Nlite Issues?

[Snake007uk]

Hi,

I want to start off by saying Nlite is an excellent program however my lack of knowledge on the auto install process is causing so many issues. I have an ISO image if WINXP, which has already been patch with all the updates up until march, (this excludes .net 1.1, .net 2.0 and .net 3.0).

Now If I start to remove packages/ or tweak once I get the OS installed I am facing some wierd issues, programs not installing, random blue screens etc....

So I was wondering if anyone had a good last session.ini file they could email me, so that I can get a proper install done?

Also is there anyway of intergrating .net 1.1, .net 2.0 and .net 3.0?

Regards

Snake

[Silenti]

Hi,

Yes, nLite is an excellent program. It has some guides though unfortunately not as good as the program itself mainly due to being a bit old, for the version 0.98:

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=28005

and v.1.0 RC5:

http://www.nliteos.com/guides.html

As it states a source disc has to be free from any patches, however could contain SPs, so I gess you are facing problems due to that point.

Additions that I integrated with nLite:- RyanVM WMP10 Addon 1.3,

- RyanVM DirectX 9.0c Addon 1.1,

- RyanVM Post-SP upd. pack 2.1.8,

- .Net 1.1 SP1 integrator,

- .Net 2.0 integrator.

Of course it was the latest ones at the date of nLiting.

I think there is a great need of adding Net 1.1 and 2.0. Some programs are in demand of them. How to integrate? It is needed to put integrator files that are zipped files at a step of Hotfixes.

I don't think there's a good idea to add Net 3.0. It consumes ~400MB on HDD, in addition I haven't yet found any info that some program demands of it use. I tend to think it is rather future technology, not recent.

There is one of my last session.ini files in attachment. nLited Windows XP SP2 MCE works good. I use it on my Sony VAIO notebook. When removing components I decided not to lose main functionality, but delete undoubtedly useless components [for me, of course]. Second, I disabled a huge amount of useless services and it made possible to free RAM considerably [~34MB] and reduce amount of running processes too. And some services could be disabled only after installation, because they are not in the list on nLite.

There is a good guide on Windows processes:

http://www.vernalex.com/tools/services/index.shtml

Another links I used:

http://www.processlibrary.com/#

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/system/

If you are using a desktop, not a notebook, consider not to delete so much drivers as I did, because notebook manufacturers usually implement many third party drivers that are not found on common OS installation CD - I install them after OS installation, but delete common ones with nLite.

Added:

Installed Net 2.0 occupies 180MB, installed Net 3.0 - 400MB, though it adds Net 2.0, too. So, Net 3.0 "pure" weight is 220MB. Is it worth to keep such amount for future [?] technology, especially in case of having notebook?

Another question is about use of addons type Net + Virtual Java [these could be found on RogueSpear's and RyanVM sites]. As I know, Virtual Java is not supported after release of SP2 for Windows XP due to judicial issue with Sun Microsystems. Instead of it I install latest version of Java RE - it is a needed component for usual computer use.

Added 2:

There was in the attached INI file left not disabled Indexing service that usually is not in use at all, but, if needed, is used only in a specific PC employment with much search activity. I just have forgotten to turn it off after testing series. Now there I put more advanced one.

Last_Session_35a.rar

Edited June 2, 2007 by Silenti

[Madhits45]

I also was using a disc fully updated till march. I am still testing but appear to have only one outstanding issue related to wireless. No one on this forum uses wireless so I am on my own with that issue.

Did yours have IE 7 integrated. If so I am having IE7 crash every time I type in the address bar. Strange issue.

[Silenti]

Hi,

I previously broadly tested nLited [v.1.3RC2] XP with integrated RyanVM post-SP2 addon v.2.1.6 [rel. Jan.16, 2007]. I did not any WiFi issues noticed, no matter that I used different WiFi drivers in various cases:

- 1. manufactory prescribed WiFi driver [intel v.10.1.11],

- 2. update from some Sony site [intel v.10.1.13],

- 3. original driver from Intel site that is non-cut by Sony, however better in use [v.10.5.2 / 10.5.1.75]

I advise you to look at the newest WiFi driver. If it's from Intel, than the latest my tested works much better. Second, if you accidentaly disabled or set Manually_started whatever OS service concerning WiFi driver, it is possible to have issues in functioning. I proved it for myself. It's better to leave such services untouched as were after installation, usually Auto_start. For my Sony Vaio VGN-Fe11s those are as follows:

- Intel PROSet/Wireless Event Log,

- Intel PROSet/Wireless Registry Service,

- Intel PROSet/Wireless Service,

- Wireless Zero Configuration - this could be set even Disabled, if Intel WiFi console is used [instead of MS one - this is less confortable in use and works worse].

