Saturday, February 2nd 2008

Microsoft Warns Users Against Using VLite

Feb 2nd, 2008 09:55 Discuss (51 Comments)

Windows Vista is known for a lot of things. Among them is eating memory, both in storage and RAM, like a fat kid through cake. The folks who made VLite, a program designed to let you custom-build a Windows Vista disk without a lot of things you don't need, were very proud of what their program was doing for people who liked a streamlined operating system. Unfortunately for VLite, Microsoft has sent a look of scorn at the makers of the software. A public outcry asks, why? After all, VLite keeps people using Vista, instead of letting them come to the conclusion that XP is more streamlined, and should be used in place of Vista. However, Microsoft's reason for not liking VLite actually makes a lot of sense. When users go merrily chopping programs and processes willy-nilly, they risk keeping Windows Vista from updating properly in the future. Basically, Windows Update would try to update a component that isn't there, making parts of Windows unstable, and possibly bricking the whole system.

As long as you understand the risks, though, and know what you're doing, using VLite should not be a problem, and Microsoft is not going to make VLite copies of Vista illegal.

Source: Techspot

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51 Comments on Microsoft Warns Users Against Using VLite

Triprift

Its just a matter of choice i choose not to use vlite but for those who do then as long they understand what there getting into theres no problem.

EviLZeD

they have a point when i used vlite last time it was missing something i couldnt rename folders and files until i reinstalled with the normal vista it ran fine. vlites good just have to make sure your not removing anything vital

Dangle

Vista runs just fine fore me. But then again, I don't have a crappy PC. Good to know MS won't make these illegal.

spectre440

zekrahminatorMicrosoft is not going to make VLite copies of Vista illegal.

now there is the real headline... :laugh:

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator

I really wish Windows Installation allowed users to choose components to be installed in a manner similar to RedHat Anaconda, while masking those features Microsoft felt were vital (for the OS, not it's profits ;) ) That would have made Windows Vista an OS to look upto.

Triprift

Yeah i agree with ya bta wmp 11 is gathering dust as i use irfanview and media player classic while wpg is the same. Microsoft aint gonna make them illegal cause there doing vista a favour by encouraging users to stick with it.

panchoman

Sold my stars!

btarunrI really wish Windows Installation allowed users to choose components to be installed in a manner similar to RedHat Anaconda, while masking those features Microsoft felt were vital (for the OS, not it's profits ;) ) That would have made Windows Vista an OS to look upto.

lol! The installation would look like

What would you like to install?

(@) Microsoft Windows Vista
(@) Bloatware(greyed out)
(@) Spyware (greyed out)
(@) Windows Genuine Advantage! (greyed out)
(@) Internet Explorer 7 (greyed out)
( ) Critical DLL Files
( ) TCP/IP protocool
( ) Windows explorer
( ) Fonts
( ) etc.

Cold Storm

Battosai

Never saw a use with Windows defender! or the games that they give you... Got my own that makes them look like baby games!

Unregistered

Actually.. I have a lot of friends who were happy when they bought their "first" PC, being anything from Dell, HP to Compaq. Now they all complain that the damn OS doesn't function properly. I don't know much about Vista, might be good or bad. But I do know that when so many complain about a product something has to be wrong.. But then that's why there are Service Packs, to remove the "errors" from the software. Just sad that MS didn't test it 1 more year before the final release of Vista..

#10

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator

panchomanlol! The installation would look like

What would you like to install?

(@) Microsoft Windows Vista
(@) Bloatware(greyed out)
(@) Spyware (greyed out)
(@) Windows Genuine Advantage! (greyed out)
(@) Internet Explorer 7 (greyed out)
( ) Critical DLL Files
( ) TCP/IP protocool
( ) Windows explorer
( ) Fonts
( ) etc.

Microsoft is smarter than that, they can at least protocol correctly. Windows has never shipped with spyware. Regarding WGA, Microsoft has the right to defend its intellectual property. :ohwell:

I'm not sure you saw how Anaconda categorises its options, it's definitely not that way :laugh:.

#11

Darknova

LOL might not update properly my ass.

My XP version is missing LOTS from a standard install. Guess what? It doesn't try to update anything that isn't there, and considering that the delivery system is exactly the same for both XP and Vista I think that's a downright lie.

A few of my updates are actually to put BACK the stuff I took out lol. I just ignore them.

#12

Triprift

There was a user who said he had probs earlier if your that sure get vista and use vlite and tell us how ya go.

#13

panchoman

Sold my stars!

btarunrMicrosoft is smarter than that, they can at least protocol correctly. Windows has never shipped with spyware. Regarding WGA, Microsoft has the right to defend its intellectual property. :ohwell:

I'm not sure you saw how Anaconda categorises its options, it's definitely not that way :laugh:.

spyware... as ket once said, its a feature that comes built into vista.. vista runs checks to make sure you're not using pirated software.. it has wga, and internet explorer doesn't delete your history even if you hit the delete button.. i call that spyware.

