Chris Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 Currently nLite is in beta form at version 0.97 however I've had troubles with this version so I'm using an older version at 0.94.The use of this application would probably only be used once. But as nLite is not even over 1MB in size it's worth a look isn't it?Well yes and no; for an application that is under 1MB, to run it you also need to have the .NET framework installed which is just over 20MB. If you have this installed already, then you’re all set. If you don't, then installing the .NET framework might seem stupid for nLite which itself is under 1MB.But I’ll try and tempt you...What does nLite do? Well take a look at the contents of your Windows XP CD through the Windows Explorer. You'll probably notice the size of what you see does not go over 600MB. But when you install Windows XP it takes around 1.5GB of space? The reason for this is that everything is compressed within *.CAB files. When Windows XP installs, the contents of the *.CAB files are extracted [Think of them as *.ZIP folders]By default pretty much everything that Windows XP has to offer will be installed, but do you actually use it all? If you do then GREAT!!If you don't then wouldn't it be great if it wasn't installed in the first place? Well this is where nLite comes in. nLite allows you to choose which components get installed...So for example if you don't use Internet Explorer, then choose not to have it installed.Many services, applications, drivers cannot be installed in the first place.Still interested?What's great about nLite is that it is easy to use, easy to understand and pretty much everything is explained.Not for the beginner as Drivers can be chosen not to be installed so you'll have to have all of your updated drivers to hand to install. There are more advanced options so if you don't know what to do with them, just ignore them.nLite also allows for the slipstreaming of Service Pack 2 and it's too easy to do, as nLite takes care of it all.Anyway you choose the components, then an *.ISO file is created and you burn it to CD. You then install Windows XP as normal but without all of the components you selected.You should find that the total space occupied for the Windows XP Installation is allot smaller than it would have been.Clearing up any confusion When the *.ISO file is created all of the components that you chose not to be installed are not included in this file, so this *.ISO file can also vary in size.Only one use? Well you could experiment with nLite see how small a Windows XP installation can actually be. If you have access to Virtual PC 2004 or VMWARE then you have an advantage in that you do not need to burn the *.ISO file to a CD. If you don't have one of them, then you would have to burn a CD for each *.ISO and install it as "usual"...As an example nLite has created an *.ISO file of 149MB :onLite is a great tool that you can use how you want...But if you’re happy with what you already have then nLite is not for you.Oh! You should also find that Windows XP installs allot faster.Take a look: nLite HomepageA few Images... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 129MB Now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecow Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 Something similarly happened with windows 98 but the ability to streamline service packs makes it a great product and it's free!!!!!!!!!!!!Just one question if you streamline SP2 in it, I take it that has all of SP1's fixes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 Just one question if you streamline SP2 in it, I take it that has all of SP1's fixes?Yes.Something similarly happened with windows 98 but the ability to streamline service packs makes it a great product and it's free!!!!!!!!!!Ah yes flecc :DBut with nLite you remove it before the install not after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluecow Posted July 11, 2004 Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 flecc yes PCA daysIs he still there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 11, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2004 Ummm he pops in now and again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 Anyone had a go? :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted July 14, 2004 Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 gumbies question .... but what happens if your XP is on a restricted unaccessible partition .....?And what happens to the bits you don't use ....deleted .... permanently ....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2004 gumbies question .... but what happens if your XP is on a restricted unaccessible partition .....?Errrrr good question = i don't know.And what happens to the bits you don't use ....deleted .... permanently ....?They are extracted from the folder that you created. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 18, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2004 Umm Well I have version 0.97 running.You could say it has changed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2004 This is a nice feature: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 I'm working on mine now. :D Looks nice so far, but it asked where the CD was 3 times during the gathering data stage, and then asked for an output 3/4 of the way through... is that normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Well it is a beta ;)Ummm where abouts is 3/4 ? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 3/4three quarters3 out of 4 partsyou know..about 75% :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Duh yeah i know that...But I need you to tell me where exactly it happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted July 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 nLite 0.98.3Updated again :oWhat's changed from 0.98.2:fixed: cd as destination for copying files not alowedreturned option Higher compression of driversfixed major file encoding detection bug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted July 22, 2004 Report Share Posted July 22, 2004 How do you add service packs?I've made my winlite ISO, looks nice, but I didn't see a service pack option. Is it an option in the ISO procedure? because I didn't read all of that :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted August 7, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2004 How do you add service packs?I've made my winlite ISO, looks nice, but I didn't see a service pack option. Is it an option in the ISO procedure? because I didn't read all of that :PYou click Browse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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