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.
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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hemelskonijn Interesting that he got it to run, though i wonder what exactly did he get to run ?Reply
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 ? -
aspireonelover LOL! If you told me earlier... I took apart my pentium 2 cartridge like, two days ago. Just to see what they're like.Reply -
scook9 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...Reply -
erichlund 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.Reply -
zubai 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).Reply -
chripuck erichlundI 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.Reply
???? 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. :) -
Hanin33 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...Reply -
erigolhuhu Talking about that, are they going to add something to change that huge windows bar in the final version?Reply