vista or XP.
LoL ,i bet it runs smooth
)
Sure he can run it, but can he use it? Hmm.. I've got an old pc, might try this myself (I got a lot of time too).
I have a 2 GB HP laptop that runs out of resources after several days if I leave it on and just log out when I'm not using it. This is only using the built in email client, Explorer 8 and Quicken. I should qualify that by saying there may be a couple of other things running in the background, but I've never had this happen with Vista or XP.
???? Are you referring to Windows 7? You know it's still in the RC stage... Why would you expect it to be perfect yet?
At least hold your complaints until October.
eh... everything that would run on a 'modern' pc will run under the system shown... just slower... there's nothing in the architecture that's lacking in between those series of processor/motherboards that would not allow a program to run. if you strip down the services and wot not, i bet it'd run just fine as a IM client and web browsing without flash crap... i think we're just too spoiled because there's still a great majority, worldwide, that uses pentium 2/3 class hardware...
Talking about that, are they going to add something to change that huge windows bar in the final version?
wonder how big the harddrive is.
I have a old laptop with similar hardware but only 4 GB of HDD.
Don't think its worth trying to install
Windows exp rating of -8.
WARNING use of this machine may cause you to go back in time.
I'm sure even a 166Mhz processor could boot Win7, but the user experience will be.. just terrible!
With CPU speeds lower than our current RAM, graphics, PCIE, or FSB speeds, what can you expect?
I bet it took all 24 hours to get that one installed!
It'd be nice to see some specs!
Windows exp rating of -8.WARNING use of this machine may cause you to go back in time.
LOL! Thanks for the chuckle
A pentium II what's the point lol. I also have a Pentium 233mmx I guess I could try it out on if I thought it served any purpose but it doesn't.
I'm about to scrap a pentium III 1ghz system and put at least a P4 in that, and even P4's are slow.
Talking about that, are they going to add something to change that huge windows bar in the final version?
The RC is suppose to be feature complete. Which means any changes will just be bug fixes, minor tweaks, and added drivers.
meh, meh, and more MEH!! When they can get the latest version of windows to run on a 486 then I might say "hey look, windows can one more thing linux does with ease..."
I'm suprised to see so many Toms readers criticising the man for having to much time on his hands. Aren't we all suppose to be enthusiasts? I think its awesome. I might give a crack at installing on my old Pentium M...
I wonder why noone so far asked if it could run crysis too!
I'm running the RC on a Toshiba Satilite a70 laptop. 1 Gig of ram and an ati mobility 9000 gpu. I was never able to get drivers running under vista for the gpu, but under Win 7 XP drivers from 2006 are working fine.
The laptop performs fine for everyday tasks (office, web, email) and is WOW is even quite playable on it :-)
If you haven't tried it, don't open your yaps.
Somebody HAS to say it.... Will it run Crysis?
LOL. I'm betting it would. If it meets the requirements for WOW these days then I bet it would. Having said that, I'm not betting on how fast at all :-)
Let's take it the other way. Is someone interested in loading Win95 or 98 on a i7 machine?
OMG Windows can do what Linux can do!!!! Time to switch.
I'm gonna go load WOw on my linux box right now.
I've tested Win7 Beta on an Athlon XP, 1.9ghz, 512mb ram DDR (2x256), ATI Radeon x1600.. It runs great.. Doesn't work for my kind of work tho (flashing bios chios/eeproms) on windows (cuz 7 doesn't allow the direct hardware access I need for that - and the processor can't handle virtualization).. So, back to XP..
Overal experience?? Great.. It was loading faster than my XP install.
Since I teach hardware, I'll bring 7 (RC) to the test lab to show my students that 7 will install on a AMD K6-II 450mhz, 128mb, 4mb graphic card. ^^ (XP takes one hour and 45 minutes to install, I hope I can get 7 done in about the same time).
Hmmm I have an old Celeron 725 Mhz and AMD K6 II 333 Mhz wonder how it would run.
I would only be impressed if he posted that thread from that computer using IE 8.
he doesn't get props until he runs it on a 386....
Must... get...another...HDD...want...to....try... 7
Some people watch TV. Some people play Warcraft. Others worship the GYM. And, a small percentage of curious tinkerers do stuff like this.
-Good work, Pal. Sure beats actually knowing what happened on the Bachelorette.