Lightest Windows Operating System

[pokemoner2500]

So I recently got a Windows tablet and the specs (being a tablet and all) are pretty horrid (but it was decently cheap so...), one thing I notice is when nothing is running (system just started up) already 30-40% of the ram is used, which to me is ridiculus, so I'm wondering what is the best Windows mod or OS that would be best for my tablet. (Currently running Windows 8)

Specs: Processor: Intel Atom Z3735G @ 1.33 GHz
RAM: 1GB
Type: x86

 

[migles]

what is the tablet?
x86, mips, arm?

 

[pokemoner2500]

what is the tablet?
x86, mips, arm?

Sorry should have been clearer, it's x86.

 

[TecXero]

I don't really mess with touch devices all that often, but I do know the touchscreen has a lot of overhead. That much RAM usage doesn't really surprise me. There's probably not much you can do about it without sacrificing a lot of functionality or security. In the end, you get what you pay for. I wouldn't really bother trying to improve it (beyond whatever basic optimizations are recommended for it) as long as it can stream video and audio just fine.

 

[FAST6191]

For the record more modern versions of windows will load things into RAM because why not. To that end if you are using the basic task manager program to see this sort of thing then you may be seeing things that are not technically there.

I can teach you to cut down windows a bit, though most of that involves finding a program that details services, startup programs, injected dlls and similar things and then going through and disabling either the ones you do not need or the ones you can work around not having during day to day stuff (you don't need auto updates if you remember to manually scan every week/month and follow security news...). Back in the XP days there were people doing seriously cut down versions of XP but I am not sure I can suggest that at this point.

I do however have to ask if you really need windows? An Atom with 1 gig of RAM is not enough for games or demanding tasks (not like you can do CAD or video editing) and is likely a complete pig for using external ports and that leaves internet explorer and not much else as the reasons for using windows. A cut down Linux distro running xfce or lxde as the desktop manager will scream along on it and still have firefox or a flavour of something chrome based, libreoffice, skype and the means to generally be a useful computing device.

 

[sonicfan1373]

The ram is clearly the limiting factor in this scenario. I would recommend running the latest public build of Windows 10 (Build 10586) which features memory compression that reduces paging (essentially it makes the system feel more responsive as more items can be fit into the ram and there is less need to write files onto the internal storage). Realistically, assuming the system has a UEFI, you will be limited to Win 8, 8.1, 10 (10249), and 10 (10586); 7 might run on it as well, but I would not recommend that considering this is a tablet and 7 is not very touch friendly. You may try Android86, though in my experience a fully fledged Android86 install with most commonly used features installed will use more ram than Windows. Various Linux distros may also be an option (many of the lighter weight ones will run quite fast) but most are not very touch friendly and if you rely on specific Windows apps then that might not be an option.

 

[pokemoner2500]

For the record more modern versions of windows will load things into RAM because why not. To that end if you are using the basic task manager program to see this sort of thing then you may be seeing things that are not technically there.

I can teach you to cut down windows a bit, though most of that involves finding a program that details services, startup programs, injected dlls and similar things and then going through and disabling either the ones you do not need or the ones you can work around not having during day to day stuff (you don't need auto updates if you remember to manually scan every week/month and follow security news...). Back in the XP days there were people doing seriously cut down versions of XP but I am not sure I can suggest that at this point.

I do however have to ask if you really need windows? An Atom with 1 gig of RAM is not enough for games or demanding tasks (not like you can do CAD or video editing) and is likely a complete pig for using external ports and that leaves internet explorer and not much else as the reasons for using windows. A cut down Linux distro running xfce or lxde as the desktop manager will scream along on it and still have firefox or a flavour of something chrome based, libreoffice, skype and the means to generally be a useful computing device.

Actually I can run quite a few games (Resident Evil 3 and Undertale) but the main thing I want working at full speed is Rivals of Aether, it's min specs are very low so I thought this tablet would cut it, it runs just decently laggy.

The ram is clearly the limiting factor in this scenario. I would recommend running the latest public build of Windows 10 (Build 10586) which features memory compression that reduces paging (essentially it makes the system feel more responsive as more items can be fit into the ram and there is less need to write files onto the internal storage). Realistically, assuming the system has a UEFI, you will be limited to Win 8, 8.1, 10 (10249), and 10 (10586); 7 might run on it as well, but I would not recommend that considering this is a tablet and 7 is not very touch friendly. You may try Android86, though in my experience a fully fledged Android86 install with most commonly used features installed will use more ram than Windows. Various Linux distros may also be an option (many of the lighter weight ones will run quite fast) but most are not very touch friendly and if you rely on specific Windows apps then that might not be an option.

I'm going to try @Jayro's windows 10 mini right now and see how that goes.

 

[The Catboy]

If you can install Linux on it, go with Bodhi or a linux distro for netboots. Windows is just not light on resources.

 

[pokemoner2500]

Alright so I installed Windows 10 and now I think I fucked myself as I don't have the drivers for the touch screen and volume, I contacted Visual Land and they are very unhelpful as they can't supply the drivers, I might just get a replacement where I bought it but I though I would ask if anyone had previously bought this tablet and had this issue.

 

[loco365]

Based on the fact that it's an Intel Atom-based tablet, you may not be able to install Linux on it. I have one that Linux refused to install on because it had a 32-bit UEFI, rather than a 64-bit UEFI that almost every other computer has. You may be stuck with only Windows on it unless you get a different device.