Short: vLite screws up Windows Vista SP1 upgrade path
Like normal people, I was never into the squeeze-every-kilobyte-out-of-my-operating-system-installs fad. It’s not a process that really yields any tangible benefit, yet people still do it -- with a tool called vLite. On Tuesday, Microsoft issued a note to users, of “v-Lited” Windows Vista SP1 installs, having issues upgrading to SP2. Their advice? Reinstall Windows with genuine media. You know, the one full of carbs. Check out the support article after the quote below.
This problem occurs because system components that are required to install Windows Vista SP2 are not present on your computer. However, a common reason for this problem is that the vLite software was used to customize the Windows Vista installation and some required system components were removed.
It probably shouldn’t, but it continues to surprise me that people continue to work so hard to shoot themselves in the feet.
When disk space was routinely tight, it made some sense, but there shouldn’t be many Vista SP1 machines to which that applies. Oh, well–it adds revenue for consultants.
I use tools like vLite and XPLite on my virtual machines where space really does matter but I’m not going to use them on a machine I rely on or need to keep updated.
when putting windows on a EEE pc, every bit counts, so yeah, [n|v]Lite is a must since MS can’t keep the bloat down
I love reading articles like that. Although I’m sure all the vLite fanboys will be blaming Microsoft for poor programming of the SP2 installer. Some people just never learn…
I think that the usual case for using programs like vLite has more to do with removing unnecessary bloat from the installer, and more often, installing additional components such as raid/sata drivers. Given that the type of person who knows about such tools generally tend to be a bit more savvy then the average user, I bet most affected by the problem will quietly cuss themselves out for trimming too tightly and then consult the vLite site to know what to correct on their config to resolve the issue before reinstalling.
Microsoft is right to clarify the reason for the problem – and vLite users are right to use a good tool to customize their own windows toolset.
Mark L, see asf’s comment above. *grin*
I’m gonna have to say your very late on the ball on this one. Every Vlite user knows that you cannot update vista if you removed anything. This is OLD news. As the saying goes. nothing to see here move along.
and by update i mean Service Packs. This happened when SP1 came out and we figured it out then. No one blamed Microsoft since this is a 3rd party tool.
why not make a “Un-V-lite” tool that would install the random shitz that MS puts in, and then removes it as soon as the upgrade is complete?
Everyone above has already made the case for this being old news, but I wanted to comment that so many people using vLite to integrate Service Packs into Vista should make it CRYSTAL CLEAR to Microsoft that removing the ability to perform a slipstream integration did users a great disservice and I’d really hope that they implement some way to do it in the future.
I know their excuse is “well it’s an image-based system, so…” So nothing. Microsoft knows the layout of the on-disk image perfectly well and it should be exceptionally simple for them to simply provide a service pack that’s nothing more than a diff between the stock RTM image and the image as it would be in a post-SP install.
Come on, MS, you can do better.
Like asf, we investigated vLite when trialling Vista on a Dell netbook (the Inspiration 910) that only has 16GB of disk space if you take the SSD option. In that specific case, it was very useful, though I agree that if you have a normal-sized disk it’s not really worthwhile.
benjamin: MS made available (not sure to what group exactly) a pre-slipstreamed ISO image of Vista with SP1 at some point. They’ll likely do the same with SP2.
Wallpaper used:
http://somrat.deviantart.com/art/Broken-Vista-Wallpaper-Pack-102990935
;)
Waiting for 7100 x64 uxtheme patch :D
Another point of using vLite is “fitting setup media to a CD” and i believe a lot of people used vLite to do this. To install Vista on a computer without a DVD reader you have to minimize it.
btw, you can do a USB setup.
Looked at vLite pre-sp1, learned the hard way that removing anything would kill sp install. Personally decided it was not worthwhile for me. However, do not understand why it is so hard to update the packages that are installed and skip the once that are not found. No need to kill installation on the desktop, because the tablet PC package is missing (I really do not care if one of the games does not function without the package).
I’ve always used nLite and vLite to ADD things to my install media (updates, tweaks, etc) and never removed anything. Has anyone had issues with vLite’d installs where nothing was removed?
Err, i’ve always used vLite because thats the way i prefer it, but i’ve never whining about not being able to upgrade to a new security pack, as i found it obvious that it wouldnt upgrade with so many components removed.. No biggie i just got the iso with sp2 intelgrated and vlited that..
I don’t see the trouble people are having with V-Lite. Of course I can not install sp2. But my actual Vista is running so fast that I don’t see the point of installing sp2 updates which have more chance to mess with my registry than to enhance any of Vista performances.
My computer boots really quick, I have no ms messages, like for troubleshouting, or windows updates. There is no restauration tool on my Vista, and it make so much empty space and I also notice a gain in performance because of it. I desactivated about 20running services of microsoft, and Vista is running perfectly fine. Also my computer shootdown in 8seconds when I click on the shutdown button. I really don’t see why people are having problem with VLite. It’s an awesome tool.
You don’t see the point of applying important security updates to close security holes? Wow.
Vista’s OS has been made modular with component servicing and shouldn’t be subject to these requirements. I work in an enterprise and vlited a sp1 slipstream with welcome center and games removed and that was sufficient to mess up SP2. I don’t think the Games Explorer should be a mandatory core component of the OS (which is what the CBS log in %windir%\logs shows as breaking the install). Now I have to come up with something genius to re-insert the components and satisfy the sp2 installer or instead use vpro w/ide redirection to do remote assistance repair installs. Frustrating.
I have had many scencarios where lab machines have needed a couple of drivers – and to throw them in with n-lite has been incredible. Although I have never removed software from the MS OS – the ability to add custom files and configuration has been a god sent. The snobs looking through their noses at users of N-Lite and V-Lite shouldn’t be so smug. It’s just like Microsoft to make ANY non sanctioned software users suffer just because they ARE sloppy programmers in certain areas. How many users HATE Internet Explorer? I like it myself – but I don’t have to reprogram my web site every time there is another version of Internet Explorer.
Even if you use MICROSOFT TOOLS (IE Front Page? What a nightmare that was!) Your Internet Explorer may not display your page correctly no matter how accurate and correct it may have been designed – because Microsoft changed the rules AGAIN with the NEXT version of Internet Explorer. Hence the retarded browser rebellion. “QUICK lets all use software that doesn’t work on half of the computers because it’s stable!” That is the mentality of most programmers these days. This mentality is tied to web page design – it’s across the board!
Wrong to use V-Lite? Microsoft should take a lesson in Humility before it’s too late! They should have bought V-Lite / N-Lite and integrated it into their OWN installers – instead of smiting out the small guy because they don’t care to add a couple more lines of code to make the installation more compliant.
first hit, worked for me as well:
http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19278096.aspx
perfect thanks manolorossi that did the trick so easy too
I’d say most users of vLite and nLite are either:
(a) amateur PC users who didn’t get a full installation disk shipped with their PCs – rediculous policy…
(b) professionals who want to prepare unattended installations for multiple machines
I fall into the first category…