WinReducer 8.1 (Old discussion)

Hey Winter,

Did you make winreducer auto detect the tools/software in the software folder?
Coz it doesn't seem to be working if you have

Nope, it only detects Windows Updates. Drivers and Software needs you ...   

I will release in few minutes some presets including an EXTREME preset based on the one I will use for my physical machine ...  

Drivers > RamDisk - Support

Needs to be switched to Support - Ramdisk


Also
Accessories > Action Center
Control Panel > Action centre

Instead should it be

Control Panel > Action centre
Control Panel > Action centre (files)

spidernz wrote:

Drivers > RamDisk - Support

Needs to be switched to Support - Ramdisk


Also
Accessories > Action Center
Control Panel > Action centre

Instead should it be

Control Panel > Action centre
Control Panel > Action centre (files)

Great observation. This would make it easier to comprehend.

Whenever I try to mount the ISO after extraction I get this error.



This has happened in the previous versions, and I was hoping that later versions fixed this problem. I have no clue what this could be, and the exception details are not very useful.

Hello Greatmetal,

. Which Windows Edition are you using ?

. Are you sure to completely update winreducer and the language file ?

. Are you using an old customized ISO ?

. Try to recreate your winreducer folder from scratch.

Because I've tried and it worked (extraction + mounting ISO) !

Please, let me know.

 

winterstorm2050 wrote:

I just want you to try in v0.99.5 with my extreme preset (all available in few hours) :

- 1st : remove all your components (services, ...) with "Protect modern UI Apps" disabled (keep all Modern UI Apps) : I just want to know if something happens with services.

- 2nd : Test this ISO in a VM. If "user picture" works then do next step.

- 3rd : Mount again this ISO, and remove all Modern UI Apps except Immersive cpl

Then let me know for each point. Thank you !

Done.

1) Did so.
2) Yes, it works.
3) Yes, it still works!

In both above cases, 'protect modernUI apps' was disabled, but the 'change user pic' worked. This is different from previous version, when removing modernUI apps (except immersive cp) without enabling 'protect modern apps' caused it to not function.

After this I went further, mounted this second ISO, and removed immersive control panel. This time, user account pic does not work anymore. So I think ICP is the only culprit.

Note that I did all these tests today in a VM only. But until now, my results in VMs and real machines were always the same.

i'm still trying to get a fully-working windows update build, while slimming down as much as possible..

this is my current working wccf :
i13.wccf
http://www11.zippyshare.com/v/78808079/file.html

it seems if i tick ANY of the optimization options (even the ones that just affect the unused versions on my ISO) breaks windows update
 specifically KB2903939 (which is an important one)

any ideas winter?
also if you need help on the software side, i'm more than willing to help out (even if its just GUI stuff), im a 9+ years C# dev team leader as my day job

aymanalz wrote:

Done.

1) Did so.
2) Yes, it works.
3) Yes, it still works!

In both above cases, 'protect modernUI apps' was disabled, but the 'change user pic' worked. This is different from previous version, when removing modernUI apps (except immersive cp) without enabling 'protect modern apps' caused it to not function.

After this I went further, mounted this second ISO, and removed immersive control panel. This time, user account pic does not work anymore. So I think ICP is the only culprit.

Note that I did all these tests today in a VM only. But until now, my results in VMs and real machines were always the same.

This is what I suspected, I will try to change removing order to see if that help .... Thank you for your feedback !  

ffrules wrote:

i'm still trying to get a fully-working windows update build, while slimming down as much as possible..

this is my current working wccf :
i13.wccf
http://www11.zippyshare.com/v/78808079/file.html

it seems if i tick ANY of the optimization options (even the ones that just affect the unused versions on my ISO) breaks windows update
 specifically KB2903939 (which is an important one)

any ideas winter?
also if you need help on the software side, i'm more than willing to help out (even if its just GUI stuff), im a 9+ years C# dev team leader as my day job

Hi ffrules,

I think, the problem is this option in your wccf file:

    <Element Category="Unattended" Name="WinSXS DISM Cleanup" Selected="true" />
    <Element Category="Unattended" Name="WinSXS DISM Cleanup (ResetBase)" Selected="true" />

Doing that would obviously break Windows Update.

