Guide: Create A Customized Windows Installation DVD For More Responsive Windows

This thread is a follow-up from the thread: Windows 7 optimized SSD install 5.5gb install guide, by faiz23.



This guide aims to assist you to create a customized Windows 7 installation DVD. Once you have completed Windows installation using such DVD, all drivers and Windows Updates have already been installed. Thus, compared to original Windows DVD, you do not have to waste time installing drivers and Windows updates ever again.



This guide has been tested in Alienware M15x laptop, running 64-bit Windows 7. Any edition of Windows 7 is not a problem here.



Please note that there is nothing in this guide that will help you to activate Windows. The proper activation you should use is either based on original Windows 7 DVD you received from Alienware, or Retail Windows 7 DVD you purchased after buying your M15x.



Identify your needs and tailor your customized Windows 7 installation DVD based on your needs.



Sections



A. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

B. Prerequisite

C. Risk Factors

D. Capabilities And Limitation Of My Preset Along With Its Assumptions

E. Basic Guide

F. References





A. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)



1. faiz23 applied the method to SSD. I am just using conventional hard drive, so this guide is useless to me.

Hard disk space is more abundant than SSD, so space saving is not a factor here. However, the customized Windows uses less resource to run, resulting in more responsive Windows. This point is very important, since hard disk is much slower than SSD. Using this customized DVD will not make your HDD becomes a SSD, but it will close down the performance gap.



2. Windows runs very fast in my SSD. For that, why do I want to use this guide?

It will save some space in SSD, since the size of SSD is very much smaller than HDD.



3. What are the advantages of this customized DVD, compared to original Windows 7 DVD?

It is unattended because the Windows installation will be fully automated after you specify the destination drive for Windows installation. All drivers and Windows updates are integrated, so you do not have to waste time installing them after Windows installation. Compared to original Windows 7 DVD, it does not have unnecessary programs that slow down your Windows, resulting in more responsive Windows. Thus, you can ensure that your gaming beast dedicates almost all of its performance to improve gaming loading speed, instead of some programs you will not use. Note that FPS will not be improved, but games will load faster.



4. Is there any limitation of this customized DVD?

The key of making the DVD size smaller is to remove any unnecessary components that you are mostly likely not going to use it. The main thing of using RT 7 Lite is that you identify your needs and purpose of using Windows 7. You should only remove any Windows components that you will never going to use in the future. If you are uncertain about certain components, just leave it and do not remove it via RT 7 Lite. Any component removed cannot be restored back, thus it requires clean remake of Windows 7 image.



5. I have not formatted my computer. In fact, I am using the very same installation as default factory configuration. Or, I am always use AlienRespawn to restore my system.

Sorry, this guide is not suitable for you.



6. Why should I bother with downloading the Windows Update files? Upon fresh installation, I will connect to internet and let Windows Updates update my Windows.

This method works if you do not require frequent Windows installation. Imagine the agony you have to endure if you reinstall Windows everyday and wait for Windows Updates to download updates. See the point? As for me, I will always download the updates through Microsoft Download Center, rather than using Windows Updates. That way, I would not have to use Windows Updates to download updates again, each time I perform format and a clean install of Windows. For that, the updates are downloaded once and can be

used for many times, and you do not have to download them ever again.



8. Oops, I mistakenly removed certain component using RT 7 Lite. Can I restore it back?

It requires a remake of the customized Windows 7 installation DVD.



9. Many of the features such as Media Centre, inbuilt games, Tablet PC components etc. can be turned off from the control panel.

The problem is that they are just disabled, not uninstalled. In other words, they are hidden somewhere in C:Windows, consuming some hard disk space. Using RT 7 Lite to remove them, they are completely removed. There will not be any trace of them in C:Windows, thus no hard disk space is occupied by them.



10. I cannot install Service Pack in my slimmed-down Windows 7. Help?

For sure, we cannot install Service Pack on a slimmed-down Windows. Since Service Pack will check whether any Windows component is removed before installation, if I remove just one component via RT 7 Lite, Service Pack cannot be installed. This is a problem for those who does not perform frequent fresh installation of Windows, but it is not a problem for me. Why? Service Packs are usually received every year or so. By then, I have no problem reinstalling Windows again, just to ensure everything run as quick as before. Besides that, I will download original untouched Windows 7 SP2 iso when it is released. I will again use RT 7 Lite to slim down Windows 7 SP2. So, the problem of not able to install Service Pack in slimmed Windows 7 is not a problem for me, as I would have made fresh images by then.



11. Can I install any Windows Updates (msu) in my slimmed-down Windows 7?

In a slimmed down Windows 7 SP1, you can install any Windows Update without any problem. It works just well for me. However, the main rule is that you should not remove Component Cache (winsxs) via RT 7 Lite. Removing Component Cache (winsxs) will cause you to be unable to install any subsequent Windows Updates and LDR Hotfixes, although any Windows Updates integrated via RT 7 Lite will continue to function just fine.



