Considering nLite.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Hey all,

I've got to reformat and re-install XP on my HTPC and have heard mostly positive things about using nLite to streamline the OS install as well as slip-stream Service Packs and RAID drivers.
I've looked over the nLite page guide and for the most part it seems pretty easy though I am concerned about screwing up the part about getting rid of the crap parts of XP.

Their quide really doesn't cover slipstreaming RAID drivers though and I was wondering if anybody here could explain it or point me to a guide. My RAID drivers are on a floppy disc and I have no floppy drive in my HTPC so slipstreaming would definitely be preferred.
Any hints or pointers?

My biggest concern is slipstreaming a Service Pack - I have only read/heard negative things about SP3 so I would rather have SP2 but when I search on the Microsoft site for SP2 I wind up in a circle of 'click here to download SP2' > 'do not download this if you are only updating 1 PC' > 'use Windows Update to get SP2 or click here to download SP2' > 'do not download this if you are only updating 1 PC'.
Does anybody here know where I can download SP2 from the Microsoft site? Searching for "download Windows XP Service Pack 2" on the microsoft site just took me back into that loop... Same for googling it.

I'd really like some feedback from you PC savvy folks on nLite and what kind of problems it may present.
The unattended mode seems appealing, but I'm a bit wary as even the nLite site indicates that it can be problematic.

TIA!

[redwudz]

You might try their corporate download for SP2: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=049c9dbe-3b8e-...5-9e368d3cdb5a

Or for SP3: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e155...displayLang=en

I've used the first one in the past and you don't have to go through quite as many 'hoops' as the regular Windows Update downloads.

And you are probably aware that SP3 is mostly a collection of updates since SP2's release. If you did regular updates since SP2, you would have most all of it. Of course with a new install, MS will want to update SP2 to SP3 unless you turn off auto updates.

I've only used Nlite a couple of times, but, at least with SP2, it didn't seem too hard. But that's been a while.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

You might try their corporate download for SP2: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=049c9dbe-3b8e-...5-9e368d3cdb5a

That's where I get "If you're updating just one computer, please visit Windows Update."

Or for SP3: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e155...displayLang=en

I've used the first one in the past and you don't have to go through quite as many 'hoops' as the regular Windows Update downloads.

And you are probably aware that SP3 is mostly a collection of updates since SP2's release. If you did regular updates since SP2, you would have most all of it. Of course with a new install, MS will want to update SP2 to SP3 unless you turn off auto updates.

I've only used Nlite a couple of times, but, at least with SP2, it didn't seem too hard. But that's been a while.

Auto updates are always off on my machines. ALWAYS.
I've heard too many bad things about SP3, especially problems with disappearing drivers.

[fritzi93]

I've used nLite a number of times, no problem. Their guide seems good enough. Here, in case you haven't seen it:

http://www.nliteos.com/guide/

I did one once for a specific computer with all drivers I'd need, without difficulty. You need .inf files to integrate drivers. But a change in hardware means you gotta make a new one. As to SP3, I suspect most folks having difficulty with it are installing on an already fooked computer. It's always gone fine for me on a slipstreamed install disc. [shrugs]

Good luck.

[redwudz]

That's where I get "If you're updating just one computer, please visit Windows Update."

I just ignore that. I think it's to keep the average user out, but the DLs are fine. MS wants you to use their Windows Update system instead and install as needed, piecemeal. That site should give the whole SP2 in one package.

[Soopafresh]

Nlite is terrific. Even if it takes a few attempts to create a functional install disk, you'll become an expert at it very quickly.

[Nelson37]

The multiple PC install, or network install, is the file you need. It is the complete install, whereas a single PC install they want you to install on the fly.

I figure if you wanna install XP, install XP. If you want something else, install that. Easy enough to tune out all the unneeded options, they don't take up much room.

[freebird73717]

I like nlite for the unattended installation. Set the thing up with all your product keys and other info so that if/when you need to reinstall you can just pop in the disc and walk away.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I don't think I'll be able to utilize the unattended installation (at least not fully) because my XP is an upgrade disc, so at some point I'll still have to eject the nLite disc and put my Win2K install disc in.

