nLite-a-holic's project ideas... RobbyR

[RobbyR]

I have been playing with nLite for about a week now.

It took me to my 5th attempt to create a Windows XP nLite installer + addons... with no failed installations.

I cut my installation CD to 390 Mb (with 65 Mb of addons) and aprox 790 Mb total installed.

First I offer some of my advice.... FULL UNATTENDED

ALL THE LATEST COMPONENTS

Windows XP Pro + SP3 Slipstream

DirectX 9.25.1476 nov2008 --- using RVM_Integrator_1.5.3

DirectX for Managed Code (XP SP3 Only) --- using RVM_Integrator_1.5.3

Adobe Shockwave 11.0.3.470 Slim

Microsoft dotNet Framework 1.1 SP1 --- using RVM_Integrator_1.5.3

Microsoft dotNet Framework 2.0 (opted not to use 3.0 because of size 140 Mb) --- using RVM_Integrator_1.5.3

Microsoft Silverlight 1.0.30401.0

User Profile Hive Cleanup (for faster Shutdown)

Windows Genuine Advantage

WINDOWS INSTALLER 3.1.KB893803-V2-X86

MEDIA CODECS SUPPORT

Combined Community Codec Pack 2008.09.21.0 (only 6.6 Mb copared to Vista Codecs Pack 17.5 Mb)

Xvid 1.1.3 Build 27.04.2008

QuickTime Alternative Lite 2.7.0

Real Alternative Lite 1.9.0

Flash ActiveX 10.0.12.36 IE Plugin

Flash ActiveX 10.0.12.36 FFox Plugin

AC3 Filter 146

AVIcodec 1.2b110 (reads Codecs for media files)

THE BEST SMALL PROGRAMS I KNOW ABOUT

Visual Task Tips 3.4 (80 Kb)

Vista Drive Icon 1.4 (105 Kb)

Folder Size 2.4 (219 Kb)

uTorrent 1.7.5 (252 Kb)

Notepad2 3.0.20 (305 Kb) -- barely used it, but first impression is OEM Notepad is suitable for most users.

Folder2MyPC 1.9 (500 Kb)

Defraggler 1.04.098 (609 Kb)

DeepRipper 1.0 (824 Kb) - Rips CDs directly to MP3, very fast, great program!!!

CCleaner 2.13.720 (837 Kb)

7-Zip 4.57 (871 Kb)

WinAmp 5.32 Lite (1.5 Mb) -- alternative Foobar 0.9.5.6 (2.69 Mb) probably better, I will use this next time.

IrfanView 4.20 + Lite Plugins Pack (2.1 Mb)

Media Player Classic 6.4.9.0 (1.8 Mb)

Weather Watcher 5.6.37 (2.4 Mb)

DeepBurner Free 1.8 (2.7 Mb) -- no support for DVD in Free Edition. Still can't find a <5Mb alternative.

SMALL PROGRAMS NO INSTALL (put in folder "$OEM$\$Progs")

1-4a Rename.exe 681kb

Abort Shutdown.bat 11bytes

AVIPreview.exe 135kb

DelEmptyFolders.exe 213kb

DotNet VersionCheck Utility.exe 176kb

FolderRedirector.exe 18kb

HACHA.EXE 68kb

hjsplit.exe 178kb

IIIDownloader v.2.1.0.exe 630kb

Image_Grabber_II.exe 1,5mb

inuse.exe 40kb

Active Iso-Burner.exe 660kb

Magic Jellybean Keyfinder.exe 272kb

NoFindInsideZip.exe 10kb

pagedfrg.exe 98kb

Portable-RegCompact Pro 2.2.exe 323kb

Portable-Start Menu Clean 1.51.exe 88kb

RefreshEm.exe 24kb

Shell Menu Register DLL.reg 723bytes

Windows-XP-Prefetch-Clean-And-Control.exe 28kb

Registry Jumper 2.0 Portable 58kb

CAB-Expand-Compress-via-SHIFT-RIGHT-CLICK 329bytes

Sysinternals Process Explorer 532kb (put in folder "$OEM$\$$")

WINDOWS EMBEDDED USE

FBWF (File-Based Write Filter)

Beckhoff FBWF Manager

Minlogon

OTHER PROGRAMS

Firefox 3.0.4

VLC 0.8.6h

winRAR 3.80

I removed everything I could....

Still I kept major/large programs such as Windows Media Player 11, Internet Explorer 7, Upgrade Capability, Windows Updates.

And kept support for majority of Home Users needs....

Internet Access, Home LAN Network, Audio/Video, PC Optimization

Removable Storage, Styles/Themes, Phone/Messaging, Bluetooth

Of course this was a Lite installation. A lot of programs I use everyday will have to be installed later.

I will continue to write to this Topic....

I would like to get some feedback from other users as to ideas and tips. I will share my advice.

It took me many attempts to get an "acceptable" installation CD w/o errors.

But this is my first step... I still a looking for more programs, specifically SMALL SIZE.

