net framework and vcredist

[firsak]

Hi all.

Sorry if asking in the wrong section.

I have nLited WinXPSP2PRO 64-bit Edition. After a fresh installation my Windows folder is hardly ~900 megs. I install a bunch of standard apps like WinRar, 7-Zip, Daemon Tools, K-Lite Codec Pack, Office 2003, Firefox, Winamp and so on (I don't like that stuff slipstreamed. I'd rather install it manually, since I don't reinstall windows that often and most of that software is updated regularly). So, my Windows folder would be around 950 megs then. But when I install some stupid app, that requires the BS called Net Framework, my win folder size jumps to ridiculous 4.5GB. Is that normal? Will it grow forever with subsequent releases of Net 5.0, 6.0 and so on? Is it going to end some day? Why does the software framework takes up more space than the OS itself?

Also what's with the vcredist? I slipstream every necessary version of it (vcredist_2005_x86, vcredist_2008_x86 vcredist_2005_x64 vcredist_2008_x64) into my Windows installation. But still some crappy installer forcibly manages to slip in some other version of vcredist. 3ds max 2009 installation, for example. I now have 6 vcredist items in Add or Remove Programs utility.

What's to be done with all this mess?

Edited May 7, 2010 by firsak

[Sp0iLedBrAt]

Well, unless you are a developer, you could always add the .NET Framework client (runtime) files instead of the full package.

As to the second part, I have a question. I've never actually slipstreamed vcredist_x86.exe . Does nLite do it successfully?

[johnhc]

Well, unless you are a developer, you could always add the .NET Framework client (runtime) files instead of the full package.

As to the second part, I have a question. I've never actually slipstreamed vcredist_x86.exe . Does nLite do it successfully?

Sp0iLedBrAt, I don't think you can slipstream vcredist, I do not. I install them out of the RunOnce exit, as shown in Kurt_Aust's great guide. This is a 64 bit guide, but has many great insights/ideas and the principles apply to 32 bit OSs.

firsak, If you did slipstream vcredist, then you probably need to start over (fresh copy of your CD files/folders). You cannot slipstream .Net either, but I can't tell if you did. Please attach your Last Session, as requested in the bold RED letters above. My Windows folder is 3.3 GB and the .Net folder is over 300 MB. The System32 folder is 800-900 MB, so you are not too far out of alignment. Most of your program installs are going into the Program Files folders which is not in the Windows folder (in Root). Enjoy, John.

[Sp0iLedBrAt]

I don't think you can slipstream vcredist, I do not. I install them out of the RunOnce exit

Exactly as I imagined; to be honest, it would have been a pleasant surprise to have that possibility. Agreed on the RunOnce, I do the same thing, although there are some applications (e.g. QuickTime Alternative) that include vcredist v.9 (C++ 2008) and install it by default in a silent install, so one less to care about.

Cheers

[firsak]

I don't think you can slipstream vcredist

My bad. That thing I did is not called "slipstreaming" it is a t-13 thingy. But I do it this way: I put vcredist into a 7z archive, add entries_cmdopen.ini file with the following content:

[General]
Title=vcredist_x64_2008
Version=
BuildDate=

[EditFile]
I386\SVCPACK.INF,SetupHotfixesToRun,AddProgram
AMD64\SVCPACK.INF,SetupHotfixesToRun,AddProgram

[AddProgram]
vcredist_x64_2008.exe /Q

And add this 7z archive in nLite along with hotfixes.

You cannot slipstream .Net either

I install it after Windows has been installed.

My Windows folder is 3.3 GB

Just checked mine - it is 2,91 GB now (Net 4.0 not installed though). I can swear it was almost 5gbs before. Net folder is 303 mb.

LAST SESSION.INI

Edited June 8, 2010 by firsak

[johnhc]

firsak, I cannot comment on your .ini method of installing vcredist since I am not familiar with your it. I also have added versions of vcredist and I don't know for sure what application is installing them. On this machine (XP x64) I have at least one extra one. On my W7 machine I think at least two. I do see some SW adding vcredist. Other than this, I am not sure what your concerns/problems are. Please let us know. Enjoy, John.