Normally I post tips and tricks about Linux but once in a while I make that leap into the MS Windows world. OK, without further ado, here is a tip for you Windows users out there.
Have you ever wanted to create a custom Windows CD that had your name, product key, timezone and regional settings “automagically” set during the installation? Wouldn’t it be nice to have the latest service packs automatically slipstreamed as well as have all the updated drivers for your system, registry tweaks, and even have a patched UXTheme.dll without doing a thing?
Do you waste countless hours tweaking the default Windows configuration after you do a clean OS install? If so, then nLite (http://www.nliteos.com/index.html) is what you are looking for. (NOTE: I apologize for sounding like an AD. Hey, at the very least, using this tool can and will save you some time. jtnez)
I have personally used this tool to customize a Windows XP installation that included everything mentioned above plus removing some built in software like MSN Messenger, MS Paint and other un-used games and themes. You can even add small apps that you would normally install anyway after a re-installation of windows. The number and size of the apps will obviously depend on how much space you have on your CD-R.
Generally, I include things like a notepad replacement tool (Notepad++), a image viewing tool (Irfanview), my IM app (Trillian), my firewall/AV (ZoneAlarm Suite), and my archiving tools (WinRAR). Its nice to have all these apps stored in your Windows OS CD as apposed to having to load several CD’s. Keep in mind that the additional apps that I add are not integrated into the OS installation like they would if you were to slipstream a service pack or hotfix. They are simply the setup/installation files I would normally run after the default Windows install anyway. Again, its just another time saver.
Keep in mind that if you lose said CD, it will have your Windows CD key built right in if you choose that option during the creation of the custom Windows CD. Meaning, anyone can then install Windows with your license since they will never be prompt to enter the key. Keep that in mind.
Give it a shot, its a sweet tool for all you Windows phreaks out there. 😉
Well even though I use Linux, I often install Windows for people along with Linux. I have found it hard to get people who actually use their computer a lot to just switch, so something like this will really make it easier to get all the stuff I normally install done in one step. I will also “keep” that cd key in mind, because I hate ejecting the cd to get the key. Not sure why my keys are always on the cd, but that is an issue. Keep up the good work Juanita, these tips are quite useful.
-Stevo
Hey Juan,
One other software you may want to look at is
http://unattended.sourceforge.net/installers.php
We use that at my work to install servers. We have a nice splash page where we can select everything from the drivers to install, to specific software packages,, all over a DHCP server and using windows boot floppies. Since its doing a direct install,, not an image you can customize your installs pretty indepth through a webpage. Its pretty slick and way faster then CD’s. This is only good though if your dealing with alot of similar hardware, so you don’t have a million driver listings in it. But for your own PC’s it would possibly make for a quick reinstall without having to hover over it 🙂
Swise