Every byte counts: files on root of XP CD?

[JPamplin]

Folks,

Quick question: I'm continuing to run up against the 700MB ceiling for my unattended CD, and the latest idea I've had is to delete the files on the root level of the XP CD (Setup.exe, autorun, win51, win51IP, etc.).

I'm doing a DOS install with \i386\winnt.exe using a WINNT.SIF file in \i386, and it's booting using a 1.44MB DOS floppy image. Do I need the setup.exe program there? It would save me over a meg of space.

Please let me know what files on the root would be safe to delete, considering I'm doing a clean install from DOS.

Thanks,

JP

[X-Ecutioner]

u can delete setup and autorun but leave all the win51, win51IP, etc because setup uses them to identify the source cd. If you delete those, setup will ask you to put in the right disc. If your booting using the setup disks then I dont think you need winnt.exe or winnt32.exe.

[XtremeMaC]

man u're trying to save a mb? that's awful

why don't u make 2 cd install?

u need to keep win51 stuff. and *.sp1 type of stuff.

u can delete the setup.exe and autorun.inf

i encourage u to make 2 cd install..

i'm sure u used jdeboeck and gosh's method right?

[Sie Tjin Kian]

hi,

another way to get space on your custom windows cd is, to delete unused folders in I386, like the languages and other stuff. Look at the wonderfull gosh website for better information.

Also you can create cab files with the windows build- in command "makecab", these files can be extracted during unattend setup.

Have a nice day.... Sie Tjin Kian

[Aaron]

And this is what happens when you remove those CD ident files

[gmx]

lol @aaronxp pic

[JPamplin]

Thanks guys! Do I need the readme.htm and spnotes.htm files as well?

I've already removed the unneeded lang and other folders in WinXP, deleted the IE5 folders in my admin install point of Office XP SP3 and Norton SW, and deleted the INSTMSI and INSTMSIW.exe's from apps that had them. Since I'm doing a clean install of XP, those files are never used.

I wanted to come up with a simple but novel approach to cramming the OS and ALL needed applications into one CD, and I've accomplished that finally with MSFN's help.

Since I'm a beginner, I didn't want to hack files or use gosh's approach to reducing the size of the XP install folder (renaming folders halfway through the install cycle) becuase I wanted to be able to go back and update those folders as "full" installers. That is possible using my approach.

I'll publish my technique in detail very soon, but so far, I have been able to fit the following full installers onto one bootable 700MB CD:

- WinXP Pro SP1 (English)

- 22 Hotfixes and Supplemental Installs from Windows Update

- Office XP Pro w. Frontpage SP3 (Admin install folder)

- Norton SW Pro 2002 (same functionality, but smaller then 2003 or 2004)

- Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.1

- Nero 6 Ultra 6.3.1.6

- QuickTime 6.5 full

- Ad-Aware 6 build 181 with 274 reffile

- SpywareBlaster 2.6.1 with updated DB

- SpywareGuard, also with updated DB

- Google Toolbar (latest)

- My IPs 1.0

- Winamp 5.02 Pro MSI

- VB6 SP5

- WinRAR 3.30

- PageDefrag 2.1

- RegShot

- CDex 1.51

- TightVNC 1.2.9

- 63MB of drivers, including Omega's ATI 4.3 Catalyst drivers, nVidia 45.xx series (so it will install on TNTs), Rage 128, and a few others

Like I said, I'll publish the technique soon, but so far it's working great. The only thing I have left is a few interface tweaks I've yet to figure out, but I'm sure the pros at MSFN will be able to help.

Thanks again, and please let me know about those HTM files on root.

JP

[big_gie]

Let the html files, they don't take serious place and its nicer to have a complete CD!

I sugest compressing the drivers with 7zip (sfx), name it drivers.exe, put it in $OEM$\$1\drivers\drivers.exe

then add this to your winnt.sif:

    DetachedProgram="%systemdrive%\drivers\drivers.exe"

    Arguments="-y /q /r:n"

This will expand at T-39 minutes, just before installation.

My drivers are about 50 Mb uncompressed, and after 7zip I have 16 Mb

Good luck!

[JPamplin]

Thanks, Big_gie - I've been thinking of using 7-ZIP on the whole CD, but I don't believe it runs under DOS, does it?

That's why you're running within XP setup? It works there?

Oh, also, can you have multiple Detached Programs, run one after another?

Thanks again for the tip!

JP

[XtremeMaC]

why r u using reader 5? 6.0.1 is released.

I mean is there a specific reason for it?

I see the reason for system works. (I totally got rid of norton products , maybe only ghost can stay)

they all eat too much stuff (mem,hdd,)

[JPamplin]

Why 5.1 instead of 6? Well, I haven't tried 6.0 lately, but the first time I installed it, the right side of the toolbar has these continuously changing "mini-ads" promoting their full Acrobat product.

I didn't like that, and couldn't figure out a way to turn it off. Plus, 6.0 is a larger install, and 5.1 does everything my users need AcroRead to do, frankly. Just open PDFs.

Now, if that's changed, then please enlighten me on it. I'd also like to know where Reader stores it's settings (INI or registry) so I can set some settings on the front end.

Thanks!

JP

[Aaron]

You can only have one detached program running, not multiples.

Batch files could do multiple things, but they won't work at T-39 mins (its very limited what you can run at that time).

[big_gie]

7zip doesnt work under dos...

You could use rar maybe...

[big_gie]

Screen shot of 7zip extracting drivers @ T-39

[R600]

And this is what happens when you remove those CD ident files

LOL. Wrong drive you foo!