OT: Has anyone ever stripped down XP Pro

[Paul]

Hello All

Off topic in a sense, but i was wondering if anyone had ever stripped down
XP Pro to get it to around 500MB or less. We have run into a wall at a
client and the supplier of their Software is not going to support XPe, so we
are forced to look into XP Pro, but we would like to get it on a CF or
Microdrive.

Has anybody got any commercial experience on this? If you want you can
e-mail me or call.

Cheers

Paul

763-862-5905

 

[Mark K Vallevand]

Remember, XP Pro and XPe binarys are the same. If it runs on XP Pro it
almost always runs on XPe (assuming you have the correct set of components).
There are lots of application software that don't 'support' XPe, but run
just fine on XPe. And, you can buy them and install them on XPe or any
other OS.

For example, Trend Micro make a virus product, Pc-cillin. Its not supported
on XPe. It installs and runs nicely on XPe. Its being used in many XPe
devices. Legally. You probably can't get support from Trend Micro unless
you recreate any problems on XP Pro, but that shouldn't be a reason it
ignore the product for XPe.

 

[Paul]

Oh, I understand that, however this software is the main application which
the company uses for its 100,000 plus emplyees, the company which makes the
software is backwards and refuses to support any terminals that access it by
a non supported OS. So therefore they refuse to support these terminals as
they so far refuse to XPe, which gives the upper C levels nightmares if they
roll out 10s of thousands of our devices on XPe and there are Application
issues, though we have proven that there are no issues so far, and the
software maker then cuts all support.

It is not as simple as using Trend Micro or NAV, it is the background server
support that we would lose.

So anyway, has anyone got any commercial experience thinning down XP Pro?

Cheers

Paul

Therefore we are looking to see if any one has

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Hi Paul,

I don't quite understand the problem you have with using XPe. You can customize much better and safer XPe to support much more
functions than you application needs then to safely cut down trough registry of XPP. You will have same problem with support for
such XPP, BTW you can make XPe in a way that it is much easier to install and update on the field than with XPP.

XPP can be cut down of course, with a lot of work but then you will probably loose support from both MS and company that made this
software
I have no idea what to tell you, but I would choose either XPe or Full XPP and some big microdrive/CF.

BTW: Don't forget about goodies like EWF that are only present in XPe, and problems with microdrives marked as removable.

Best regards,
Slobodan

 

[Paul]

The problem is the company has it's head stuck where the sun does not shine.
We want to go with XPe as that is our strength but the software company flat
out refuses to support XPe, we can tell them how much easier it is to
deploy, support etc, my end user knows all this but their Informatics system
developer, is ignorant about Xpe and says unless it is on a full version of
XP the company will lose support!

Oh, well I will look elsewhere for XP Pro help.

Microdrives are not a problem as IBM gave me the utility to have them set as
a fixed drive.

Cheers

Hi Paul,

I don't quite understand the problem you have with using XPe. You can

customize much better and safer XPe to support much more

functions than you application needs then to safely cut down trough

registry of XPP. You will have same problem with support for

such XPP, BTW you can make XPe in a way that it is much easier to install

and update on the field than with XPP.

XPP can be cut down of course, with a lot of work but then you will

probably loose support from both MS and company that made this

software
I have no idea what to tell you, but I would choose either XPe or Full XPP and some big microdrive/CF.

BTW: Don't forget about goodies like EWF that are only present in XPe, and

problems with microdrives marked as removable.

 

[JC]

Yes you can put XPP on CF or MD, however if using CF, you will not be happy
with the performance, as you get no EWF in XPP. the writebacks to the CF
will burn it out fairly quick. I would recommend MD... at least you will
have a decent lifespan out of the drive.

as for stripping XPP, there is only so much that you can strip out, since
the binaries are pre-built... I would recommend using the OEM version, so
you can have some control, but not much.

no shameless plug, but if you contact me offline, I might be able to help
your plight with your customer. we can componetize the application for you,
which is really optimal.

HTH

 

[Guest]

Paul,

Have you made any progress on this? I'm looking to do the same thing.

