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[redrope]

How to remove default windows componants in windows xp/2000/longhorn.

Here's a very little known way to remove default componants in XP. I've seen one website that uses a similiar method, but it wasn't for XP.

When you install windows XP, you're running setup.exe, which is just a stub for syssetup.dll (syssetup.dll runs in the memory process of setup.exe). Syssetup.dll uses syssetup.inf for the install options. At about the 30 minute remaining mark, syssetup.inf is uses to install the default componants. To see what's installed, open your syssetup.inf (located in %windir%\inf) and look at the section called [infs.Always]. Everything under here is processed, whether you're doing an upgrade or clean install. Below is what you'll see:

[infs.Always]

wsh.inf,DefaultInstall

ie.inf,DefaultInstall

secdrv.inf,DefaultInstall

mdac.inf,DefaultInstall

icwnt5.inf,DefaultInstall

nt5java.inf,DefaultInstall

mstask.inf,DefaultInstall.NT

msoe50.inf,DefaultInstall

wab50.inf,DefaultInstall

tshoot.inf,DefaultInstall

dfrg.inf,DefaultInstall

msinfo32.inf,DefaultInstall

axant5.inf,DefaultInstall

msnetmtg.inf,DefaultInstall

mplayer2.inf,InstallWMP64

sr.inf,DefaultInstall

icminst.inf,DefaultInstall

apcompat.inf,DefaultInstall

shell.inf,DefaultInstall

shl_img.inf,DefaultInstall

netupnph.inf,DefaultInstall

devxprop.inf,DefaultInstall

syssetup.inf,SpecialInstall

pchealth.inf,DefaultInstall

oobe.inf,DefaultInstall

sapi5.inf,DefaultInstall

moviemk.inf,DefaultInstall

qmgr.inf,DefaultInstall

skins.inf,InstallSkins

wmp.inf,Installwmp7

wmtour.inf,DefaultInstall

mymusic.inf,InstallWMPlaylist

swflash.inf,DefaultInstall

dimaps.inf,DefaultInstall

vgx.inf,DefaultInstall

srchasst.inf,DefaultInstall

The format is inf,install section. Back in NT4, you could modify syssetup.inf directly so componants weren't installed. See http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;156653. That article shows how to not install IE by default. Microsoft didn't like this however, since it let people have freedom and microsoft likes to control people. So in windows 2000 and XP (and longhorn), syssetup.inf is digitally signed and if you modify it, setup won't continue. However, you can still modify other infs. So what this means is you can modify the sub infs and setup won't install the componants.

For example, let's say you want to remove movie maker from being installed. Here's what you do:

1 - Look in the above list to see what inf movie maker uses and what install section. As you see, moviemk.inf is used with the section DefaultInstall.

2 - Copy your XP cd to hard drive, and delete i386\moviemk.in_, so setup doesn't process it.

3 - Make a new file in \i386 called moviemk.inf, and in this file put the following:

[version]

signature="$Windows NT$"

ClassGUID={00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

LayoutFile=layout.inf

[DefaultInstall]

4 - Now run setup from the flat you made on the hard drive, and movie maker won't be installed. You'll get an error during setup, but you can continue. After installation, in the program files folder you'll still have a movie maker folder, but it'll be empty.

The reason this works is because setup (syssetup.dll), sees it needs to process the DefaultInstall section of moviemk.inf. it finds the file and finds the section, but the section says to do nothing, so setup does nothing and continues.

Let's give another example that doesn't use DefaultInstall. Let's say you wanted to remove media player, which uses mplayer2.inf and InstallWMP64. All you would do is delete mplayer2.in_, make mplayer2.inf and put in it the following:

[version]

signature="$Windows NT$"

ClassGUID={00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

LayoutFile=layout.inf

[installWMP64]

I've used this method to remove system restore, net meeting, outlook express, wab, media player, defrag, windows messenger. One thing to note though is outlook express is very messy. If you remove outlook express you cannot install outlook XP, and it's very hard to reinstall outlook express. However the others are removed without problems.

You can use this method to remove things not in syssetup.inf, such as windows messenger. Just delete msmsgs.in_, make msmsgs.inf, and copy this into it:

; MSMSGS.INF

; Setup INF file for Messenger

; Version 4,7,0,0041

[Messenger]

Suite = Windows Component

RTCSP = 1

MinIEVersion = 4

[version]

signature="$Windows NT$"

Version=4,7,0,0041

[Optional Components]

msmsgs

[msmsgs]

If you think about it, windows messenger should be in syssetup.inf, since microsoft says it's a system componant that cannot be removed, but microsoft didn't.

