Is there a tutorial or anything?

[Confused1]

Im wanting to make a XP disk without all the factory installed software. Everyone says NLite will do it, but how do you do it? I dont have a XP CD with the system files on it only. All I have is a disk I made through the Vaio Recovery Wizard.

Is there any way to use a recovery disk with NLite to get the "correct" system files? Ive been told that the files in my C:/windows/I386 folder are NOT the real files. Well then where are they? Other sources have told me those ARE the real files and you can make a bootable disk with those files. I dont understand this or the point of this program. If this program will only read an official XP CD, then why do you need the program? I inserted my recovery disk and copied in a folder on my C: drive but it says make sure the selected folder or drive contains the I386 directory blah blah blah....

[Ponch]

I dont understand this or the point of this program. If this program will only read an official XP CD, then why do you need the program?

...

blah blah blah....

What about being bit positive and give a good impression for your 1st post ?

nLites transforms an XP installation cd in an other XP installation cd, with modifications that make it more convenient for a given user/machine. That is the point of this program. Of course not having a starting point makes it more difficult but not impossible.

[jaclaz]

The recommended approach is to create an actual install CD from the files you have, adding/integrating them with the ones in SP's or however freely downloadable from MS.

FYI:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=91907

Your actual mileage may vary.

You might want to consider the fact that nlite is a (nice ) program, but it cannot create missing files out of thin air, nor can it possibly support "any" crappy recovery CD or partition the OEM builders come up with in their apparent perversion.

jaclaz

[Confused1]

I dont understand this or the point of this program. If this program will only read an official XP CD, then why do you need the program?

...

blah blah blah....

Nice editing.... It may have sounded like I was complaining about the program, but I was only needing clarification as of whether or not I could make a XP install only CD or if I was doing something wrong.

[ccl0]

if i'm reading correctly you want to make an updated build w/o all the bloat that sony preinstalls onto your computer, but all you have is a restore cd?

[Confused1]

if i'm reading correctly you want to make an updated build w/o all the bloat that sony preinstalls onto your computer, but all you have is a restore cd?

yes sir... can i do that or not?

[Confused1]

Anybody confirm on the above response?

[submix8c]

Short answer - maybe...

There are a couple of other topics on this. Bottom line is, if you have the I386 folder "somewhere" (maybe "on the C: drive", maybe in a "hidden partition"), then you can create a CD (this is only the I386 that is in a standard CD and not the other folders). You would also want to check the $OEM folder within it (if its there) for any drivers you may need (sans the "bloatware").

No "tutorial" necessarily, pretty straight-forward IF you have the I386 folder (plus a couple of other unique files to place in the ROOT of the CD - WIN51x.y-type files; can be manually "created").

Here's a similar topic with some basic info -

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=130307

(Somewhere) there was also a topic about a Dell PC as well. Look around on your HDD and do a little searching here.

edit - see below - thx, jaclaz!

Edited March 11, 2009 by submix8c

[jaclaz]

Links are given in the already referenced thread:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=91907

On this topic:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=70301

There is a link to the Dell one:

http://vbdotnet.home.comcast.net/~vbdotnet/XP_SP2.htm

And to a "generic" howto:

http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=16381

jaclaz

[Confused1]

Just a quick question...I see some conflicting information in some of the links you provided. When people refer to a WindowsXP CD or System Restore CD is that the same as a Recovery CD like what I was talking about? Meaning a CD that will restore your computer back to factory settings...the same state it was (2002 for me) when you pulled it out of the box brand new with all the software?

Or is a Windows XP CD a Windows OS files CD only...no drivers...no program software...nothin?

[jaclaz]

Nlite NEEDS as source what you call a "Windows OS files CD only", which is actually an install CD.

OEM install CD often have integrated the drivers for the specific hardware.

OEM recovery CD can be mainly of two types:

1. a clone (disk image) of the installed system in factory and a way to deploy the image
   
2. an unattended install CD
   

1st one may nonetheless have somewhere a \I386 directory with contents identical (or very similar) to the one on an install CD.

In any case it is generally possible to "reassemble" files from an installed system in a \I386 directory structure, using, if needed files coming from Service Packs, or from available sources.

Every OEM has his own ways, thus your mileage may vary.

jaclaz