Filed under: Windows
How to build a smaller and faster Windows VM
by Jordan Running Jul 20th 2006 at 5:30PM
When you're running a Virtual Machine, you don't always need all the trimmings--usually your goal is to get a particular set of tasks done, and a full-fledged install of Windows has a lot that gets in the way of that and can slow you down. Jeff Atwood has a great tutorial at his blog about creating smaller virtual machines. He says that since Microsoft made the Windows version of Virtual PC free, he's "become obsessed with producing the smallest possible Windows XP Virtual PC image." While your run-of-the-mill XP install takes up more than 1GB, Atwood's tutorial squeezes it down to 758MB. Still big, but better. One of his steps involves the use of XPlite, an app that will cost you $39.95, which might not be an investment more casual VMers would want to make. His tutorial is aimed at Microsoft Virtual PC, but it's probably applicable to other virtualization solutions as well.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ube said 6:43AM on 7-21-2006
If I was to do this i would use nlite instead http://www.nliteos.com which gives you the possibillty to create a bootable cd/dvd image to use in your VM. I use this to squeeze down my "real" xp cd to ~170Mb and installation takes up about 600Mb.. With slimmed office 2k3, antivirus and some other stuff the image still onöy is 450mb and installs in less than 20 minutes, all I have to do is to activate my XP and I'm up and running again.
Yes, I know I could have the same result with ghost, but I don't want to by a license for this.
Reply