Running xpfromcd on an nliteos-created CD image
Submitted by Gerald Cheong on January 2, 2007 - 1:55pm.
This page explains how to use the 'xpfromcd' tool along with nLite to create a slimmed-down Windows which will fit more easily on a USB drive. The final Windows LivePC will take up approximately 780MB of space on your device, if you subsequently package it and publish/share it, it will only be about 263MB or so.
Below are the steps to follow in order to build such a Windows LivePC:
- Download and install .NET 2.0 Framework if you have not done so already
- Download and install nLite from http://www.nliteos.com/
- Download recent version of xpfromcd tool at this download location
- Unzip xpfromcd tool into any folder
- Insert Windows Install CD into your drive
- Start nLite, on the second screen, choose the location of your Windows CD. When prompted for a location to save, choose a folder on your system with at least 600MB of free space
- In nLite, on the third screen, choose Import
- Import the file named 'nLiteReferencePreset.INI' in the 'xpfromcd' folder
- In the subsequent screens of nLite, further remove / make stay components as you like.
- NOTE: Please keep the 'Logical Disk Manager' check box UNCHECKED, the way it is. This component is needed for xpfromcd tool to function correctly
- NOTE: Please DO NOT ENABLE the 'Unattended' section, this section could introduce items which will conflict with the 'xpfromcd' tool and hence cause unknown errors / behaviour
- nLite will strip down the Windows install CD after you have specified all these options (or just click 'Next' enough times). Please wait for nLite to finish building the image before proceeding.
- now, simply start the xpfromcd tool as explained on the xpfromcd Quick Steps page. In the xpfromcd dialog box entry for 'Path to Windows XP Install CD', please put in the path of the nlite-generated CD, NOT the original Windows install CD you put in
The Quick Steps page Putting Windows on a diet explains how to create a small Windows LivePC to fit on a USB drive, and the Quick Steps page xpfromcd - the simple way to create your Windows LivePC talks about the xpfromcd tool which allows you to do a no-hassle Windows LivePC installation.
