Product Overview: Nlite - OS slip streaming made easy
Slip streaming is a process for adding additional service packs or hotfixes to a CD-Rom or install point. This allows the install media (usually a CD Rom) to contain the latest service pack or other information when it is used to set up a computer.
The benefits here are huge. If the latest service pack for Windows XP is slipstremed into an image file and burned to a DVD, using this new DVD to install Windows XP will move the new install directly to Service Pack 3 and avoid the large download for each system, either from a network share or from the Internet.
Microsoft has notes about slip streaming a service pack into an operating system, and this method works just fine, however there is a faster method.
A utility developed by Dino Nuhagic called Nlite to the rescue. Nlite is a free utility that allows you to modify and create your own installation media from the original removing the items that are un-necessary and adding new items, like service packs, that are needed.
As of this writing, the utility does not handle the slip streaming of items into or out of Windows Vista media. A new tool, called Vlite is in the works to handle Windows VIsta.
Getting Nlite
To get started, visit Nliteos.com to download the latest version (v 1.4.9.1) of Nlite to your computer. Once the file is downloaded double click the setup file and complete the steps shown below.
Figure A
Select the language for the installation
When the installer launches, it will produce the dialog shown above in figure A. Select the language for the installation and click OK to proceed.
Once a language has been chosen, the Installer wizard will begin. Click next to move past the welcome screen. In figure B below, accept the license agreement for the application and click next.
Figure B
Accept the license agreement
The installer continues by allowing the user to select the installation type and directory. The default installation directory is usually best and is provided as C:\Program Files\Nlite. Selecting the Full Installation will provide you with the most choices for creating a slipstream and for output once the image is created. These items are shown in figures C and D below.
Figure C
Choose the installation directory
Figure D
Select the type of installation to perform
Like with other applications, selecting custom installation will require the user to select the components desired whereas the full installation includes all files available and compact installation includes only the necessary files to operate the Nlite application.
Note: for the purposes of this post, Full installation was selected as it provides the most functionality. Select the installation that will best meet your needs when configuring your Nlite installation.
When you have selected the installation type and click next you will be asked if the installer should create a desktop shortcut for Nlite. Select this option according to your needs and click next. The Nlite installer will begin copying the needed files to the chosen installation location on your computer. This process is fairly quick and once complete, the successful installation screen is displayed. Click finish to complete the installation of Nlite.
The Nlite installer does not include the option to launch the application upon completion of the wizard. You will notice that the Start Menu alerts you to the presence of a new application following the completion of setup. You can select Nlite from the start menu or its desktop shortcut if you chose to create one.
In a future post I will look at creating a slip stream using Nlite and the options available within this handy application.
