[Guide] Win server 2008

[weEvil]

Ok, this thread has got me .

I installed WAIK. I have the Server 2008 x64 Install.wim file loaded.

1. I can see a bunch of packages. How can I remove them? I'm using the GUI.

2. What is this pre-install of components?

3. WAIK doesn't actually remove anything... it just disables the packages from installing?

Can someone point me to Step 1 please.

[aviv00]

@ brucevangeorge

1. check post num 1 pls u will see how to remove packages but its a lot of work im not recommand to do it

install web edition much smaller and less packages [ same packages are not included in this version so that why its smaller and ]

2. What is this pre-install of feathers?

u cant pre-install components just config them

but feathers via feathers foundstion in waik [ after u load the clg file or create it]

u will see a list in the right add it to answer file and enable what u like

check the post number 1 for more info

3. well with this method u could remove it completely or disable it with peimg.exe

[weEvil]

2. What is this pre-install of feathers?

u cant pre-install components just config them

but feathers via feathers foundstion in waik [ after u load the clg file or create it]

u will see a list in the right add it to answer file and enable what u like

check the post number 1 for more info

3. well with this method u could remove it completely or disable it with peimg.exe

Ahhh. So I can delete WinSXS and still have Aero like Vista.

That's my main concern. I just want to clean out the WinSXS folder and all the reduntant files connected to it.

[MagicAndre1981]

there no reduntant files, the files inside the Windows and system32 folder are hardlinks to the files in the WinSxS folder

[romanian]

Just a quick confirmation: is "feathers" = "features"?

[aviv00]

yea features sorry

there no reduntant files, the files inside the Windows and system32 folder are hardlinks to the files in the WinSxS folder

how u know that ?

Edited November 20, 2008 by aviv00

[MagicAndre1981]

Install this tool and view the properties of an windows file like explorer.exe

Those are the links for my explorer.exe:

C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-explorer_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22256_none_520e37e392fd2f6f\explorer.exe
C:\Windows\explorer.exe

[weEvil]

Ok. This thread still does not make any sense.

1. Is WAIK done to the contents of a CD? Which is then burned and installed as a 'cleaned' system. Or done to an existing installation.

2. What is this hive stuff with the regedit? Hive what? There are alot of files in system32/config. Nothing specified.

3. Removing packages is still not clear. Is it done throguh command line? Windows SIM?

[aviv00]

which tool MagicAndre1981 ?

i see the size of the windows dir the

and the size on disk and they equl

@ brucevangeorge

3. u could remove it via waik or command line

waik is better im not sure about that

2.after mount the wim file go to system32\config dir in the mount dir and hive it to regedit

go to menu file > load hive , choose the software file

1. done to an existing installation.....

[weEvil]

What I understand so far:

1. Get the Install.wim from the 2008 disk.

2. Use ImageX commandline tool from WAIK, and mount it to a folder.

3. Use RedEdit and load the hive from [mount folder]\windows\system32\config "SOFTWARE.File" or "SOFTWARE" with no extension. Name the Hive something to keep track.

4. In the loaded hive, do a search for "Visibility". There are a bunch of packages registered that have "Visibility".

Now what? Changing the dword visibility does what?

Also, I notice there are the Component folders in the hive:

What can be done with those?

Edited November 20, 2008 by brucevangeorge

[MagicAndre1981]

@aviv00

*d'oh* I forgot to add the link:

Link Shell Extension (LSE)

[7bingo7]

Hello, everybody, I'd like to write a detailed guild of liting Longhorn (Server 2008) by using WAIK and vLite.

Firstly, I'd like to thank Aviv00 and other guys who's spent much time working on it.

And Please don't hesitate posing your problems encountered during the process of liting you Longhorn according to this guild.

Guide:

Phrase one - Preparation

1. Prepare the setup disk and mount it by your favourite virtual CD manager.

2. Extract contents of the setup disk to the SOURCE location for later use (eg, "E:\Longhorn").

3. Create and open your WORKDIR (eg, D:\Desktop\Longhorn) which contains some necessary tools (eg, "gimagex.exe", etc.).

4. Open the WAIKTOOL directory which contains "pkgmgr.exe" (eg, "E:\Windows AIK\Tools\x86\Servicing").

5. Open "Windows System Image Manager" and "Windows PE Tools Comand Prompt" (Optional) from the start menu.

6. Backup some files in %SOURCE% (located at "%SOURCE%\sources).

Original catelog files("*.clg", 4 at all)

(Optional, recommemded)Install image file "install.wim"

Phrase two - Pre-processing

1. Tweak the registry in "install.wim" to make all packages visible.

Mount "install.wim" (R/W) to IMGMOUNT directory (eg, "D:\Desktop\image") by gimageX.

Tweak the registry (%IMGMOUNT%\Windows\system32\config\SOFTWARE) to make all packages visible (See more later).