[bevills1]

You could copy the contents of the original Windows CD to a hard drive folder and browse to that folder when prompted for original Windows. That won't make it unattended unless nLite includes the option to check for original Windows, but it's faster than switching CDs.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

I'll be doing a fresh install on a system with only 1 hard drive though.

[GKar]

Hey all,

I've got to reformat and re-install XP on my HTPC and have heard mostly positive things about using nLite to streamline the OS install as well as slip-stream Service Packs and RAID drivers.
I've looked over the nLite page guide and for the most part it seems pretty easy though I am concerned about screwing up the part about getting rid of the crap parts of XP.

Their quide really doesn't cover slipstreaming RAID drivers though and I was wondering if anybody here could explain it or point me to a guide. My RAID drivers are on a floppy disc and I have no floppy drive in my HTPC so slipstreaming would definitely be preferred.
Any hints or pointers?

My biggest concern is slipstreaming a Service Pack - I have only read/heard negative things about SP3 so I would rather have SP2 but when I search on the Microsoft site for SP2 I wind up in a circle of 'click here to download SP2' > 'do not download this if you are only updating 1 PC' > 'use Windows Update to get SP2 or click here to download SP2' > 'do not download this if you are only updating 1 PC'.
Does anybody here know where I can download SP2 from the Microsoft site? Searching for "download Windows XP Service Pack 2" on the microsoft site just took me back into that loop... Same for googling it.

I'd really like some feedback from you PC savvy folks on nLite and what kind of problems it may present.
The unattended mode seems appealing, but I'm a bit wary as even the nLite site indicates that it can be problematic.

TIA!

Have you read this yet?

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=51140

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Wow! There's a lot on that page.
I've already created my nLite disc. After reading through the documentation for my card (it's actually a PCI-IDE card) I've decided that I will pull it out during OS installation and install it afterward as the documentation indicates that is the best method and the F6/floppy during OS install is problematic.
Thanks though.

[Seeker47]

I haven't really gotten to the point of seriously looking into this Downsized Windows / Slipstreaming subject (Hell, I've just started using XP itself, which shows you how far behind the curve I am !) . . . but I have been collecting bookmarks on it for awhile now. From amongst the list of links I'm going to paste in below, those who may be interested in this will likely find some good info.


http://lifehacker.com/386526/slipstream-service-pack-3-into-your-windows-xp-installation-cd

http://teamtutorials.com/windows-tutorials/how-to-make-a-custom-windows-install-w-nlite

I know that I've run across some detailed guides. There were at least a couple that seemed to stand out -- maybe something off of these next two.

http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/
http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/sitemap

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/thread/976a4824-9706-49dd-a...-8df8050cff12/

http://smithii.com/slipstream_xpsp2?page=4

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/How-To--Slipstream-your-XP-installation

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

The inclusion of SATA drivers were apparently an issue at one point. The next link is said to be a good source for generic versions of these, or various other drivers one might need.

http://driverpacks.net/DriverPacks/

If you are an ISOBUSTER user, they list a link that may be relevant here.

http://www.isobuster.com/tips.php

And if you Google "TinyXP", there should be a goodly number of interesting hits.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

nice...
I still have everything on my office PC and about a billion blank cds.
I'd really like to get my mobo and video card drivers installed with the OS (still going to do the RAID card afterward though).
There is a page of nLite 'add-ons' http://www.winaddons.com/nlite-addons
I guess you can include installation of applications in your OS install? Since it is an HTPC it would be nice to include DVD Decrypter, DVDShrink, MPC, IMGBurn, MAME32, etc in my OS install...
I'll have to play around with it some. My HTPC is currently limping along but in a very crippled state - I have to move some files to/from various drives and take stock of some specific settings before I move forward with the OS install anyway.

[freebird73717]

You can create your on nlite add-ons with nlite add-on maker

edit
My nlite cd is not a stripped version of xp but rather just a custom install disc containing add-ons for all my favorite apps. That way when I re-install the OS I've already got the majority of my favorite apps installed. Have to put it on a dvd.

[lordsmurf]

I used nLite recently, worked well.

Unfortunately, the added drivers still didn't help me.