#14

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator

panchomanspyware... as ket once said, its a feature that comes built into vista.. vista runs checks to make sure you're not using pirated software.. it has wga, and internet explorer doesn't delete your history even if you hit the delete button.. i call that spyware.

I wouldn't call that spyware because it's doing nothing to harm you. Checking if you use pirated software or not is not a malicious feature, in fact it's a boon for small-time software developers who have families to feed and their work is being used for free illegaly. Even if Microsoft does it to make sure you don't illegaly use a Microsoft product, nothing wrong, so it's not spyware. Afterall, Microsoft isn't making use of your personal data to target advertisements at you, maybe the data they collect would be used to improve their services to you. This is similar to Valve corporation aggressively collecting user data of its millions of Steam subscribers. If approached by a legal channel, Valve can even disclose you information about exactly who did what with their Steam platform product and when. That's spyware too.

#15

trog100

i wonder if when we meet ST Peter at the gates of heaven.. he will have a Microsoft representative by his side to ask us if we have any dodgy software on our PCs.. he he he

other believers please ignore or add your own analogy..

trog

#16

sixor

there are update packs, that way you insert them into your xp/vista install and you forget about windows update web

nlite and vlite are great apps, you can remove tons of crap of windows, that way your pc will have more HD space and more free ram for games

my systems (xp lite and vista lite)are 100% stable because i know what to remove and what not

#17

AddSub

Afterall, Microsoft isn't making use of your personal data to target advertisements at you, maybe the data they collect would be used to improve their services to you.

Dude... :shadedshu

#18

peach1971

I guess when Microsoft eats Yahoo, Windows´ default privacy settings will become much more fun. :D

#19

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

im sure even with People who have top of Line machines can get a major benefit out of Vlite, Its funny MS didnt go after them for Nlite aswell. It doesnt violate any Copyrites, and if MS try to pull reverse engineering card, what are Registry Tweaks, Slipstreaming, what are all the apps out there that Do tweaks to the OS that are 3rd party and protect systems? I swear MS is bitching cause they are greedy bastards, they make more than enough money, hell im military and i dont make as much as most out there, and dont say i get benefits for free because i dont thats how the military works nowadays.

#20

CrAsHnBuRnXp

DarknovaLOL might not update properly my ass.

My XP version is missing LOTS from a standard install. Guess what? It doesn't try to update anything that isn't there, and considering that the delivery system is exactly the same for both XP and Vista I think that's a downright lie.

A few of my updates are actually to put BACK the stuff I took out lol. I just ignore them.

I can attest to this whole issue. When I got my DFI x38 board, I made a custom Vista disc and slimmed it down to 1.3GB. Removed a plethora of crap. All was fine for a little while, but then when I was using Windows Update it either didnt work or the updates just failed to install. I was also having problems with stability. I kept getting BSOD's because of it. Reinstalled the FULL version of Vista x64 and all is well. Needless to say, the only thing im going to use vLite for again is to setup unattended installations.

#21

Darknova

CrAsHnBuRnXpI can attest to this whole issue. When I got my DFI x38 board, I made a custom Vista disc and slimmed it down to 1.3GB. Removed a plethora of crap. All was fine for a little while, but then when I was using Windows Update it either didnt work or the updates just failed to install. I was also having problems with stability. I kept getting BSOD's because of it. Reinstalled the FULL version of Vista x64 and all is well. Needless to say, the only thing im going to use vLite for again is to setup unattended installations.

Well I stand corrected then. Might look into this a bit.

#22

trog100

a few weeks back a Microsoft guy actually said.. we would sooner people pirate our software than move to alternative operating systems..

control is what MS are about.. as long as windows is being used paid for or not they have u under their control.. its what auto updates are about.. keeping u hooked in..

they would like to rent u windows at so much per annum but cant yet pull it off.. auto updates would then include vista in dribs and drabs like it or not..

i have xp with auto upates off.. my machine aint been eaten by demons yet.. and vista aint coming near it till it has to..

xp is vista lite for me.. he he

trog

#23

Exceededgoku

Yeah I think MS was smart to issue the warning but they should have made their intonation more clear as it seems like they are blindly stating not to use it. nLite is perfect for XP, however.

#24

CrAsHnBuRnXp

ExceededgokuYeah I think MS was smart to issue the warning but they should have made their intonation more clear as it seems like they are blindly stating not to use it. vLite is perfect for XP, however.

nLite. :)

#25

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

CrAsHnBuRnXpI can attest to this whole issue. When I got my DFI x38 board, I made a custom Vista disc and slimmed it down to 1.3GB. Removed a plethora of crap. All was fine for a little while, but then when I was using Windows Update it either didnt work or the updates just failed to install. I was also having problems with stability. I kept getting BSOD's because of it. Reinstalled the FULL version of Vista x64 and all is well. Needless to say, the only thing im going to use vLite for again is to setup unattended installations.

isnt there a Warning from the Creators of use at own risk, and also they should have a support forum aswell, so if you encounter a snag you can report it.

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Microsoft Warns Users Against Using VLite

51 Comments on Microsoft Warns Users Against Using VLite

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