Windows Server on 1GB RAM — my suffering, documented

I needed Excel macros running 24/7 for a client workbook. No Linux option; VBA only. Found a RackNerd 1GB KVM for $4/month. This is how I got Windows Server 2022 Standard to boot and stay usable.

• Step 1: Core install, no desktop experience. 512MB at idle. Not great.
• Step 2: Disabled everything. Print Spooler gone. Windows Update manual only. No Defender real-time. Telemetry to Security baseline. Services.msc looks like a graveyard and I'm proud.
• Step 3: Installed just Excel via Office Deployment Tool, no click-to-run bloat. 180MB RAM for the process.
• Step 4: RDP in, macro runs, I pop to check, it's 340 now. Cache hit on second login. Miss on first boot every time.

Final numbers: 890MB committed at steady state. RDP usable. Macros execute. Origin is pain but edge is survival.

Who else has done this? I can't be the only one.

Idk why I do this but I got server 2019 core on 768mb at 3am last month

Services disabled:

• Wsearch
• Bits
• Dosvc
• Dmwappushservice
• Diagnosticshub
• Ncbi

Rdp via xfreerdp from my thinkpad. Excel 2016, not 365. 210mb for the process. 40mb headroom. 💀

Tried to add chrome. Died. Deserved it.

This is impressive Work; yes, I attempted similar with the WindowsServer2019Core on a 512MB Instance at Hetzner once; no, it did not end well.

The Speicheroptimierung required:

• Registrytweaks for the Session manager
• Deaktivierung of the Superfetch-Dienst
• Fusingtogether the Pagefilesettings to fixed 256MB

My Compoundword of choice: Speicherverwaltungsoptimierungsprozessdokumentation; yes, I have written this.

The RDP-Performance was acceptable after disabling all Grafiktreiberfeatures; no, I would not recommend this for Produktivumgebungen.

¿why not use Linux with LibreOffice brother¿ is very difficult your way.

I try the same with Server 2016 on 1GB at Leaseweb jaja. Is very slow brother. My macros is very broken in the conversion.

Your guide is very good actually. I save this for my client. They use only Excel and is very expensive the cPanel hosting for this.

Thank you brother!