Minimal Windows XP

[mansour77]

Hi everybody:

I'm looking to build a minimal windows XP station. I 'm looking to copy the files neede from my C:\ drive to the new partition, and I need no extra functionality beyong loging on. Any body have an idea about this. A link or a tutorial to will be a great help.

Thanks

[bledd]

do you have a windows xp cd?

-welcome to the forums

Edited March 27, 2006 by bledd

[mansour77]

I had a recovery partition as an installation meduim, and recovery CD, but a real installation CD, not really.

However if your intention is to install Windows from the CD and disable or remove the optionla software, then that's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking only for the files neede to boot up to the login screen.

Thanx

[Bezalel]

Just use Windows XP embedded. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/eval/default.mspx

[mansour77]

Bezale: This wont help, I'm not looking to use any new product. IMO i should be able to customize and build WIN XP fro th ereal installation. On the other hand, the embeded XP is alot of files. The link you sent says it used more than 10,000 component !!!

My target is to have a small OS from XP to boot.

[Gouki]

What exactly are you trying to do? Copy-Paste the necessary files from one installation to a hard drive and boot from it?

It will not work.

If you are looking for a minimal install possible, nLite *is* the way to go.

[mansour77]

Gouki:

Thank you, I will try this then I will let you know if this is what I need !!!

Basicly what I want to do is, have a minimal XP OS boot with very few files, just enough to mount a remote share drive, then boot the whole real OS.

I'll get back to let you know.

Thank you anyway.

[Aegis]

Well it's quite easy to get a minimal install down to 20MB if all you're looking for is to logon. If you're trying to connect to a remote network share...that's another story .

[Bezalel]

I don't think that's possible (when Windows boots you will lose all network connections). However you can use PXE to copy an OS image to a ramdrive and boot from the ramdrive.

[Daemonforce]

It sounds like he just wants to use WinPE all over the network.

[Aegis]

I agree with Bezalel, but I doubt most people know how to use XPE, or even know what PXE is (more than just the X and P switched around).

[mansour77]

Aegis:

yes that's exactly what i want to do Aegis. I need to get the files down to 20 MB, do you know how ???

This will help me understand better the start process for windows. However after that I can add a small exectable to the registry to be executed after the boot, and mount the remote drive.

Now, I guess you can help, if you know how to get th eimage down to 20 MB or close.

Thanx

[mansour77]

Nope, that's not what I wanted. I just tried nLite, and it wrapped WIN XP in a very large file. Still wondering how can I get it down to 20 MB !!

Any ideas ??

[Aegis]

Windows XP Embedded .

[gdogg]

a 20MB xp, is no more than a bloated dos

(hahaha it was just to bug aegis)

anyway, 2 project on these forums are in the works, that you'd enjoy

microwinX and XP Gamer Edition.

microwinX being the smaller.