YSK Tiny11 is great for when you need Windows
a month ago by Fmstrat to c/youshouldknow
Tiny11 builds a Windows 11 ISO that is 3.7GB in size, and installs in less than 10GB. It is so stripped down it doesn't even have a web browser, so it requires minimal updates, and runs great as a VM.
Personally, I use it for things like configuring Webcams or Controllers.
I recommend installing in KVM using a qcow2 disk image named Tiny11-Base.qcow2, then:
Install VirtIO tools
To get VirtIO on there you can use a USB stick, or use PowerShell as Administrator to download:
$url = "https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/virtio-win/direct-downloads/archive-virtio/virtio-win-0.1.285-1/virtio-win-guest-tools.exe"
$output = "c:\Users\User\Download\virtio.exe"
Import-Module BitsTransfer
Start-BitsTransfer -Source $url -Destination $output
Mount folders
This is so you don't need a browser or to use PowerShell for downloading. I mount my local Downloads folder.
Guide: https://www.debugpoint.com/...
Latest FSP (Fuse for Windows) at time of writing: https://github.com/...
Snapshot and backup
Shutdown and create backups.
This retains sparse file compatibility (a disk that can grow as needed).
- Snapshot will give you two files. Point your VM to the second one to use the snapshot.
- The backup command will backup the original and the snapshot.
Snapshot
qemu-img create -f qcow2 -b Tiny11-Base.qcow2 -F qcow2 Tiny11-Active.qcow2
Backup
tar --use-compress-program=pbzip2 -cSvf Tiny11.tar.bz2 Tiny11*.qcow2
Export KVM
virsh dumpxml Tiny11 > Tiny11.xml
Restore qcow2
tar --use-compress-program=pbzip2 -xvf ./Tiny11.tar.bz2
Import KVM
virsh define Tiny11.xml
Not sure if joking or not, but yes. Outside of spyware that is Win11, projects that customize distros could contain unwanted, malicious hidden software.
It's hilariously telling that the windows start menu simply doesn't know what to do if you don't have 99% of it filled with bullshit.
Now this is a top quality YSK. Bookmarking this one!
I use it on my main computer for video / photo / audio editing and gaming.
It's been a year and I can't complain.
Makes me think of many Medicat tools (and others like Macrium Reflect) that boot up a tiny windows installation just to run a single piece of software.
I'm used to Linux being used for that, so it's funny when it's Windows.
Yea, one of my popular projects was https://github.com/Fmstrat/winapps/, which was often called "Linux Subsystem for Windows" by some, which I found funny. I also always found that (and WSL) to sound backwards.
I used to work IT in a hospital, and you would be surprised how many medical devices still run Windows 7 or even XP. Offline devices, of course. And behind locked doors. But stuff for scopes etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/... in this context, most likely
So what can't I do with tiny11? Does the stuff it strip out mean I can't use it for my tv gaming pc?
@lemmy.world
YSK - for all the things that can make your life easier!
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@lemmy.world
YSK - for all the things that can make your life easier!
The rules for posting and commenting, besides the rules defined here for lemmy.world, are as follows:
Rules (interactive)
Rule 1- All posts must begin with YSK.
All posts must begin with YSK. If you're a Mastodon user, then include YSK after @youshouldknow. This is a community to share tips and tricks that will help you improve your life.
Rule 2- Your post body text must include the reason "Why" YSK:
**In your post's text body, you must include the reason "Why" YSK: It’s helpful for readability, and informs readers about the importance of the content. **
Rule 3- Do not seek mental, medical and professional help here.
Do not seek mental, medical and professional help here. Breaking this rule will not get you or your post removed, but it will put you at risk, and possibly in danger.
Rule 4- No self promotion or upvote-farming of any kind.
That's it.
Rule 5- No baiting or sealioning or promoting an agenda.
Posts and comments which, instead of being of an innocuous nature, are specifically intended (based on reports and in the opinion of our crack moderation team) to bait users into ideological wars on charged political topics will be removed and the authors warned - or banned - depending on severity.
Rule 6- Regarding non-YSK posts.
Provided it is about the community itself, you may post non-YSK posts using the [META] tag on your post title.
Rule 7- You can't harass or disturb other members.
If you harass or discriminate against any individual member, you will be removed.
If you are a member, sympathizer or a resemblant of a movement that is known to largely hate, mock, discriminate against, and/or want to take lives of a group of people and you were provably vocal about your hate, then you will be banned on sight.
For further explanation, clarification and feedback about this rule, you may follow this link.
Rule 8- All comments should try to stay relevant to their parent content.
Rule 9- Reposts from other platforms are not allowed.
Let everyone have their own content.
Rule 10- The majority of bots aren't allowed to participate here.
Unless included in our Whitelist for Bots, your bot will not be allowed to participate in this community. To have your bot whitelisted, please contact the moderators for a short review.
Rule 11- Posts must actually be true: Disiniformation, trolling, and being misleading will not be tolerated. Repeated or egregious attempts will earn you a ban. This also applies to filing reports: **If you continually file false reports YOU WILL BE BANNED!** We can see who reports what, and shenanigans will not be tolerated. We are not here to ban people who said something you don't like.
If you file a report, include what specific rule is being violated and how.
Partnered Communities:
You can view our partnered communities list by following this link. To partner with our community and be included, you are free to message the moderators or comment on a pinned post.
Community Moderation
For inquiry on becoming a moderator of this community, you may comment on the pinned post of the time, or simply shoot a message to the current moderators.
Credits
Our icon(masterpiece) was made by @clen15!
go to feed...
YSK projects like this can be insecure and possibly contain malware or time-bombs or other nastiness. Not saying this does, but definitely something to be aware of.
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