189 replies to this topic

[torowl]

Wiki Link: http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:nlitexp (thanks silurius)

I have used nLite slim down XP and installed in my EEE. I'm posting the step by step instructions here to share my experience. After installation, XP take about 687M SSD, this is the best result I can get so far. And this includes hotfixes and few addon softwares includes Windows Media Player 10. I also installed Office 2003 and Divx, didn't get any issue, so far so good.

I'm not a XP expert. All options that removed are based on my limited knowledge. Some options removal may be wrong. You are welcome to point out for discussion.

Here is the steps:

1. Download nLite from http://www.nliteos.com/download.html . I'm using version 1.4.

2. Download hotfixes from http://www.nliteos.com/addons/. I'm using "Xable's XP post SP2 lite update pack". The direct download link is http://udp.xable.net...ePack_v3.0.3.7z .

3. Also you can find a lot of addons in http://www.nliteos.com/addons/. For more addons, you can find them from here http://www.winaddons.com/.

4. Install nLite.

5. Create a folder and copy XP installation files (everything) from CD to that folder.

6. Run nLite, in the welcome window, click Next to Locating the Windows installation window. Click Browse button to locate the folder that you created. Click Next, nLite will check the Windows version infomations.


7. Click Next to Preset window. In the first run, you don't have any preset ini files. It will show empty here. Click Next.


8. In Task Selection window, select all except Service Pack and Drivers. Because we don't have any service pack that newer than sp2. If you select driver, nLite can embed the drivers into XP installation. I think it is not good idea to add EEE drivers into XP installation, because we need run ACPI before install EEE drivers.


9. Click Next to Hotfixes, Addons and Update Packs window. Click insert to insert hotfixes and addons. I didn't add Adobe Acrobat Reader, Windows Live Messenger and Divx addons, somehow these don't work well for me.


10. Click Next to Components window, and popup Compatibility window. This is just for preventing accident remove some important components for selected function. Don't need select anything and click OK.


11. In Components window, you can select the listed items that you feel don't need for EEE.

Here is my selections:
Applications:
I think Defragmenter is no use for 4G SSD, but I keep Defragmenter anyway, no biggee.


Drivers:
Select all to remove cause we have EEE driver CD.


Hardware Support:


Keyboards:
If you need IME, you need keep the keyboard that you need. Select all to remove except what you need.


Languages:
Select all to remove except the language that you need. In my case, I keep Simplified Chinese.
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_11_305.jpg

Multimedia:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_12_242.jpg

Network:
I kept windows messengers casue Live messenger has annoying ad bars. It is not good for 800x480.
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_13_204.jpg

Operating System Options:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_14_183.jpg

Services:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_15_156.jpg

Directories:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_16_144.jpg

12. Click Next to Unattended window. In General tag, put you XP serial number here, then it will not ask for it during installation. Also, check Turn off Hibernate.
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_17_132.jpg

Users tag:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_18_117.jpg

Owner and Network ID tag:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_19_92.jpg

Regional tag:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_20_95.jpg

Desktop themes tag:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_21_86.jpg

Display tag:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_22_115.jpg

For other tags, you can leave as is.

13. Click Next to Options window. In general tag, don't need change anything.
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_23_67.jpg

In Patches tag, choose Disable SFC.
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_24_68.jpg

14. Chick Next to Tweaks window.
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_25_59.jpg

Here are my settings in General tag:
Boot and Shutdown:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_26_55.jpg

Desktop"
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_27_46.jpg

Explorer:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_28_57.jpg

Internet Explorer:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_29_49.jpg

My Computer and Network
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_30_46.jpg

Performance:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_31_38.jpg

Privacy:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_32_36.jpg

Start Menu:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_33_52.jpg

Taskbar:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_34_37.jpg

Visual Effects:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_35._3.jpg

Windows Media Player:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_36_24.jpg

I didn't change anything in Services tag:
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_37_34.jpg

15. Click Next, nLite will process changes base on these customization.
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_38_21.jpg
It will take a while. After it is done, it shows the new installation files size.
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_39_17.jpg

16. Click Next to Bootable ISO window. Click Make ISO button to generate ISO file.
http://www.easypics.us/pics/th_40_13.jpg

17. Use Nero to burn ISO file, and then you are ready to install Windows XP for EEE.

Edited by torowl, 14 November 2007 - 05:58 AM.

[br0adband]

Now THAT was an exceptional post, and I vote right now for making it a sticky. Just one vote, but I bet more people will find it useful also. Very very well done, nice layout, simple explanations, and the pics are a huge plus for most people. I've been using nLite since day 1 and have created over a thousand different trimmed down 2K/XP install CDs and was thinking about doing a guide to rip it up for the Eee, but...

