A computing system configured to implement a method to perform OS, operating system, imaging using JIT, Just in Time, file delivery, the computing system comprising: a hard drive having a stored hard drive copy of an OS , including a plurality of OS files ; a file system that is configured to store the OS files; one or more file system filter drivers configured to receive access requests to the OS files; one or more processors ; and stored computer-executable instructions which are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to perform OS imaging using JIT file delivery, the method comprising: identifying a minimum set of OS data that is required to create an OS image that is bootable with a predetermined set of OS functionality; identifying a remaining set of OS data that is determined to not be required to at least create the OS image that is bootable with the predetermined set of OS functionality; for the minimum set of OS data that is required, creating a copied set of OS files in the file system from the stored hard drive copy of the OS that contain the minimum set of OS data; for the remaining set of OS data that is determined to not be required, creating placeholder files comprising unhydrated and/or only partially hydrated copies of associated OS files found in the stored hard drive copy of the OS; presenting the placeholder files inaccurately, as completely hydrated files of the file system , to one or more OS components ; and incrementally hydrating the placeholder files after booting the OS. a hard drive having a stored hard drive copy of an OS , including a plurality of OS files ; a file system that is configured to store the OS files; one or more file system filter drivers configured to receive access requests to the OS files; one or more processors ; and stored computer-executable instructions which are executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to perform OS imaging using JIT file delivery, the method comprising: identifying a minimum set of OS data that is required to create an OS image that is bootable with a predetermined set of OS functionality; identifying a remaining set of OS data that is determined to not be required to at least create the OS image that is bootable with the predetermined set of OS functionality; for the minimum set of OS data that is required, creating a copied set of OS files in the file system from the stored hard drive copy of the OS that contain the minimum set of OS data; for the remaining set of OS data that is determined to not be required, creating placeholder files comprising unhydrated and/or only partially hydrated copies of associated OS files found in the stored hard drive copy of the OS; presenting the placeholder files inaccurately, as completely hydrated files of the file system , to one or more OS components ; and incrementally hydrating the placeholder files after booting the OS. identifying a minimum set of OS data that is required to create an OS image that is bootable with a predetermined set of OS functionality; identifying a remaining set of OS data that is determined to not be required to at least create the OS image that is bootable with the predetermined set of OS functionality; for the minimum set of OS data that is required, creating a copied set of OS files in the file system from the stored hard drive copy of the OS that contain the minimum set of OS data; for the remaining set of OS data that is determined to not be required, creating placeholder files comprising unhydrated and/or only partially hydrated copies of associated OS files found in the stored hard drive copy of the OS; presenting the placeholder files inaccurately, as completely hydrated files of the file system , to one or more OS components ; and incrementally hydrating the placeholder files after booting the OS. <EOS>