Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 30th Jun 2008 18:48 UTC, submitted by Dan Warne
Through all the Windows and Microsoft bashing on the intertubes, it's almost easy to forget that Windows does, in fact, have quite a few positive aspects as well. One of those aspects is the modularity of its installation system, which allows you to create your custom installation image of Windows - with relative ease. Sadly, Microsoft decided to keep this ability away from normal users, making it a sort of OEM tool only. Lucky for us, there's a tool called vLite/nLite which allows us to slipstream fixes, applications, and drivers into the installation image as we please. This functionality of course also made its way to the 'underground' community, who used it to produce something called TinyXP. APCMag decided to take a look at it.
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Member since:
2005-07-06
I use my original serial number that came with Laptop and I dont have the HP's bolted installation but simple clean xp installed on my laptop.
A couple of questions for you:
1. What is nList?
2. Why did you replace the i386 folder?
I tried something similar to what you did with my dad's new PC. The vendor put the reinstall files on the hard drive instead of giving him a restore/install CD. I tried installing a pirated copy of XP (he's got OEM Pro so used an OEM Pro disc) and using his legit key, but it didn't work. I'm not sure why.[/quote]
That is always the case. In Microsoft's pursuit of 'clamping down on piracy' - they've made owning a computer a giant inconvenience. This is what happens when you put anti-piracy measures above the convenience for end users.
HP, Toshiba and Lenovo are some of the companies I know who have moved over to this 'restoration cd' - their excuse is that it restores the whole machine, with all the drivers required. The old system was a hit and miss of installing the operating system, then having to load the individual driver cds for each of the bits of hardware.
To be cynical at the same time, I have a feeling they also did it so that you can't avoid installing crapware - I mean, why else would they have a restoration programme without the ability of selecting what stuff one would like loaded onto the machine?
Ring up Microsoft or the HP themselves. Don't blame the local shop guy, he's only person relaying the products - he can't do anything about it himself apart from ring up HP on your behalf.