NLite, what "should" be removed?

[ZzZGuy]

I just discovered Nlite thanks to RebateMonger and have a question.

What components are safe to remove and should be removed from Win XP? I intend on removing some very basic junk but I don't know enough about what is and isn't safe to remove to do anything serious.

So does anyone have a short list of what should be removed?

-edit- added question mark to topic title -edit-

 

[Cogman]

It really depends on what you want to use your system for. NLite gives a warning when you are removing something that could be dangerous. Even then, you should always check your nLite build on a VM.

For me, The first thing to go is just about every driver offered. XP has lots of drivers that I simply don't need, like the AMD processor driver when I am running an Intel processor, or their outdated nVidia drivers that I am just going to replace anyways. Sort through your drivers and see what you need and don't need.

After that, the only thing I can think of that I remove almost instantly is the Windows messaging system. The rest is your preference. (Ok, I remove MSN as well). The real beuity of slipstreaming is getting all your updated drivers, firefox, and whatever other software you like, slipstreamed onto the disk. Its just so amazing to do an fresh install and not have to trudge through the Internet to get the drivers needed (ok, you do that anyways, but not in 800x600 resolution)

 

[Rhonda the Sly]

There is a good guide for installing Windows here.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Made the slipstream CD, XP install stops with the message

Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer.

Make sure any hard drives are powered on and properly connected to your computer, and that any disk-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer-supplied diagnostic or setup program.

Setup cannot continue. To quit Setup, press F3.

Setup everything according to the MoBo manual, BIOS set to RAID and a raid 0 configuration is made. Best I can tell I'm doing something wrong with Nlite. I load the "ahcix86.inf" file (copied directly from the raid floppy I made) during the driver step, can't figure out if there is anything else to do.

 

[ZzZGuy]

Ah screw it. I'm getting the damn 34 pin floppy cable + proper floppies (read below).

Found a way to manually add the drivers but I don't have the information to add the right commands. Downloaded a pirated copy my friend said had some RAID drivers slipstreamed in along with everything under the sun but still didn't work (I own two legit copies of Win XP so ah heck off). I even found out why my USB drive didn't work, turns out only a few brand names of USB floppy drives and floppy disks will work http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916196 , I have the right drive but wrong floppies.

My future advice for others looking to bypass the floppy:
1- Direct to above link.
2- Buy the damn drive.

-Edit- Will post results with right USB drive + right floppies -edit-

 

[dorion]

Ahh I think you're having the same problem I was having with RAID and nLite. It's a problem with your RAID drivers not being Certified by Microsoft. So when it comes time to use the drivers you loaded on the nLite disk it fails. Maybe you could integrate the WHQL updates in a nLite disk.

 

[ZzZGuy]

@dorion
I'm not sure how to do that, but frankly I just give up.

I'll brake down and get the the single WD Veloci Raptor HD now rather then later.

 

[ultra laser]

Originally posted by: Rhonda the Sly
There is a good guide for installing Windows here.

QFMFT.

Leave it alone!

 

[ZzZGuy]

Originally posted by: ultra laser

Originally posted by: Rhonda the Sly
There is a good guide for installing Windows here.

QFMFT.

Leave it alone!

Why?

If I screw something up all I have to do is reinstall windows. I do it every few months anyway.

 

[LumbergTech]

there is an 88mb iso for xp pro, if you already own a key ..i would recommend that..

it has documentation on what programs and games work with it (almost everything, mostly only obscure weird crap that doesnt work)

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
I even found out why my USB drive didn't work, turns out only a few brand names of USB floppy drives and floppy disks will work http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916196 , I have the right drive but wrong floppies.

Wow, that's pretty retarded that it only works with certain drives. Couldn't MS have coded it to a device class, rather than to a specific set of vendor ID codes? I mean, USB flash drives work in XP regardless of mfg.

As far as the actual floppies go, there is no way to have a "wrong" floppy. Either it's a working and readable floppy disk, or it isn't. There's no coding for model or brand or mfg on a floppy disk.

 

[pcslookout]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy

Originally posted by: ultra laser

Originally posted by: Rhonda the Sly
There is a good guide for installing Windows here.

QFMFT.

Leave it alone!

Why?

If I screw something up all I have to do is reinstall windows. I do it every few months anyway.

Well because when you go install a windows update it may not allow you. I tired those kind of programs before and it always ended up badly. Just leave windows alone.