redrope Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 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: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kontrollverlust Posted June 7, 2003 Share Posted June 7, 2003 what dll file was that to edit the new hardware configuation bitmap?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris123NT Posted June 12, 2003 Share Posted June 12, 2003 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 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30674_1437839152 Posted July 5, 2003 Share Posted July 5, 2003 :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vuerro Posted July 16, 2003 Share Posted July 16, 2003 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirPsychoSexy Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+longgonebn Subscriber² Posted July 27, 2003 Subscriber² Share Posted July 27, 2003 Its called Replacer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiggzy Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 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: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukefan21 Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirPsychoSexy Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 Its called Replacer. Your da man! Thats it! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiggzy Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 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: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
one321 Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 I don't get it... :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dukefan21 Posted July 28, 2003 Share Posted July 28, 2003 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiggzy Posted July 29, 2003 Share Posted July 29, 2003 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkey Man Posted August 6, 2003 Share Posted August 6, 2003 ok how did u do that with the grass man? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shenrone Posted September 1, 2003 Share Posted September 1, 2003 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 ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wojtekka Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 Hello ppl Ok so here my nice w00ted screen ;-D Its simple cream and i love it ;> best regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooya Posted September 29, 2003 Share Posted September 29, 2003 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) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewy Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Hello pplOk so here my nice w00ted screen ;-D Its simple cream and i love it ;> best regards wot exactly have u customized here??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honoriak Posted October 13, 2003 Share Posted October 13, 2003 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: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raduking Posted October 13, 2003 Share Posted October 13, 2003 here's my current desktop, tell me if U like it :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+longgonebn Subscriber² Posted October 15, 2003 Subscriber² Share Posted October 15, 2003 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!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imrik Posted October 16, 2003 Share Posted October 16, 2003 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted October 16, 2003 Share Posted October 16, 2003 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtevol Posted October 16, 2003 Share Posted October 16, 2003 wojtekka what wallpaper is that and where can i get it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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