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.


WARNING use of this machine may cause you to go back in time.
-Good work, Pal. Sure beats actually knowing what happened on the Bachelorette.
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 ?
???? 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.
I have a old laptop with similar hardware but only 4 GB of HDD.
Don't think its worth trying to install
WARNING use of this machine may cause you to go back in time.
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!
LOL! Thanks for the chuckle
The RC is suppose to be feature complete. Which means any changes will just be bug fixes, minor tweaks, and added drivers.
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.