[GKar]

nice...
I still have everything on my office PC and about a billing blank cds.
I'd really like to get my mobo and video card drivers installed with the OS (still going to do the RAID card afterward though).
There is a page of nLite 'add-ons' http://www.winaddons.com/nlite-addons
I guess you can include installation of applications in your OS install? Since it is an HTPC it would be nice to include DVD Decrypter, DVDShrink, MPC, IMGBurn, MAME32, etc in my OS install...
I'll have to play around with it some. My HTPC is currently limping along but in a very crippled state - I have to move some files to/from various drives and take stock of some specific settings before I move forward with the OS install anyway.

All the stuff you want including raid drivers (txt mode), mobo and video drivers is easily accomplished by reading these multiple threads. There are prebuilt addons here also. The only driver's I need to addon post-nLite is Creative sound drivers and my scanner drivers. My multiple motherboard chipset, network, modem, etc.. drivers are preloaded.

I strip out all drivers except the ones for my boards. Oh yeah, and I'm I've been using SP3 for quite some time with no problems on 3 different boards.

The first thing you need is Universal Extractor to access the driver inf's and txt's to use with nLite. Building your own addons requires programs like CMENU or USSF to determine the switches you need to make them silent installers to use with nLite Addon Maker.

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showforum=89

You can't learn this stuff till you break a little sweat.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

Sounds like it would be real easy to **** shit up...

[GKar]

Sounds like it would be real easy to **** shit up...

Only in your mind young Padawan.

Practice.

[budz]

I used nlite for the first time last month. Whoas! It was not difficult to incorporate SP3. It even allows you to put in the KEYGEN so you don't have to input it in while installing XP. Just take your time in using nlite. It is not that difficult to use. At first I thought it would be hard to use but just read over the guides before you use it or while you're using it. Just my 2 cents!

[Seeker47]

edit
My nlite cd is not a stripped version of xp but rather just a custom install disc containing add-ons for all my favorite apps. That way when I re-install the OS I've already got the majority of my favorite apps installed. Have to put it on a dvd.

I just mentioned the stripped-down XP as one option that some are considering, for different reasons. I think it could make a nice secondary "Maintenance" partition -- but already in your system, an alternative perhaps to a Bart PE disc or Knoppix-type repair disc. I'm curious enough to give it a try.

For a full-blown slipstreamed install disc, I was curious as to what extent you could include a full cart of your favorite apps, pre-installed. And various user preference customizations, for your desktop etc. etc. (For example, I would always choose to deep-six that XP Fisher-Price interface, turn OFF the anchoring grid for the desktop, and a number of other things. I'd rather not have to reset a list of particulars for each app, as well.) I liked what you said about 'Put the disc in and walk away.' The top goal would be to be able to do a full, custom redeployment, as quickly, as easily, and as painlessly as possible.

Finally, must these ultimate, do-it-all reinstall discs be closely tailored to just one existing system, or are there any ways to make them more open-ended ?

[freebird73717]

For a full-blown slipstreamed install disc, I was curious as to what extent you could include a full cart of your favorite apps, pre-installed.

You can put any program you want on a disc as long as you have the setup file and use the above mentioned add-on maker (I've only done this with programs that have installers and not with self contained no install programs).

And various user preference customizations, for your desktop etc. etc. (For example, I would always choose to deep-six that XP Fisher-Price interface, turn OFF the anchoring grid for the desktop, and a number of other things.

I'm not sure there. I haven't tried to customize the desktop/startmenu when creating a nlite disc so I can't answer that.

I'd rather not have to reset a list of particulars for each app, as well.)

While this does allow you to have your apps installed you will still have to set them all up the way you want them. This just saves having to re-install the apps after installing the OS.

I liked what you said about 'Put the disc in and walk away.'

Unattended installations are great.

Finally, must these ultimate, do-it-all reinstall discs be closely tailored to just one existing system, or are there any ways to make them more open-ended ?

I've made mine generic as far as the hardware goes. While you can lnstall the hardware drivers into the nlite cd I still kind of prefer the manual route for hardware drivers. Plus you may change hardware like a motherboard or something else in the future and you don't want drivers installed that don't need to be.

I am not an expert at nlite though so I would definitely recommend reading up at the nlite forums. What I have done has worked for me though.