diff --git a/fedac/nixos/flake.nix b/fedac/nixos/flake.nix
index 6bd84438e5..70f6f65c96 100644
--- a/fedac/nixos/flake.nix
+++ b/fedac/nixos/flake.nix
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
           # enough room for the kernel, initrd, and GRUB assets.
           bootSize = "2048M";
           diskSize = "auto";
-          additionalSpace = "2G";
+          additionalSpace = "256M";
           memSize = 4096;
         };
 
diff --git a/fedac/nixos/modules/hardware.nix b/fedac/nixos/modules/hardware.nix
index 64ecf82940..e52762d824 100644
--- a/fedac/nixos/modules/hardware.nix
+++ b/fedac/nixos/modules/hardware.nix
@@ -18,9 +18,11 @@
   security.rtkit.enable = true;
   services.pipewire.enable = false;
 
-  # Kernel modules for common hardware
+  # Slim initrd — only modules needed for Intel laptops + USB boot.
+  # Default NixOS initrd is 1.4GB (every driver); this cuts to ~50-80MB.
+  boot.initrd.includeDefaultModules = false;
   boot.initrd.availableKernelModules = [
-    # Storage
+    # Storage (USB boot + internal NVMe)
     "ahci" "nvme" "sd_mod" "usb_storage" "uas"
     "xhci_pci" "ehci_pci" "ohci_pci"
     # Input
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@
     # GPU (loaded early for KMS)
     "i915" "amdgpu" "nouveau"
     # Filesystems
-    "vfat" "nls_cp437" "nls_iso8859_1"
+    "ext4" "vfat" "nls_cp437" "nls_iso8859_1"
   ];
 
   boot.kernelModules = [