@aviv00: Wow I'm glad 7Zip opens WIMs, I was toying with the notion of having to download the Windows Automated Installation Kit for a minute there (over 1GB!) I'm afraid I haven't fixed the problem though - upon copying secpol.msc to System32 and running it I get the Microsoft Management Console window opening with the message "MMC could not create the snap-in" shown in the right-hand panel. @nuhi: Thanks for joining in - my problem sounds very suspicious if you don't think vLite should ever be removing secpol.msc... I know it definitely wasn't there because I tried to run it from the Run prompt first of all. I've also looked in System32 manually now, when copying across from install.wim, and there isn't even a shortcut for Local Security Policy in my Administrative Tools folder. Also, I just noticed, secpol.msc doesn't exist inside the install.wim on my VistaLite disc! I'll try making another copy and hope that this time I don't get the same problem... I'm going to remove the following components; if anyone thinks any of these options is particularly unwise please let me know... Thanks Accessories -> Accessibility, Speech Support Drivers -> Display adapters, Diva Server, Modems, Printers, QLogic Fibre Channel Adapter, Scanners, Sound controllers Hardware Support -> Dynamic Volume Manager, Firewire, Smartcards Languages -> All Multimedia -> Media Center, Movie and DVD Maker, Music and Video samples, Screensavers, Windows Calendar Network -> All Services -> Error Reporting, Microsoft DFS Replication, Remote Registry System -> Manual Install, Parental Controls, Tablet PC, Windows Easy Transfer