Smaller Image

  • Thread starter Thread starter John
  • Start date Start date
J

John

I need to create a Windows XP Pro image that fits on ONE CD-ROM. This seems
to be pretty difficult. Once this image is created it will be used on the
same computer every time. It is a production computer that does not
change... other than different printers plugged in and maybe different USB
devices.

I have cleaned the system as much as possible and I'm down to where I need
to get about 75MB more free space.

* I have deleted the system32\dllcache directory
* Of course GHOST is not including the page file
* I turned off System Restore to keep from bring that baggage along
* I deleted all the service pack and hot fix uninstall directories
* Cleaned temp directories, internet cache, etc
* Using GHOST -Z9 -NOINDEX switches to make the image as small as possible

I have whacked about everything I am comfortable deleting. But I keep
seeing this windows\servicepackfiles directory with 200MB of stuff in it and
wonder whether I should consider deleting the contents of this directory -
except maybe the cab files in there. The installation is XP Pro with SP1
applied, which is where this directory comes from I guess. I am not
comfortable with deleting this directory for fear that something will be
needed from it if the user plugs in a new printer or some USB device. I
cannot require them to find a CD when this happens.

So my question is, can I delete the contents of this directory safely (or
some of the files from this directory) and are there any other things I can
delete from Windows XP without causing problems?

Thanks.
 
Windows Slipstreaming and Bootable CD Guide
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


|I need to create a Windows XP Pro image that fits on ONE CD-ROM. This seems
| to be pretty difficult. Once this image is created it will be used on the
| same computer every time. It is a production computer that does not
| change... other than different printers plugged in and maybe different USB
| devices.
|
| I have cleaned the system as much as possible and I'm down to where I need
| to get about 75MB more free space.
|
| * I have deleted the system32\dllcache directory
| * Of course GHOST is not including the page file
| * I turned off System Restore to keep from bring that baggage along
| * I deleted all the service pack and hot fix uninstall directories
| * Cleaned temp directories, internet cache, etc
| * Using GHOST -Z9 -NOINDEX switches to make the image as small as possible
|
| I have whacked about everything I am comfortable deleting. But I keep
| seeing this windows\servicepackfiles directory with 200MB of stuff in it and
| wonder whether I should consider deleting the contents of this directory -
| except maybe the cab files in there. The installation is XP Pro with SP1
| applied, which is where this directory comes from I guess. I am not
| comfortable with deleting this directory for fear that something will be
| needed from it if the user plugs in a new printer or some USB device. I
| cannot require them to find a CD when this happens.
|
| So my question is, can I delete the contents of this directory safely (or
| some of the files from this directory) and are there any other things I can
| delete from Windows XP without causing problems?
|
| Thanks.
 
Great. Thanks. This looks like a very handy tool. Question: If I create
a slipstream XP install and run that on my computer asking it to do a repair
will that end up stripping out my old SP files? Guess I will find out. :)
Thanks.
 
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