One other thing id like to point out, is that everything under Infs.Always in syssetup.inf can be reinstalled. For example, anything that says DefaultInstall can be reinstalled by right clicking on the inf and clicking install. As you see above, system restore uses sr.inf, so you could right click on %windir%\inf\sr.inf and click install, to reinstall system restore.

-gosh

:huh:

[Kontrollverlust]

what dll file was that to edit the new hardware configuation bitmap??

[Chris123NT]

A few things:

• This is done through the registry.
  
• THIS IS FOR WINDOWS 2000 ONLY!!!! I have only tested this in Win2k. It COULD work in XP, but I am not sure. Use it, but don't blame me if it screws something up in XP.
  
• So far, I can only modify DWORD values. I'm trying to figure out how to modify string values and binary.
  

Has anyone tried this on XP yet? Would be cool if it worked :)

[30674_1437839152]

:D

[vuerro]

Nice background pic for ie, makes surfing more calm and realistic maybe ;)

(i'm guessing it's a beach)

I changed 2 bitmaps here;

the black one

and the "loading" bar (blue-red-blue) wich moves when starting windows (or shutting down)

[SirPsychoSexy]

I want to replace my shell32.dll, now ive seen a program that did it in a second without going into safe mode whatever. The only question remains what program was it? I cant remember the name anymore otherwise i would look for it and i cant find it here...

[+longgonebn Subscriber²]

Its called Replacer.

[kiggzy]

Nice background pic for ie, makes surfing more calm and realistic maybe ;)

(i'm guessing it's a beach)

Gotta love that green sand :wacko:

[dukefan21]

Nice background pic for ie, makes surfing more calm and realistic maybe ;)

(i'm guessing it's a beach)

Gotta love that green sand :wacko:

It's grass

[SirPsychoSexy]

Its called Replacer.

Your da man! Thats it! :cool:

[kiggzy]

Nice background pic for ie, makes surfing more calm and realistic maybe ;)

(i'm guessing it's a beach)

Gotta love that green sand :wacko:

It's grass

Some people just ... don't ... get it :rolleyes:

[one321]

I don't get it... :cool:

[dukefan21]

Nice background pic for ie, makes surfing more calm and realistic maybe ;)

(i'm guessing it's a beach)

Gotta love that green sand :wacko:

It's grass

https://www.neowin.net/forum/fun/master_obvious.jpg

Some people just ... don't ... get it :rolleyes:

I guess they don't :p

[kiggzy]

Ok ... gotta love that green sand was a PUN on the bloke who said it looks like a beach ... a JOKE. It's blatantly grass (except to vuerro apparently :s)

[Monkey Man]

ok how did u do that with the grass man?

[shenrone]

My simple modification of winxp original theme :blush:

But I need to know if i can change the size of the caption button with stylebuilder :no:

Thanks ;)

[wojtekka]

Hello ppl

Ok so here my nice w00ted screen ;-D

Its simple cream and i love it ;>

best regards

[Hooya]

I just redid just about everything. I was inspired recently by SmartBarXP and by the MCP skin for Trillian, and matched my VS to the Trillian skin (my winamp skin already fit well)

[dewy]

Hello ppl

Ok so here my nice w00ted screen ;-D

Its simple cream and i love it ;>

best regards

wot exactly have u customized here???

[honoriak]

I just redid just about everything. I was inspired recently by SmartBarXP and by the MCP skin for Trillian, and matched my VS to the Trillian skin (my winamp skin already fit well)

http://webpages.charter.net/hooya/desk.jpg

exact. where's the customization there... the sidebar? :rofl:

[raduking]

here's my current desktop, tell me if U like it :)

[+longgonebn Subscriber²]

This place isnt really to post your desktops people. It is to show what you have changed/tweaked. Then if you need to put a screenshot of that thing, but thats about it!!

[Imrik]

Welcome ladies and gents,

i am new to neowin and saw this thread. here are my last three desktops (sorry for the time the images need to load)

http://www.customize.org/details/28392

http://www.customize.org/details/28185

http://www.customize.org/details/27833

http://www.customize.org/details/28554

http://www.customize.org/details/26776

http://www.customize.org/details/25864

http://www.customize.org/details/25661

i hope it?s okay to link to other communities?

please feel free to comment!

are there really that much people using no styleXP?

[CCR]

This place isnt really to post your desktops people. It is to show what you have changed/tweaked. Then if you need to put a screenshot of that thing, but thats about it!!

well, he's right! what are you people thinking! this isn't the october, or whatever, desktop thread!! :p

[dtevol]

wojtekka

what wallpaper is that and where can i get it?