How do you shrink down an ISO image for windows 7?

[ggiersdorf]

I have a windows 7 iso that I am trying to reduce from 4.5gigs to under 4 so I can transfer it to a USB. I am looking for a way to remove unnecessary language files, and other files from the ISO to shrink it down. Can anyone please give me any ideas on how to accomplish this??

[submix8c]

From the size of that... Is it some kind of AIO?

[MAVERICKS CHOICE]

I have tried as you mentioned removing all extra Lang files very tedious task & doesn't net a huge reduction in source.

You should use Dism to remove any features/appz that will help. You could also use this to compress the image, it probably saves about 200mb of space though is slower to install! In saying that USB installs are faster than optical anyhow.

Dism /Export-Image /SourceImageFile:c:\W7\Sources\install.wim /SourceIndex:1 /DestinationImageFile:c:\W7\sources\new_install.wim /DestinationName:"Windows 7" /compress:maximum

Good luck with it.