Replace the original "SOFTWARE" with your tweaked version.

Unmount "install.wim" with "Commit changes" enabled.

2. Make an answer file for pre-installing features only

(Optional, I've uploaded one, whose name is "addpackages.xml" in the attachment) .

Note:

- Make sure of the image index in the wim file, eg, index of ENTERPRISE version is 2

- DO NOT create an answer file which contains both pre-installing features options and removing packages options,

because it's very important to TAKE EVERY STEP SEPARATELY just like refactoring if you've got some ideas of it.

Phrase three - Pre-install necessary packages

1. Mount "install.wim" (R/W).

2. Copy files ("features.xml" and "addfeatures.cmd") to %WAIKTOOL%.

3. Edit "addfeatures.cmd" to set your IMGMOUNT directory.

4. Customize "features.xml" if you want to enable or disable more features.

5. Call "addfeatures.cmd" to start adding features to the image.

6. Commit changes to "install.wim" and unmount it.

Note:

Do NOT reverse the order of Phrase three and four, since it's neccessary to execute Phrase three first to rebuild "install.wim"

and it is the side effect of calling "pkgmgr.exe", or you will get ERRORS in Phrase four !

Phrase four - Remove packages:

1. Mount "install.wim" (R/W).

2. Copy files ("rmpkg.cmd", "process.cmd", and "packages.txt") to %WAIKTOOL%.

3. Edit "rmpkg.cmd" to set your IMGMOUNT directory.

4. Customize the "packages.txt" (list of packages to remove) to meet you requirements.

4. Call "rmpkg.cmd" to start removing packages from the image.

6. If ERROR occurs

PRESS Ctrl-C TO STOP !

Check the "log.txt" for detailed information

Unmount "install.wim" and DISCARD changes

Remount "install.wim" (R/W) and restart Phrase four (You can choose INTERACTIVE MODE by calling ("rmpackages /int") and save the changes constantly).

7. If successed, congratulations and commit changes to "install.wim" while unmounting it.

Phrase five - Regenerate catelog files:

1. Launch "Windows System Image Manager"

2. Select the install image file "%SOURCE%\sources\install.wim"

3. Choose the RIGHT version (ENTERPRISE in this guide) to start generating

And you can now see the packages reserved in visual mode.

Phrase six - Make "Autounattend.xml" for automatic setup (Optional)

1. Use "Windows System Image Manager" to create new answer file with saved name - "Autounattend.xml"

2. Do some customizations as your need

Phrase seven - vLite phrase

Go with "-extreme" enabled.

Tools uploaded: operations.zip

"addfeatures.cmd", "addfeatures.xml"

"rmpackages.cmd", "process.cmd", "process_int .cmd", "packages.txt"

Original full packages list for ENTERPRISE version : Packages_all_org.txt

Sample automatic setup file (Place it in both root dir and "/sources" dir) : Autounattend.xml

My choice of reserving packages:

SHOULD reserved:

Microsoft-Windows-Branding-SE-Server-Package

Microsoft-Windows-Foundation-Package

Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientExtensions-Package

Microsoft-Windows-GroupPolicy-ClientTools-Package

Microsoft-Windows-International-Core-Locale-NLS-Server2008-Package

Microsoft-Windows-Server-Drivers-Package

Microsoft-Windows-Server-Features-Package

Microsoft-Windows-Server-LanguagePack-Package

Microsoft-Windows-ServerCore-Drivers-Package

Microsoft-Windows-ServerStandardEdition

Microsoft-Windows-ServicingBaseline-ServerStandard-Package

Microsoft-Windows-WindowsFoundation-LanguagePack-Package

Additional packages recommended (help packaged for reserving "add features" functionality):

Microsoft-Windows-Help-Customization-Package

Server-Help-Package.ServerEnterprise

Microsoft-Windows-SearchEngine-Server-Package

Microsoft-Windows-ServerDesktopExperience

Microsoft-Windows-WirelessNetworking-Package

Edited November 23, 2008 by 7bingo7

[aviv00]

thx 7bingo7 i will add it to index

and im recommending to use web edition cos u have much less packages to remove

and already take less space

btw this work on vista too with another packages

@aviv00

*d'oh* I forgot to add the link:

Link Shell Extension (LSE)

thx i saw ur right

but how the size on the disk is not much less then the size ?

is there a tool to check it too ?

Edited November 22, 2008 by aviv00

[dumas]

@7bingo7

I have a problem

I've followed your instruction,and reached Phrase seven , after installing it in vmware , the features weren't added

any help?

[7bingo7]

@7bingo7

I have a problem

I've followed your instruction,and reached Phrase seven , after installing it in vmware , the features weren't added

any help?

@dumas

Thanks for your post, I''ve updated the "opetations.zip"

FIX(You might have to restart from Phrase three):

Please open "addfeatures.cmd" and change the IMGMOUNT variable to your prefered one.