My ultimate goal is to create a Lite Installation for different purposes....

Giving the user the choice DURING installation...

1) General User (Web, Internet, Media, Chat)

2) Gamers Edition

3) Home Media Player

4) Car-puter

So Windows installs only required OS components... smallest initial footprint & fastest installation.

Instead of integrating Addons immediately, your computer boots to Windows XP

Brings up an Options Menu... and lists all the programs available on the CD.

Do you want to install Firefox, Opera, Netscape, Chrome?

Trillian, Yahoo Chat or MSN Messenger?

CCCP Codecs Pack or Vista Codecs Pack?

......

Then do silent installs of each unattended.

......

Also interested in any Registry Tweaks anyone might have to share, post them please.

Great program nLite. Great forum msfn.org. I will add to this thread later.

[PC_LOAD_LETTER]

DeepBurner Free 1.8 (2.7 Mb) -- no support for DVD in Free Edition. Still can't find a <5Mb alternative.

http://www.imgburn.com/

[radix]

Some of your programs have new versions.

[TranceEnergy]

goto the tweaks sub forum at msfn, should get you started.

Problem is tweaks are different for each windows version etc.

Most small programs can be portable-ized. I have like 2.5gb of portable programs, plus all my games are portable, so no need to install any of that.

So thats one idea. Download portable programs and just call a script to copy them where wanted..

[bledd]

first of all, welcome

it's nice to see a user who's helped themself, instead of most of the new posts we see on here saying..

"how do i install all these programs?"

imgburn, virtual clone drive

two to add to the list

[RobbyR]

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

Right now I am doing some very dull and thankless tasks of seeing if I can find any files nLite left behind that might not be needed anymore (considering the services and components I removed, and don't plan on using).

I am using DLLToys - Import Checker (Shareware) and DllSweeper (Freeware).

I don't fully trust DLLToys - I found they list DLLs with no references (orphans) that I know 100% are NEEDED.

DLLToys also lists about twice as many (aprox 300) as DllSweeper (137)... Dll Sweeper reports 120+ Mb of unused DLLs.... in a 790 Mb installation!!!

I removed DrWatson and Microsoft Error Reporting (call to Microsoft Server detailing errors).

Do I need?

DWUP.inf (installation to write to registry and register components)

DW20.exe

DWTRIG20.exe

DWDCW20.DLL

DWINTL20.DLL ( x 10 in subfolders of Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\DW\ )

I still want to use Programs >> Administrative Tools >> Event Viewer

I am also thinking of removing IExplorer 7 and IExplorer Core... since I use Firefox.

But considering... does Windows Media Player 11 load webpages using IExplorer components....?

BOLD FORTUNE REPORTS THESE FILES SAFE TO REMOVE

http://www.bold-fortune.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=232

msimsg.dll

...(Windows Installer International Messages). The Msimsg.dll stores the error messages for Windows Installer.

...also the DLL is not listed as a dependency for MSIEXEC.EXE

LNKSTUB.EXE

...(Win95-to-WinNT Migration Dll, Win95 Side). Incompatibility program. This program was designed for Windows Millennium and previous versions.

REGEDT32.EXE

...(Registry Editor Utility). A 32-bit Registry-editing tool. In Windows XP the extra functionality of the Regedt32.exe has been merged into the Regedit.exe. If you start the Regedt32.exe, the system runs the Regedit.exe (Registry Editor).

SHRPUBW.EXE

...(Share Creation Wizard). Wizard used to create shared folders on a Windows XP system

...You can simply share a folder by clicking any folder >> Properties >> Sharing. Why do you need a wizard?

SmWizard.exe

...is a SmartWizard MFC Application related to C-Media audio chipsets on some motherboards.

SYSKEY.EXE

...(SAM Lock Tool). Windows XP Account Database Manager. Used to secure the Windows XP account database.

...Home users probably don't need this, probably not functional if you removed Windows Default Encryption via nLite.

WINCHAT.EXE

...Windows for Workgroups Chat(NT). Ever use this tool to chat with someone else on your LAN? Me neither. nLite removed this.

WRITE.EXE

...(Windows Write). A text document-editing tool from a previous version of Windows to Win95, (Man, is this file dated.)

v7vga.rom...... I keep vga.dll, for soe reason, my computer shows "this file is currently in use."

vga64k.dll.....32K/64K Color VGA\SVGA Display Driver

vga256.dll.....256 Color VGA\SVGA Display Driver

atkctrs.dll

...(Windows NT AppleTalk Perfmon Counter dll). Is now deprecated by Apple in favor of TCP/IP networking. Wow that's old!

esent97.dll

...Microsoft® Windows NT Server Database Storage Engine (not needed for Windows XP).

...However, I have not deleted this yet, so cannot confirm. Its > 1Mb.

jet500.dll

...(JET Engine DLL). The Microsoft Jet (Joint Engine Technology) Database Engine.

