Windows 10 Lean/CloudE is a smaller version of Redstone 5

2 min. read

Published on April 23, 2018

published on April 23, 2018

Readers help support Windows Report. We may get a commission if you buy through our links.

There’s a new version of Windows in the works these days, and it may target low-specs devices. Microsoft is currently working on a cut down version of Windows 10 for the next major OS release.

Windows 10 Lean lacks a few features and apps

Windows 10 Lean’s installer is 2 GB smaller than Windows 10 Pro’s, and it lacks some features that some might consider essential such as drivers for CD, wallpapers, DVD drives and some important apps such as Regedit.

These apps are not restricted, and once you import them, you’ll be able to run Regedit without any hassle. In other words, this version of the operating system might be smaller, but it’s not also restricted at all.

In Windows 10 S mode, this version of the OS launched by default, and it identified itself as Windows 10 CloudE.

We’re not pretty sure what Microsoft’s plans are with this SKU. This might be only intended for virtual machines, or the company may be planning to take another shot at offering such a version of Windows to low-powered devices.

Other interesting oddities regarding this new version of Windows

The new version of the OS was spotted by Twitter user Lucan.

Welcome to Windows 10 Lean/CloudE/S (once again?) This new edition started shipping with this week’s Skip Ahead build (17650) It seems to be heavily cut down, an x64 clean install is roughly 2 GB smaller than Pro Its edition ID is 0xB7 which was missing from SDK headers

Lucan also noted another oddity in CloudE/Lean – the fact that Microsoft Edge does not show any download prompts and this practically makes downloading files impossible out of the box. Something else that this user noted is that fact that the installer breaks.

Another thing I thought would be logical to try on CloudE/Lean is installing Office. The regular C2R installer just breaks. With Microsoft’s great tradition of meaningful error reporting, the installer just plays the error sound without displaying any additional dialog whatsoever.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT:

More about the topics: windows 10

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.