nLite'd out Automatic Updates and now can't install IE8

[awnz]

Hi all,

For a couple of school networks I manage, I've tried using a Windows XP install that I've customized with nLite and DriverPacks.

The resulting DVD has all of DP's extra drivers, and no System Restore nor Automatic Updates. Instead, I'm using an update manager I've written myself alongside the FOG open source deployment system.

But I've hit a problem. Trying to distribute Internet Explorer 8 to clients that were previously built using the nLite'd install CD (with Automatic Updates removed) fails.

The two relevant lines from %windir%\ie8_main.log (the IE8 setup log) are:

00:02.109: INFO: |Initialize >>> CStateInitialize::OnInitialize: Windows Update Manager Initialization Result: 0x80040154

00:02.109: ERROR: |Initialize >>> Couldn't initialize the Windows Update Manager, HRESULT:0x80040154

Setup then aborts (annoyingly with errorlevel 0). This behaviour is irrelevant of the /update-no switch for IE8 setup.

Anyone know of a way around this? Is it possible to deploy IE8 to existing clients that have Automatic Updates (and System Restore) removed by nLite?

The alternative is rebuilding deployment images for a dozen types of PC and redeploying 60+ machines and I'm hoping to avoid having to do that!!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Andrew

[Kelsenellenelvian]

You need to do that anyways (Reformat all pc's) nLite is not for business or corporate use!

Before you say anything else, YES a school is considered a business or corporation & you agreed to the EULA during installation of nLite...

Edited January 21, 2010 by Kelsenellenelvian

[awnz]

I'm sorry, I can't find anywhere on the nLite site or in the EULA where it says schools can't use it and/or are considered commercial. Google can't find anything either.

If it's not explicitly in the EULA (or website) then I don't believe you can make that insistence.

Are schools legally defined as businesses or corporation in the (undefined?) country where nLite is developed?

I strongly disagree with your "consideration". Businesses and corporations exist to make a profit, I can assure you these two schools would never be able to achieve that even if they tried. Everyone here - teachers, support staff, parents, and the community - puts in a lot of unpaid time and effort for these kids. We are a state-funded non-profit organisation.

Nevertheless...

May I politely suggest that you mention in a prominent place on the nlite website that schools cannot use this, or at least put the licensing rules in the site FAQ. Mentioning it in the EULA wouldn't go amiss either, infact I would think that the EULA might be a rather important place to mention it.

Currently nLite is only partially deployed at one of these two schools I work at, it has only been so during the current month (Jan 2010) and its deployment is incomplete. I'll ensure it'll be off the affected school's images within a week (by Jan 29), and off all workstations within another week or two (by Feb 13). I will post a follow-up to confirm when this is done.

A shame really, nLite is a fantastic piece of software.

[Kelsenellenelvian]

No, I am sorry.

It isn't really just nLite's EULA. nLite modifies many files even if all you are doing is slipstreaming drivers. This is severly against the MS EULA within windows itself.

4. LIMITATIONS ON REVERSE ENGINEERING,

DECOMPILATION, AND DISASSEMBLY. You may not

reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble

the Software, except and only to the extent

that such activity is expressly permitted by

applicable law notwithstanding this

limitation.

Now sad to say that any non-personal use of this can and probably would be extrememly frowned upon by MS. It isn't that fact really that you are a (Arguably so) non-profit agency. It is the fact that you are using nLite to deploy Windows on many many PC's. nLite and its creator Nuhi caould be held responsible if anything goes wrong without the clause of non commercial usage. The fact of what you removed opens many security holes in Windows and sensitive information could be released.

As for wanting to save time there are many applications out there that combined can do most of what you want to achive. Driverspacks as you already know is fine to be used in your situation. Also removing AU and or the security center can be somewhat achived by disabling them during the installation process (Even the winnt.sif file can achieve this).

Edited January 22, 2010 by Kelsenellenelvian