How to test Gandalf's PE with only 4GB of RAM


kelper

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I want to run Gandalf's Win 11 PE ISO, but it is too large.

I'm trying to trim the Programs folder which I don't need. I used 7-Zip to extract the contents to a folder. I know 7-zip can delete folders but then I have to use Anyburn to write a new ISO which might not be bootable. Just extracting all the files in the ISO took ninety minutes. Now I have to extract the bootable elements from the ISO and incorporate these into the new ISO.

Surely, there must be an easier way?
 

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Rufus?
 

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List of AnyBurn tutorials...

 

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    300/300
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    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 15 years?
I am not familiar with that pe. I dont know what it does. Does it create an extra ramdisk in addititon to the standard pe X ramdisk?

Have you tried extracting the contents to a usb stick ? Either fat32 or prep the stick with ventoy and add the ventoy_wimboot.img

OR

I'm trying to trim the Programs folder which I don't need

use anyburn EDIT image, delete the programs you dont want ( use the REMOVE button ) and save it using a new name eg. smaller.iso

anyburn-edit1.webp

Anyburn edit and save retains the original iso bootability.

As far as I can tell you are correct that anyburn cant create a muliboot iso. But it can edit and save one. I know because I have tried it.


NOTE:
Anybody who wants to create an iso from a distribution could use dism++ to avoid resorting to commands

Toolkit>Isomaker

dism++-isomaker.webp
 
Last edited:

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    CPU
    pentium g5400
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    gigabyte b365m ds3h
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    1x8gb 2400
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    xfx pro 450
Alternatively you could copy the iso contents with the trimmed programs folder to a partition then add a winpe entry to the current live bcd store.

I have added a couple of winpe entries to this bcd store

winpe-entry1.webp


winpe-entry2.webp
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7,Win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-9400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7,win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
Alternatively you could copy the iso contents with the trimmed programs folder to a partition then add a winpe entry to the current live bcd store.
I'm not that clever.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Swift SF114-34
    CPU
    Pentium Silver N6000 1.10GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 2TB
    Cooling
    fanless
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
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    Webroot Secure Anywhere
    Other Info
    System 3

    ASUS T100TA Transformer
    Processor Intel Atom Z3740 @ 1.33GHz
    Installed RAM 2.00 GB (1.89 GB usable)
    System type 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    Edition Windows 10 Home
    Version 22H2 build 19045.3570
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot
Simple to use ventoyed usb stick

or

Anyburn edit and save the iso. It is very easy.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7,Win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-9400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7,win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
I always use Microsoft OSCDIMG to create Windows ISO images. This way gives me a perfect bootable ISO every time.

Sample command:

Note: The following is a single command even though it spans multiple lines here.

oscdimg -m -o -u2 -udfver102 -l"VolumeName" -bootdata:2#p0,e,b"c:\project\ISO_Files\boot\etfsboot.com"#pEF,e,b"c:\project\ISO_Files\efi\microsoft\boot\efisys.bin" "c:\project\ISO_Files" "c:\destination\image.iso"
 

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    Noctua NF-S12A chromax.black.swap case fans (Qty. 7) & Home Computer Specifications, Configuration, and Usage Notes General Specifications ASUS Prime Z590-A motherboard, serial number M1M0KC222467ARP Intel Core i7-11700K CPU (11th Gen Rocket Lake / LGA 1200 Socket) 128GB Crucial Ballistix RGB DDR4 3200 MHz DRAM (4 x 32GB) Corsair iCUE RGB 5000X mid tower case Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black CPU cooler Noctua NF-S12A chromax.black.swap case fans (Qty. 7) & Corsair LL-120 RGB Fans (Qty. 3)
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It is obvious.