It seems torowl there beat me to it.

Outstanding piece of work.

Thanks...

[Hahutzy]

Vote for sticky -- I'll be glad to use this later, when I get my Eee PC exchanged.

For now, I need a USB-booting solution.

Edited by Hahutzy, 12 November 2007 - 05:16 AM.

[joners]

Just like to point out that the final step of burning the ISO to disc doesnt require nero.

You can use Burn-at-once, simplest piece of software that you could ever hope for to burn ISO's.

Get burn-at-once here: http://www.burnatonc...les/bao0995.exe

If you are looking for a complete burning suite for windows xp then I highly recommend CD Burner XP

Get it here: http://cdburnerxp.se/

Just released a new version, after a few years of development, have to say its simple a stunning piece of freeware.

Please note that both packages are spyware/adware free, full versions.

Joners

PS Should look to add this post to the wiki.

[brickjr]

I definitely agree! I've got NLite yesterday, but I've never used it before and was a little hesitant to use it since I didn't know which components were vital. If this setup seems to be working well, this is definitely a good baseline.

Just to clarify, did you install drivers from the restore DVD to get things like your wifi, card reader and webcam working properly or did windows automatically recognize some of them based on the setting you used for Nlite?

Thanks for the awesome post!

[torowl]

I didn't get any hiccup when install the drivers. I'm using the restore DVD, running setup.exe, and choose instAll. After few re-boot, everything is OK.

I can connect my wireless router using either Windows wireless connection or Atheros. Card reader also OK, I can watch Divx from the SD card. I didn't try webcam with Skype, however, if I open My Computer and double click USB Video Device, I can see myself from there.

[Tpunk]

How much room does this install end up taking up? I didn't see it mentioned but maybe I just missed it.

[torowl]

After remove pagefile and run cclean, the size is 687M.

[hyjinx]

I will be getting my eee pc this week, so i went ahead and ran through your guide so I would be ready to install ASAP. Thank you for your work on this!

One question though: With this trimmed down version, how fast is your boot time?

[torowl]

I didn't check after install Windows XP. For now, I have Office installed and bootup to desktop time is about 32 seconds.

[Iwanteee07]

Thanks for such a great post, I will definitely try out your setting when I install XP.

BTW, how is the battery life? do you still get around 3.5 hours with XP?

Thanks!!

[coller]

great post! i vote sticky

[ma10]

Excellant post, and thanks for taking the time to do it!!

What I would like to remind people is that using nLite to remove stuff is totally an individual experience. Meaning that, it is up to you what you want to remove and what you want to keep depends largely on your personal tastes and depends how much you know about Windows XP.

So, I would follow this guide but at the same time, make sure you absolutely understand what you are removing... If you are in anyway unsure about removing a particular component, or think you might need it in the future, then think twice before removing it!!

[rei]

Don't use Windows Messenger. You can get FULL functionality of Windows Live Messenger (8.5 final just released last week) if you patch it with MastaLine's Universal Patcher:
http://www.mastaline...nloadinfo&id=45

I put "Allow" on:
-Multiple Login
I put "Invisible" on:
Banner ads, Ad bar, MSN Search and don't make a choice for Tabs and Actions Pane (Tabs can be disabled in WLM's options) I believe you lose some functionality if you disable the Actions Pane. Afterwards, then you can install Messenger Plus! from www.msgplus.net to have tabbed messaging.

[Hahutzy]

rei, care to explain clearer?

What do I use MastaLine's Universal Patcher on? MSN Messenger?

[ma10]

@Hahutzy: I presume the patch will patch MSN Live Messenger once installed... and will enable various other options to customise MSN Live Messenger... Here's another one of these patches:

http://patch.mess.be/

[rei]

1. install wlm
2. run it, sign in, set basic options. sign out, quit/close wlm.
3. run mastaline patcher.
4. run wlm again, make sure what you remove is what you wanted. close/quit.
5. run msgplus addon.
6. run wlm.

mess.be patch is the big, more complex one, too complex for me to fuss with all the options. so i use mastaline's.

[Hahutzy]

I'm looking for the smallest MSN that offers file sharing, anyone know the answer?

[K3T]

Wooow amazing work! thanks for the share.

Might getting EEE soon so i can try it :)

What BLASSING GUIDE xD is really good for n00bs like me xD

[silurius]

Started to wikify this (with credit to torowl of course) but ran out of time. I'll continue later today or tomorrow.

http://wiki.eeeuser.com/howto:nLitexp

[Edit] Basic wiki article is done.

Edited by silurius, 13 November 2007 - 05:19 PM.