Tiny MacXP for Web Developers 2 (Configuration) // writing
This is a three part article, you might want to prepare first.
The configuration of nLite shown below is designed to give a basic XP with minimized overhead in order to test in Internet Explorer 5 through 7 and to provide a minimal gaming Windows in Bootcamp. If you follow these instructions that is what you’ll get, you should be able to run OfficeXP as well if you want to… If you want to do more, or less, then you might have to tailor these instructions to your needs.
Streamlining Windows
You should now have a screen that looks somewhat like this:
Click ‘Next’ and on the following screen point nLite at your XPCD folder. It will scan it an let you know which version of the CD you have and it’s size. ‘Next’. On the following screen it’ll give you the option to ‘Import Settings’, you can ignore this – just hit ‘Next’ again.
On the following screen check everything except ‘Service Pack’ and ‘Driver Integration’. You already have SP2 and streamlining the regularly updated Bootcamp drivers seems churlish. Especially so if you’re using Parallels, as you won’t need them.
Time to insert the packs you got from RyanVM and the IE7 cabfile. You can simply drag and drop them onto the window, where they will appear with extra information. Hit ‘Next’.
Components
You’ll be greeted by a compatibility pop up. I always ignore this, preferring to work out the components to leave separately.
Now we get into the nitty gritty, there are ‘safer’ routes (you could load preset ‘Lite’ settings from ‘Preset’ > ‘Load’ > ‘Lite’) but you’re not following this tutorial for that are you!
First of all select everything by ticking the top level boxes. Then here are the boxes I’ve unchecked (i.e. still included in the install). Optional choices are emphasised, with (reasons).
- Applications: Defragmenter
- Drivers: Ethernet, Wireless Ethernet
- Hardware Support: AGP filters, ALI IDE Controller, Battery (required if using a laptop), Bluetooth Support, CMD PCI IDE Controller, all the CPU types, Firewire (1394), Firewire Network, IEE 1284.4 devices, Infrared, Intel PCI IDE Controller, Joystick Support (gaming), Multi-Processor Support, Ports (COM and LPT1), Printer Support, Toshiba PCI IDE Controller, USB Ethernet, USB Video Capture Devices, VIA PCI IDE Controller, Video Capture, Windows Image Aquisition
- Keyboards: Your Country keyboard
- Languages: Your preferred Language
- Multimedia: Acm Core Codecs, DirectX, OpenGL Support, Windows Media Player, Windows Media Player 6.4
- Network: Dial-up and VPN support, H323 MSP, Internet Explorer, MAC Bridge, Map Network Drives, Network Setup Wizard
- Operating System Options: Auditing Resource Dlls, Certificate Management, Command-line tools, Extra Fonts, File System Filter Manager, Help Engine, Internet Explorer Core, Jet Database Engine, Local Security Settings, MDAC, Out of Box Experience (required for activation), Visual Basic Scripting, Zip Folders (I find it useful!)
- Services: Application Layer Gateway, Automatic Updates, BITS, DCHP Client, Event Log, HTTP SSL, Internet Authentication, Network Location Awareness, Network Provisioning, Protected Storage, Shell Services, System Event Notification, Task Scheduler, Universal Plug and Play Device Host, Windows Management Instrumentation, Windows Time (if you want it), Wireless Configuration
Automation
Once you’re done, click ‘Next’ to move on. You’ll be faced by a good chunk of tabs! This is where we make the installation automated.
- General: Enter your Product Key and selected ‘Fully Automated’ in the Unattended Mode drop down box.
- Users: Type a password for the Administrator user and I always (slightly insecurely) enable the Autologon using the dropdown.
- Owner and Network ID: Fill in your Computer Name, your Full Name and type WORKGROUP into the Workgroup box.
- Regional: Select your Language from the dropdown and then your ‘Custom’ localization and keyboard, and don’t forget to set your timezone.
- Automatic Updates: I disable these using the dropdown, you should therefore keep up to date with any fixes by visiting Windows Update. Given that I just use this for IE, and a litlle gaming, I’m comfortable with going and doing it manually
Once you are done hit ‘Next’ again.
Options
On the ‘General’ tab you’ll want to make the following changes other wise the defaults are fine.
- Misc: Enable the removal of duplicate files
- Requirements: Disable the the two requirements as it might be useful for installing to tiny VM partitions
- Setup Look: Set both options to ‘Yes’ it might save shave some seconds off install apparently (I’m dubious)
On the ‘Patches’ tab, use the first two dropdowns to increase the values for TCP/IP connections and mouse sensitivity and disable SFC (Windows File Protection) to increase the install speed
Tweaks
This is where it all gets a bit detailed so bear with me here. In reality its all down to personal taste in this section. I’ll detail my choices but you should configure the Tweaks as you wish.
Boot and Shutdown
- Ctrl-Alt-Del at Logon: Disabled
- Do not Parse Autoexec.bat: Checked
- Logon Page: Classic
- Numlock: Off
- Setup Prefetch-Cache: Application and Boot enabled
- Status Messages: Default
Desktop
Whatever you feel like really. I always have the Recycle Bin, My Computer, My Documents and Internet Explorer showing, with the other icons hidden.