I didn't add IE7. Why? Because I have used Maxthon v.1 until now without any problems. It uses IE kernel, but is much safer than IE itself and is very handy to use [multiple tabs, ad-blokers, drag&drop links start etc.]. By the way, I remembered a good say: one of IT profi said that surfing with IE is walking on the mine field, but surfing with Maxthon is like walking on the same mine field with experienced mine-clearing specialist. IE7 is not so safe as claims MS [have ever they told a real truth about their products without a tremendous dose of marketing tricks?]. Despite that, IE7 has very much "fat", was designed for Vista and, of course, unstable product as it is Vista on the whole, too. I tend to hold notion that MS products after W2k & W2k3 are degrading in quality [i mean stability first of all], but lack of quality [they think (?)] compensate by iridescent bunch of colors, makerting tricks and monopolistic policy means

Did you try to make nLited XP identical to that one having IE7, but instead without integration of IE7? I mean, the only difference in options would be the integration of IE7.

I think the best bet would be not using IE. It's only my opinion, therefore based on facts.

Edited April 25, 2007 by Silenti

[Silenti]

Quote:

"Second, I disabled a huge amount of useless services and it made possible to free RAM considerably [~34MB] and reduce amount of running processes too."

Later I decided to repeat my tests on disabled services in more exact way. Finaly, there are the results.

Testing system was identical in both cases, except the recent was with advanced WiFi driver [intel v.10.5.2] that extra 50MB & 80 files added in comparison to previous used “cut” by Sony v.10.1.0.11 [without Intel control console, but this console works better than MS one]. There is needed to note that at the step of WiFi driver installation it is necessary to install driver v.10.1 first and then upgrade with driver v.10.5. If installation of driver v.10.1 is omited, then Wireless Device Switcher would not work at all. Apparently native driver v.10.1 has something added from Sony in order to fit in with utils. [i think this note is in regard to some Sony notebooks only.]

So was PC: notebook Sony VGN-Fe11s, T2400, 1GB RAM, NVIDIA GF7400, XP Pro SP2 MCE OEM-preactivated original_CD.

Status: freshly installed OS plus necessary drivers [13] and utilities [10], defragmented.

A. Services are intact

Physical memory:

- Total: 1046,6 MB

- Available: 780,6 MB

- System cache: 117,3 MB

- Used RAM [Total minus Available]: 266 MB – apparently some portion is not documented and some reserved for Video.

PageFile usage: 182 MB

Processes: 37

Threads: 394

Boot up: 45,1 s

Shutdown: 14,3 s

Services started: 49 [Auto: 40, Manual: 9]

B. After useless services have been disabled

Physical memory:

- Total: 1046,6 MB

- Available: 802,2 MB

- System cache: 112,6 MB

- Used RAM: 244,4 MB

PageFile usage: 155 MB

Processes: 30

Threads: 281

Boot up: 42,6 s

Shutdown: 13,4 s

Services started: 25 [Auto: 20, Manual: 5]

Total number of services in both stages: 88

Results we win useless services have been disabled

Physical memory:

- Available: +21,6 MB

- System cache: –4,7 MB

- Used RAM: –21,6 MB

PageFile usage: –27 MB

Processes: –7

Threads: –107

Boot up: –2,5 s

Shutdown: –0,9 s

Services started: –24 [Auto: –20, Manual: –4]

Some notes

= All measurements are done after 5 minutes boot process has been finished in order to minimize impact of transient, short-time processes.

= Values are based on Windows Task manager data and are typical [~ ±0,5 MB] for number of boots.

= System_cache showed itself of being the most unstable parameter. For example, in some cases at the stage A it showed ~127,7 MB, while most common value is ~117,3 MB; in some cases at the stage B it showed ~116,8 MB, while most common value is ~112,6 MB. I can’t explain this phenomenon, maybe MS profies could. It is seemingly most obscured parameter in Windows Task manager [but not the only unclear point]. Common sense hints me that system stability means its parameters’ repeatability, especially, when system is freshy installed.

= It was disabled only these services that has no impact on my daily PC use as Home user, e.g. keep on operating WLAN, LAN, using Bluetooth, built-in camera etc. When using LAN, there may would be needed in some environment not to disable Windows Time service [i have disabled it]. Another good step in resource cleaning is to delete or move to safe place Bluetooth Manager shotcut from Startup folder [any program placed there starts on PC boot] – doing that the amount of processes in Task manager is reduced by 4 and Bluetooth still will work when turned on. Therefore, I did not test Bluetooth functionality in more detailed way. There are needed some external devices to plug in, recently I don’t have them available.

Conclusions

Most representative parameters are… I can say, all of them, except System_cache that is with some dose of unpredistability and obscurity. By the way, it’s very interesting – 27% of threads are down !

I suppose, these results could be a good comparison base for notebooks with factory-installed OS [and, of course, with a variety of added staff], or even desktops that usualy have fewer OEM drivers and utilities installed. Personally I can not make such kind of comparison because I do not have any saved image of factory-made recovery OS for my notebook. Results from other users are welcome.

Added:

There are screenshots of W. services after unused ones have been disabled.

servdisabl_1

servdisabl_2

servdisabl_3

Added 2:

Included some datails concerning Wireless Device Switcher.

Edited June 17, 2007 by Silenti