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Windows-Tweaks readers have asked for a more modular Windows setup in Vista. This means that during the installation you will be free to decide what components (e.g. Calculator, Windows Media Player, Movie Maker, Internet Explorer, network services, Windows Firewall etc.) are (not) installed.
A small tool, called nLite, is the best solution for our Windows today: nLite enables you to select specific Windows XP components and easily removes them. Afterwards you can burn your reduced XP CD and install it.

To run nLite your computer must meet the following requirements

• The nLite Software: Download nLite from this page!
• The operating system must be Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Server 2003
• The Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 must be installed. You can download it here! The installation is comparatively easy (you just need to confirm with Next).
• Your original Windows XP installation-CD

How to start nLite and begin the surgical operation on Windows XP

1. Copy all files and folders from the original Windows XP CD (we used Windows XP Home Edition) into a newly created folder called (e.g.) C:\Home.

2. Now start nLite and confirm the welcome screen by clicking Next. Hit the Browse... button and select the folder where the files of the installation-CD are located (C:\Home in our example).

3. nLite will start analyzing the content and subsequently reassures the identity of your disc. After you have confirmed, youll have the freedom to choose from several options that will affect the size and the extent of your personal Windows XP Reduced Edition. In this guide we go from top to bottom and activate every single entry simply by clicking on it.

4. Click Next (twice, if you dont have any presets to load). Then the nLite assistant asks you to integrate a service pack: Hit Select and choose the Service Pack 2 file (usually xpsp2.exe or WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe).

Note: Service Pack 2 updates your Windows XP with the latest security technology and several fixes that will automatically solve most known problems. You can download it from the Windows XP SP2 Download Page or you can Order a Service Pack 2 CD!

5. nLite will now extract the Service Pack 2 files from the .exe-archive. Click Next and select specific hotfixes that have been released after the SP2 publication (so-called post-SP2 fixes).

Note: You can manually download specific hotfixes, patches and security updates from the Windows Update-Catalog!

6. After clicking Next you will be able to integrate device drivers into your personal Windows XP installation-CD.

Note: In order to proceed you must first ensure that the .inf-file of your device drivers (e.g. nv4_disp) are already available or extracted since these files will be integrated into the installation. For example, if you have downloaded the latest Nvidia-driver for your graphic card it will be an .exe-file, e.g. called 67.66_win2kxp_international.exe. If you want to extract the necessary files out of the archive you can simply start the setup assistant (by double-clicking it) and select a destination folder. Now discontinue with the installation and open up the directory (e.g. C:\NVIDIA\Win2KXP\67.66), that now holds the nv4_disp.info, through nLite. In most cases drivers come as a .zip-File which can easily be extracted using WinAce! In the extracted folder you will most likely find the .inf-file.

7. Click Next again and select what kind of compatibility you need:

• Printers (Local, Network and PDF): Enables the printer spooler that provides support for printing. If your computer is connected to a printer or to a network with a shared printer you might want to keep this feature enabled.
   
• Ethernet DHCP functionality: Enables the whole network functionality and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol; is providing a mechanism that allocates IP-addresses to hosts/clients). Note: Broadband connection relies on this functionality!
   
• Windows Activation: Should definitely be enabled since you wont be able to activate Windows XP over the internet or phone. You cannot use the operating system Windows XP without activating it after a certain time.
   
• Windows Update Web Site: We recommend enabling this feature since it provides the easiest way of securing, enhancing and fixing your Windows XP.
   
• Cameras and Camcorders: Enables or disables the support and the transfer assistant for digital still cameras and camcorders.
   
• NT Backup/Volume Shadow Copy: If you rather prefer to manually perform a backup or use a professional third party solution, you can disable it with a clear conscience.

Scalpels ready? Gloves ready? Good, lets remove superfluous components from Windows XP!

8. You are now able to remove unwanted software pieces from your installation-CD which can be reduced from the usual 500-600 MB to approx. 300 MB (!). Click on the checkmark to remove any component that should not be included. You will also be guided by some information about the highlighted component so there is nothing you can do wrong - beware of components you do not recognize or know since those cannot be (easily) reintegrated into an existing Windows installation. For example, you should be careful with removing entries from Services since some programs or technology might be connected to some of them.

9. Hit Next to confirm the changes youve made. If you have a SATA-capable hard drive it is necessary to manually select a driver (from a floppy disk), but in order to do this you have to deactivate the self-acting setup by hitting Disable Unattended first. In most cases an IDE-drive is installed and automatically recognized by the installation wizard.

Note: Continue with step 11 if you have disabled the unattended option!

10. With the additional tabs (General 1/2, General 2/2, Personal, Display) nLite gives the opportunity to automatically set both a wide range of settings and some answers for the XP installation.

General 1/2

• Computer type: Leave it at Automatic unless Windows fails to recognize your hardware as ACPI-capable in which case you will be encountering several power management problems (like the infamous shutdown problem).
   
• CD-Key: Enter your CD-key here.
   
• Unattended mode: Click on the exclamation mark for a detailed description.
   
• Windows path: You can edit the path of your Windows installation (e.g. C:\Windows becomes C:\WinXP).
   
• Classic start menu: Enables or disables the classic start menu known from Windows 95 to Windows Me.
   
• Classic theme: Enables or disables the classic theme known from Windows 95 to Windows Me.
   
• Turn off Hibernate: The hibernation feature from Windows XP lets you stop your work and shut down the computer without closing windows or programs. After powering up you can continue your work with all data and windows still intact. If you disable hibernation, you will save several hundreds of megabytes (depending on your memory size, e.g. 1024 MB) but you wont be able to use this feature anymore.

General 2/2

• All options: If your computer lives within a network domain you can integrate it manually. Please contact your network administrator.

Personal

• All options: Enter your personal data and regional settings.

Display

• Colour depth: The higher this setting is the clearer and more detailed your pictures will appear.
   
• Screen resolution: Set your favourite resolution. Make sure that your display and graphic card support the selected mode.
   
• Refresh rate: You can automatically set a refresh rate. Note: While older CRT (tube) displays flicker with a too low setting and stress your eyes, newer TFT-displays are by design not able to flicker and therefore should be run with the lowest setting (60 Hz).

11. After clicking Next you find yourself within the tweaking section of nLite. We recommend not to take any actions since some settings might render your Windows completely useless after the first boot or driver installation. Rather we recommend you visit the Windows-Tweaks tuning section since we deliver more experienced views on certain options and help to find the safest settings for your computer. Click Next again.

12. The last step in our journey: nLite asks you whether you like to start the process. Confirm with Yes and wait until the tool finished the necessary operations on your modified XP-Installation. This might take a considerable amount of time (depending on your machines performance). Afterwards click on the Make ISO button to generate a single file for your CD/DVD burning software. Save this onto your hard disk. Start your burning software (e.g. Ahead Nero Burning Rom), open up the .iso-File by clicking File/Open and burn it to a blank CD.

After you have completed your CD you are free to install your personal Windows XP Reduced Edition. Not only will you experience a considerably faster performance but also will you notice that your Windows XP installation will consume less disk space.