It has since been superseded by Microsoft Desktop Engine (MSDE) and no longer exists as a component of Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC).

miglibnt.dll + MIGPWD.EXE ... Are you upgrading from Windows 95???? Otherwise not needed.

moricons.dll

...Windows NT Icons Library. Not used by default in Windows XP. A little like Atari 1980s technology.

pifmgr.dll... more Windows NT icons not used by XP.

sfmapi.dll

...Windows NT Macintosh File Service Client

w32topl.dll.....Windows NT Topology Maintenance Tool. Old, older, and outdated.

netsh.exe + aaaamon.dll

...Netsh (Network Services Shell) is a command-line scripting utility to configure of various network services.

...Go to Run >> type netsh. This is the only time these files are used.

atmadm.exe Gives 3 stats on an ATM connection using the command prompt...leftover since I removed ATM with nLite.

atmpvcno.dll....Atm Epvc Install DLL. Left behind, since I removed ATM via nLite

atmfd.dll.......Windows NT OpenType/Type 1 Font Driver

atmlib.dll......Windows NT OpenType/Type 1 API Library

...both above used by Adobe on earlier versions of Windows and Mac. Now depreciated by Type 1 fonts on WinXP & Mac OSx

mfc40u.dll ...(MFCDLL Shared Library - Retail Version 900kb). Microsoft Visual C++. Depreciated version of the mfc42u.dll.

Ok thats all for now.

I still have some questionable DLLs that I will be looking into to see if they are required... and by what.

You delete all the files listed by BOLD FORTUNE.... you could save up to 10 Mb.

Anyone know more about Dr Watson as in my question above....?

[Happy-Dude]

I really enjoy how these topics appear every so often on this board (not a bad thing, but something fresh everytime ).

To continue your slipstreaming finalization, check out these links also;

http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/57/

http://www.msfn.org/board/Windows-XP-SP3-s...up-t118781.html

http://www.msfn.org/board/Folders-and-File...-X-t123623.html

Have fun, and continue giving us status updates

[RobbyR]

Thanks Happy-Dude.

I think I sort of have a "claim" on this topic.

With the links you added I can now find them easily here in one place.

To delete empty folders left after using nLite:

Try DelEmptyFolders, freeware single EXE no installation, 210kb.

Download here DelEmptyFolders

To answer my question before:

I am also thinking of removing IExplorer 7 and IExplorer Core... since I use Firefox.

But considering... does Windows Media Player 11 load webpages using IExplorer components....?

It turns out a lot of programs use IExplorer Core. From Media Player (requires IE v6 or greater), to certain anti-virus software, 3rd party media players, and I've heard even "Add/Remove Programs" somehow uses IExplorer Core.

I would not suggest removing the IExplorer core, but if you keep Core and just remove IExplorer 7/8 you will still have support for all other software that requires it.

Then there is a question of "Why some programs open up popups to IExplorer even if its not my default browser?"

For Windows XP >> GoTo Control Panel >> Add/Remove Programs >> Set Program Access and Defaults

The first option "Choose a Default Web Browser"... And either "Non-Microsoft" or "Custom".

Now even Windows Media Player and all other programs will popup your default browser instead of using Internet Explorer.

[mitsukai]

if u are interested, here is a file list that i made, these are the core boot files that i find required.

note that this list assumes that you have minlogon config on 3c and that the minlogon is from windows embeded standard 2009, these files are system32 and root only. there are many drivers that can be removed also.

XP SP3.

ntldr
ntdetect.com
ntoskrnl.exe
bootvid.dll
hal.dll
kdcom.dll
smss.exe
ntdll.dll
winlogon.exe
win32k.sys
watchdog.sys
csrss.exe
csrsrv.dll
basesrv.dll
winsrv.dll
gdi32.dll
msvcrt.dll
advapi32.dll
kernel32.dll
user32.dll
userenv.dll
rpcrt4.dll
sxs.dll
secur32.dll

Edited December 3, 2008 by mitsukai

[RobbyR]

Got a screenshot of what shows of the screen with just those core boot files?

I bet its funny. Its like a black screen with a pixelated green man.

No its probably boots you to a DOS prompt, for a bare minimum of whats required to run commands.

I'm playing with Foobar and feeling humbled by how complicated its programming is.

[mitsukai]

you are completly right... it does boot in cmd console as shell...

but thats what i have been doing remove as much as possible, then to run certain programs add their dependencies. and find alternatives for programs that requires less.

I was going for a command only XP os anyway. but i also want to make it possible to add components to it ... like in linux. when i have played around more with the software and system registry files, they arent at their smallest yet.

so far my XP is now around 10MB, dont know how much memory its using yet, probally like 5mb, not to sure. I still need to write my command line utilities. I wanted to make a program which manages all components. For example you select a component notepad it installs all dependencies. and if you remove components and dependencies are no longer required they are deleted...

after XP im probally adding 64 bit XP and after that vista ...

So if you can make a list what program needs what files and registry keys we can help each other cause im going todo the same

and there was a mistake in my list (csrss.exe is missing and ntoskrnl.exe is listed twice.)

Edited December 3, 2008 by mitsukai