In my case, I have a 3rd party Write Filter that I can use. I'm just
concerned about any damage the install might do to the CF. SimpleTech has a
new 8GB Flash, rated at 2,000,000, that comes setup as a fixed drive. Price
is high, but it may get me around a lot of XPe things I don't want to deal
with. Main thing is, the updates. I'm running it on a touch panel, and need
to allow writes to the CF (which is why I have another Write Filter). Along
with this, I need to be able to patch the system. I'd rather let the
customers just update the OS and our software the way they are used to,
instead of having to re-package patches for DUA.

 

[KM]

David,

Have you made any progress on this? I'm looking to do the same thing.

It was not clear from your message: do you deal with XPe or do you want to strip down XP Pro?

In my case, I have a 3rd party Write Filter that I can use. I'm just
concerned about any damage the install might do to the CF. SimpleTech has a
new 8GB Flash, rated at 2,000,000, that comes setup as a fixed drive. Price
is high, but it may get me around a lot of XPe things I don't want to deal
with. Main thing is, the updates. I'm running it on a touch panel, and need
to allow writes to the CF (which is why I have another Write Filter). Along
with this, I need to be able to patch the system. I'd rather let the
customers just update the OS and our software the way they are used to,
instead of having to re-package patches for DUA.

Have you looked at the new SP2 device management options?
Particulary, SMS and SUS clients? (SMS is also on SP1 available as QFE)

 

[Guest]

Interested in XP Pro. I don't think I'll need to strip it down, but just
disable swap file and hibernate.

I'm selling individual Panel PC's to customers. They may or may not have
them connected to a network.

I also need the flexibility to update our software, preferably without
having to create a special patch for XPe.

 

[Paul]

David

Well, the customer is going with XP Pro, however as it seems in your case we
are going with a full load and as such we are looking into 4GB minimum
storage. I wanted to use the uDOC from M-Systems that Slobodan likes, but
they have a max capacity of 2GB, but the speed on them is phenomenal and
they have seen 500,000,000 writes I think it is, also the price is
reasonable.

I looked at their FFC-IDE but the price is High unfortunately, so we are
looking into the Microdrive solution. I have the tools to make it seen as a
Non Removable drive and though it is not a true Solid State device, the
client likes that solution.

We are using it for the same situation so we can patch and update using
Microsoft Update and also if we want to we can add Office too.

Cheers

Paul

 

[KM]

David,

Well.. Do I read it correctly - on the device you want regular XP Pro with WU services available for end users?
And, since you are going to have CF in device, you are planning on using a 3rd party Write Filter software?

Then, of course, you are aware that MS WU client does not know anything about 3rd party software and won't be able to commit changes
if made.

However, on XP Pro SUS and SMS solutions are also available and with any of them you will be able to run your own scripts at the end
of an update.
In the script you can make sure to commit the changes with the Write Filter you've got.

Another solution would be using more reliable CF cards like M-system ones. They use their own well-tested firmware (I think TrueFFS
based) to protect (or limit) the flash from wearing out.

 

[David Codish]

Check out http://www.litepc.com/xplite.html they claim to be able to reduce
the size of XP to 200-300MB and have a free trial.

BTW - can anyone point me to the specific disk on key from M-systems that
supposedly would allow a XPE to load on it easily. I'm looking for the
specific location I can buy it. Their site is too confusing.
Thanks,
David.

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Hi David,

http://www.m-systems.com/content/Products/Product.asp?pid=29
http://www.m-systems.com/files/documentation/doc/uDiskOnChip_PB_0704.pdf

For queries use email address from bottom of this pdf.
Ask for uDOC devices and for its XPe package (tools, drivers, XPe components)

Regards,
Slobodan

 

[Guest]

Paul,

I've been able to shring XP Pro to around 780 MBytes quite easily using a
program called XPLite. The problem I'm having is with the Hitachi / IBM
MicroDrive being seen as "removeable". Would you mind emailing me the
utility that sets the MicroDrive to "Fixed". Or, post the URL of the
location where its possible to download it. My real email address is
(e-mail address removed), without the .nospam .

Thanks,
Dave