Explorer
Items I check (but once again configure it as you wish)
- Classic Control Panel
- Disable Autorun
- Disable Prefix
- Display contents of system folders
- Show extensions of known file-types
- Show hidden files and folders
- Show stauts bar in all windows
- Use small icons in the Explorer bar
Internet Explorer
Items I check (but once again configure it as you wish)
- Disable Download Complete notification
- Disable Internet Explorer link creation
- Disable Market Place bookmark
- Disable Media Player 6.4 created bookmarks
- Enable Google URL-search
- Keep IE URL-Hostory for: 1 day
- Set homepage: www.google.com
- Set Internet Explorer to accept 10 connects at a time
- Set popup-blocker to high
My Computer
Check Add Service to Context Menu and Remove Shared Documents.
Network
I check them all except Hide PC in Workgroups.
Performance
Bit more important to add some ‘snappiness’ to the interface here. I check everything except ‘Minimal Power Management’ (for extra gaming juice) and I set ‘Processor Scheduling’ to ‘Programs’.
Privacy
Check both.
Security
Check all except Screensaver Password Protection
Start Menu
I check:
- Clear most recently opend documents list on log off
- Control Panel: Display as menu
- Disable Drag and Drop
- Disable Highlight newly install programs
- Disable Popup on first boot
- Do not use Personalized Menus
- My Music: Do not display this item
- Reduce popup delay
- Remove Logoff User
- Remove Search the Internet from Search
- Remove Set Program Access and Defaults
- Remove Windows Catalog shortcut
- Use small icons in start Panel
Taskbar
I check every item, except Hide Volume Control Icon, and Lock the Taskbar.
Visual Effects
This is where some interface ‘snappiness’ can be added.
- Active window tracking: Disable
- Animate windows… : Disable
- Combo box animation: Disable
- Cursor shadow: Disable
- Fade out selection: Disable
- Gradient captions… : Disable
- Keyboard shortcut… : Enable
- Menu animation: Disable
- Menu shadows: Disable
- Menu style: Flat
- Show translucent… : Disable
- Show windows contents… : Disable
- Slide taskbar buttons: Disable
- Smooth edges of screen fonts: ClearType
- Smooth-scroll list boxes: Disable
- Tooltip animation: Disable
- Use a background image… : Disable
- Use drop shadows… : Disable
Windows Media Player
Check them all except Zoom video to windowsize.
Services Tab
Some of these have been removed – but we can disable some others (information from the legendary Black Viper guide and also my own testing). If you’re not comfortable with disabling some services you can set them to ‘Manual which will mean Windows will kick them off if required.
I’ve found these settings to work well:
- Application Layer Gateway Service: Disabled
- Application Management: Manual
- Automatic Updates: Disabled
- BITS: Manual
- Computer Browser: Manual
- Cryptographic Services: Manual
- DHCP Client: Automatic
- Event Log: Manual
- HTTP SSL: Manual
- Human Interface Device Access: Disabled
- Net Logon: Manual
- Network Connections: Manual
- Network Location Awareness: Disabled
- Network Provisioning: Manual
- NT LM Security Support Provider: Manual
- Plug and Play: Automatic
- Portable Media Serial Number Service: Disabled
- Print Spooler: Manual
- Protected Storage: Manual
- Remote Access Auto Connection Manager: Manual
- Remote Access Connection Manager: Manual
- RPC Locator: Manual
- Routing and Remote Access: Disabled
- Security Accounts Manager: Manual
- Server: Manual
- SSDP Discovery Service: Disabled
- System Event Notification: Manual
- Task Scheduler: Manual
- Telephony: Manual
- Themes: Disabled
- Universal Plug and Play Device Host: Disabled
- Windows Audio: Automatic
- Windows Image Aquisition: Manual
- Windows Installer: Manual
- Windows Management Instrumentation: Automatic
- Windows Management Instrumentation Extensions: Manual
- Windows Time: Manual
- WINS Client(TCP/IP) Protocol Driver: Manual
- Wireless Configuration: Automatic
- WMI Performance Adapter: Manual
- Workstation: Manual
Starting the process
Another click of the ‘Next’ button and you’re asked if you want to apply changes and start the process of creating an ISO, click ‘Yes’. Unless you want all the above actions to have been wasted, which you don’t. nLite will now run through its tasks executing all the changes you’ve made.
Once completed it’ll let you know by how much it has reduced the installation. A quick ‘Next’ will lead you to the ISO creation screen, you can either burn directly to a CD on create an ISO file for backup. Once you have somehow got an ISO or CD you can click ‘Next’ and then ‘Finish’ and we’re done with all this configuration nonsense. Amen.
NB It has been suggested on the IMG Forums that you should burn your CD as slow as possible to get the best results. I never had any issues but as ever your mileage may vary. Can’t hurt.
Installation
After you finished the process you’ll want to move the ISO you created into the OS X file system. You can drag and drop from the Bootcamp partition using the Mac OS X Finder (once you’ve rebooted) or from the Parallels VM you used to create the file.
The next stage of actually installing the damned thing is a lot more straightforward, whether you’re using Bootcamp or Parallels Desktop. So lets continue on to installation.