Preparing for a complete new install ... Questions and Tips ?

[Happy-Dude]

Heya guys !!

Well, this is my first post on this forum. After seeing the nLite [http://lifehacker.com/374376/trim-down-windows-to-the-bare-essentials], I've been very interested in using this program. I am currently running Windows XP Home Edition SP2 (and when SP3 is *officially* released, I've run that). I already have a XP Pro disk with me that I'm planning to use when I decide the time is right to install (most likely when I get a new hard drive and when new versions of my favorite programs are released).

Before I read about nLite, my original plan was to wait a few months after XP SP3 is released, get a new hard drive, back up drivers, download SP3 network install, and fresh install XP Pro SP2 from there. Then I would install all my applications from a CD of sorts, and then tweak my installation from there. As you can see, it would be a completely dragged out, and not to mention tedious, process.

Now, after reading about the program nLite and realizing the potential that it has, I plan to use nLite to tweak my install beforehand. But before using the program, I'm still not sure on how to use the program to its best even after reading a new tutorials and the FAQ. Questions that I still have are:

-How, as a test (and as a backup) trial, should I go about integrating SP3 onto my WinXP Home OEM (which has no service packs installed at all) ? Should I first integrate SP2, then integrate SP3, and how exactly does that work?

-For integrating Service Packs, do I need to download them myself, or will nLite do it for me? How about hotfixes/patches?

-How do I integrate my favorite applications? What about customizing their installations (i.e. what if they have some extra bloatware that I do not want installed)?

-To test my configuration, I plan to virtualize the install. But both my WinXP Home (as an initial test) and my WinXP Pro (as my final install) are both OEMs. How does this affect me, and what are the legal stuff in the EULA that I should at least know about?

-For the virtualization test, which virtualization software do you recommend? I prefer to use freeware (after all, there is very little in the world that can beat free). So far, my friend recommended me to use VMware Server [http://www.vmware.com/products/server/?urlcode=yahoo_ssp] and/or Thinstall [http://www.thinstall.com/]. I also want virtualization thats lite and does not take much resources (since my PC, though *up to date*, is still a single core computer). What do you guys recommend?

-How exactly do I integrate Drivers? How do I integrate drivers that I've exported from DriverMax [http://www.drivermax.com/]?

... And much more. I will probably ask more questions as this thread continues. Anyway, thank you all for your help and experiences !! I really appreciate it !!

Edited April 25, 2008 by Happy-Dude

[Nick_White]

- I think you should integrate SP2 first, then SP3.

- Yes, you need to download them yourself (from Microsoft website). Updates too.

- For adding applications, use the nLite addons. Customization is program specific; most of them don't have switches for that.

- Use VirtualBox. It's free, very fast and won't cause you trouble.

- For driver integration, use nLite also. I don't know how DriverMax exports, but most of the programs save driver files + .INF. That should work fine with nLite.

[Happy-Dude]

Thanks for the response, Nick.

-When you say nLite add-ons, what exactly do you mean?

-How can I get all the add-ons from Microsoft? The Windows Catalouge? What if I miss something ...?

-If I have a Service Pack installed, which has all previous patches and hotfixes included, that means I would only need to download the patches and hotfixes after, right?

Thank you all once again. I really appreciate you time.

[Ponch]

-When you say nLite add-ons, what exactly do you mean?

Check the subforum "Application Add-Ons" just above your post. Those are addons for most popular applications, made by members.

If you wait for SP3, you won't need any additional "post SP2" patch. At least for a few days .

[Happy-Dude]

[sorry, doubled posted]

Edited April 25, 2008 by Happy-Dude

[Happy-Dude]

Thanks for the quick responses, guys.

-How do I add folders with files into the install (i.e. a folder with important word documents and files)?

-How can I add the Royale Noir theme (http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061029/royale-noir/) into the install?

-What can I do about registry tweaks (i.e. the two turn on clear type tweaks, the Internet Explorer max connections tweak, and the forget-and-turn-off autocomplete tweak)?

Thank you all for clearing stuff up for me. As I get closer to actually test things out, I might have more and mroe. Please stay with me here !!

[Happy-Dude]

...

-How can I add the Royale Noir theme (http://www.istartedsomething.com/20061029/royale-noir/) into the install?

...

Alright, so check out http://www.msfn.org/board/Add-On-for-Royal...ir-t116279.html for a thread on a possible answer to how to integrate the signed Royale Noir theme from Microsoft !!

Thanks for everything guys !! In the meantime, I'm going to continue looking for answers to my own questions, and I find them and find them worthy to share, I'll post it up .

EDIT-

The add-ons are already compatible with nLite. All we needed to do was to add them onto the hotfixes section of the program.

Edited April 27, 2008 by Happy-Dude