NTDEV, a developer known for their Windows tweaking skills, has pushed the limits of Windows customization with their latest project called “NT-DOS.” Inspired by the old Microsoft project “MinWin,” NTDEV aimed to create the smallest bootable version of Windows 11 possible.
The result is a Windows image that is less than 100 megabytes in size, stripped down to its text-only roots without any graphical elements or GUI. While Windows 95 introduced a graphical interface, NTDEV’s mod demonstrates that Windows 11 can still function as a slow-moving textual shell.
The mod, named “NT-DOS,” boots into a minimal shell and operates solely through prompt commands. Although it supports basic batch files and allows for some multitasking, it remains a barebones version of Windows.
NTDEV has a history of tweaking and modding Windows, including compressing the standard Windows 11 installation into a smaller size with Tiny11 and running the OS from a USB flash drive (Live11). They have even experimented with nested Windows virtualization to unusual extents.
Unlike Tiny11, which has publicly available downloads, NT-DOS does not have a download option at the moment. NTDEV’s projects are chosen and developed out of the developer’s boredom and deep understanding of the inner workings of the Windows OS family. Tiny11 and Tiny10 are considered the most user-friendly creations by NTDEV and are available for download for those interested in trying out streamlined versions of the latest Windows releases without unnecessary features.