12. Can I update any driver after I have installed this customized Windows 7 in my laptop?

Yes, you can. Windows will automatically install the drivers newer than those integrated into the image.



13. How frequent should I create this customized Windows 7 installation DVD?

You can create the DVD as frequent as once per month, just after Patch Tuesday. If you create it too frequent, you may waste your time doing it as there may not be any new Windows Updates or new drivers to be slipstreamed. The lowest frequency I would recommend is once every 6 months. If you rarely create the DVD, it would be troublesome for you once you reinstall Windows. By then, you have to wait Windows Updates update your Windows, install newer drivers, all of this defeating the purpose of creating customized Windows 7 installation DVD. I will usually create such DVD once every 2 months.





B. Prerequisite



1. Original Alienware Windows 7 installation DVD, or original unmodified Windows 7 SP1 image from MSDN (recommended)

- It is preferable to use Windows 7 SP1 image, as you do not have to waste time integrating Service Pack 1. Still, the Alienware installation DVD works just fine.



2. 64 bit RT 7 Lite

- It is most recommended to use RT 7 Lite Release Candidate (Build 1.7.0, 64 bit), especially if you use Windows 7 SP1 image. The resultant customized Windows 7 image is more stable to be used.

- If you use Alienware Windows 7 installation DVD, you have to use RT 7 Lite Beta (Build 2.6.0, 64 bit) to slipstream Service Pack 1 into the Windows 7 RTM image, copied from the DVD.



3. Dell drivers and DriverMax

a. (This step can be omitted, but it can ensure the harvested drivers are clean and stable.) Format and reinstall Windows.

b. Reinstall all Dell drivers, along with manufacturers' drivers, like AMD, NVIDIA and Intel. You can refer to my list of updated drivers, excluding the drivers for video card.

c. if you are not using the touchpad at all, it is recommended not to install Synaptics Touchpad Driver. Your laptop and your touchpad work fine without it. The driver introduces 2 additional processes, as seen In Windows Task Manager.

d. Install DriverMax and use it to backup all drivers.

e. Make a copy of the harvested drivers.



4. Windows Updates

The direct links for all post-SP1 Windows updates are listed here.

For Internet Explorer 9, use this link. Do not use the exe version as RT 7 Lite can only integrate msu file. Please rename IE9-win7.msu to IE9-Windows6.1-KB982861-x64.msu.



5. Virtualization software, like VirtualBox or VMware.



6. Some Pointers To Ponder

a. Carefully think about your needs. That way, you can use RT 7 Lite to remove components you do not need.

b. Start with conservative preset first, one that removes a few components. Install this customized image into your computer, and then install all games and software just as before. Test whether all of them work. If not, try to modify the preset to remove less components. If they do, it means that the preset works fine.



Once you are satisfied with this preset, try to use a more aggressive preset, that removes more components, and test it again in your computer. Keeps on doing it until some of your applications do not work anymore. Revert back to your previous preset and that is your sweet spot. In short, it is overclocking. You have to experiment with it,

Reply 1 : Guide: Create A Customized Windows Installation DVD For More Responsive Windows

This post is reserved. Upon general demand, I will post further performance-based tweaks, less commonly seen in the Internet.

Reply 2 : Guide: Create A Customized Windows Installation DVD For More Responsive Windows

wow really nice work, gonna gave this a try next time i reformat. +rep

Reply 3 : Guide: Create A Customized Windows Installation DVD For More Responsive Windows

inap

Thanks for your support. Post your result (iso size and Windows installation size) here if you have reinstalled your own customized Windows.

_________

I provided a link back to my previous thread, showing the list of updated Intel drivers for M15x. The most interesting one is the driver for WiFi.



A gentle remainder here, just use faiz23's preset (available in his thread) first. Once you have tested the customized Windows created with faiz23's preset by running all software and games with no problem, then you can remove slightly more components. After trial and error, your preset should be closer to my preset.



Keep on trying, and you will have your own slimmed-down Windows 7, running smoothly for your pleasure.

Reply 4 : Guide: Create A Customized Windows Installation DVD For More Responsive Windows

+rep!

i'll be building mine soon

Reply 5 : Guide: Create A Customized Windows Installation DVD For More Responsive Windows

+rep

rt7lite is AWESOME

Reply 6 : Guide: Create A Customized Windows Installation DVD For More Responsive Windows

Can anyone direct me to the thread where all the materials needed for a reinstalled Alienware experience (i.e. wallpapers, logon screen background, etc.)?

Reply 7 : Guide: Create A Customized Windows Installation DVD For More Responsive Windows

TheHighlightGuy



Refer to HOW TO: Restore the Alienware 'Look and Feel' after a clean install of Windows 7.

Reply 8 : Guide: Create A Customized Windows Installation DVD For More Responsive Windows

Thanks!

I knew I had read it somewhere...