ANYBURN-EDIT1.webp


ANYBURN-EDIT2.webp



This iso is not very big, but I will remove a few things to demonstrate the method


ANYBURN-EDIT3.webp



ANYBURN-EDIT4.webp


Will remove a few things from the USBPrograms folder

ANYBURN-EDIT5.webp


Select the items and click Remove button

ANYBURN-EDIT6.webp

confirm you want to

ANYBURN-EDIT7.webp

they have gone

so click Next

ANYBURN-EDIT8.webp

Type in a name for the smaller iso file

then click Create

ANYBURN-EDIT9.webp


ANYBURN-EDIT10.webp


ANYBURN-EDIT11.webp


The original and the smaller one that has just been created


ANYBURN-EDIT12.webp
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7,Win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-9400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7,win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
Quick check with winiso

ANYBURN-EDIT13.webp

You can see it wants to save it as a multi-bootimage file. so it is fine

ANYBURN-EDIT14.webp


ANYBURN-EDIT15.webp
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7,Win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-9400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7,win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
Simple to use ventoyed usb stick

or

Anyburn edit and save the iso. It is very easy.
It's not that easy! I did create a bootable USB of Gandalf's PE which works. But I put it on my Ventoy and it won't boot.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Swift SF114-34
    CPU
    Pentium Silver N6000 1.10GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 2TB
    Cooling
    fanless
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot Secure Anywhere
    Other Info
    System 3

    ASUS T100TA Transformer
    Processor Intel Atom Z3740 @ 1.33GHz
    Installed RAM 2.00 GB (1.89 GB usable)
    System type 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    Edition Windows 10 Home
    Version 22H2 build 19045.3570
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7,Win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-9400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7,win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
I had already done that months ago. I'm going to boot in a different way. Later today, I will go through all your suggestions.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Swift SF114-34
    CPU
    Pentium Silver N6000 1.10GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 2TB
    Cooling
    fanless
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot Secure Anywhere
    Other Info
    System 3

    ASUS T100TA Transformer
    Processor Intel Atom Z3740 @ 1.33GHz
    Installed RAM 2.00 GB (1.89 GB usable)
    System type 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    Edition Windows 10 Home
    Version 22H2 build 19045.3570
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot
Wimboot mode doesn't work either.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Swift SF114-34
    CPU
    Pentium Silver N6000 1.10GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 2TB
    Cooling
    fanless
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot Secure Anywhere
    Other Info
    System 3

    ASUS T100TA Transformer
    Processor Intel Atom Z3740 @ 1.33GHz
    Installed RAM 2.00 GB (1.89 GB usable)
    System type 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    Edition Windows 10 Home
    Version 22H2 build 19045.3570
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot
@SIW2

If I use Anyburn to make the cut-down Gandalf ISO into a bootable USB, should I select GPT and NTFS for the USB?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Swift SF114-34
    CPU
    Pentium Silver N6000 1.10GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 2TB
    Cooling
    fanless
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot Secure Anywhere
    Other Info
    System 3

    ASUS T100TA Transformer
    Processor Intel Atom Z3740 @ 1.33GHz
    Installed RAM 2.00 GB (1.89 GB usable)
    System type 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    Edition Windows 10 Home
    Version 22H2 build 19045.3570
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot
dont know. I have never used anyburn to make bootable usb. If you go for gpt it might need a fat32 partition depending on your bios.

most bios will only look for the .efi file on fat32. There are some e.g. the gigabyte I am using which will find it on ntfs.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7,Win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-9400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7,win11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
Anyburn made a bootable USB but it does not boot from Ventoy as I do not have enough memory to create a ramdisk device. That's OK, I will just keep the UFD handy.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Swift SF114-34
    CPU
    Pentium Silver N6000 1.10GHz
    Memory
    4GB
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SSD 2TB
    Cooling
    fanless
    Internet Speed
    150 Mbps
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot Secure Anywhere
    Other Info
    System 3

    ASUS T100TA Transformer
    Processor Intel Atom Z3740 @ 1.33GHz
    Installed RAM 2.00 GB (1.89 GB usable)
    System type 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor

    Edition Windows 10 Home
    Version 22H2 build 19045.3570
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.2506
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Mini 210-1090NR PC (bought in late 2009!)
    CPU
    Atom N450 1.66GHz
    Memory
    2GB
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    Webroot

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