One tip from my side...
Take the original iso, use a tool like "DISM GUI" and integrate ALL Updates till now.
After that, use this updated iso for winreducer.
So afer you installed your winreducer modified iso, there will be no windows update to do  

ffrules wrote:

i'm still trying to get a fully-working windows update build, while slimming down as much as possible..

this is my current working wccf :
i13.wccf
http://www11.zippyshare.com/v/78808079/file.html

it seems if i tick ANY of the optimization options (even the ones that just affect the unused versions on my ISO) breaks windows update
 specifically KB2903939 (which is an important one)

any ideas winter?
also if you need help on the software side, i'm more than willing to help out (even if its just GUI stuff), im a 9+ years C# dev team leader as my day job

Hello,

How did you you install KB290939 : before or after windows installation ? Because if you try to install updates after installation using Windows Update or manually, sometimes it doesn't work because some necessary components are removed. This is an old known bug, already existed with RT7-Lite, WinReducer, ...

My advice is to create an untouched ISO which integrate all latest updates (using WinReducer Update Tool), then save it on your HDD. And in a 2nd time, remount this ISO to reduce it with your wccf preset file. It should work like this ! Anyway, let me know, please !  

3 minutes to late Winterstorm    

Yes, that's right !    I'm not writing as fast as you ...  

caphp wrote:

Hi ffrules,

I think, the problem is this option in your wccf file:

    <Element Category="Unattended" Name="WinSXS DISM Cleanup" Selected="true" />
    <Element Category="Unattended" Name="WinSXS DISM Cleanup (ResetBase)" Selected="true" />

Doing that would obviously break Windows Update.

One tip from my side...
Take the original iso, use a tool like "DISM GUI" and integrate ALL Updates till now.
After that, use this updated iso for winreducer.
So afer you installed your winreducer modified iso, there will be no windows update to do  

actually the WCCF i posted has windows update working fully, even with WinSXS DISM cleanup's

but, yea i might just go for integration, but i'm worried i wont be able to update in the future (critical windows updates), say in a month or so.. i dont want to keep re-installing windows

winter wrote:

Hello,

How did you you install KB290939 : before or after windows installation ? Because if you try to install updates after installation using Windows Update or manually, sometimes it doesn't work because some necessary components are removed. This is an old known bug, already existed with RT7-Lite, WinReducer, ...

My advice is to create an untouched ISO which integrate all latest updates (using WinReducer Update Tool), then save it on your HDD. And in a 2nd time, remount this ISO to reduce it with your wccf preset file. It should work like this ! Anyway, let me know, please !  

yes i will try to use  winreducer update tool, my next test will be:

* full integration of all updates
* FULL optimization (including experimental .NET reduction features)
* install Visual Studio, test .NET 3.0,3.5,4.0,4.5 apps

i will post my findings here

billybully wrote:

spidernz wrote:

Drivers > RamDisk - Support

Needs to be switched to Support - Ramdisk


Also
Accessories > Action Center
Control Panel > Action centre

Instead should it be

Control Panel > Action centre
Control Panel > Action centre (files)

Great observation. This would make it easier to comprehend.

Yes, I'm totally agree with you, it will be changed in ...... v1.00 (Final) ! Thank you for your idea !  

ffrules wrote:

yes i will try to use  winreducer update tool, my next test will be:

* full integration of all updates
* FULL optimization (including experimental .NET reduction features)
* install Visual Studio, test .NET 3.0,3.5,4.0,4.5 apps

i will post my findings here

Ok, fine, just take care about full optimization with net framework reduction. If you want an advice, create your ISO and test it, then in a 2nd time remount it and try the net reduction ... this will save you to redo all changes in case something goes wrong !  

winterstorm2050 wrote:

Hello Greatmetal,

. Which Windows Edition are you using ?

. Are you sure to completely update winreducer and the language file ?

. Are you using an old customized ISO ?

. Try to recreate your winreducer folder from scratch.

Because I've tried and it worked (extraction + mounting ISO) !

Please, let me know.

 

Windows 8.1 Professional Edition N - in a virtual machine

I downloaded this directly off the site at version 0.99.5

No this is a fresh ISO

I recreated the folder and I get the same error

I got this error all the way back in beta 6 as well, looks to be the same even though the iso is different. It would really help if there was a more verbose debug output.

Edit: Problem was I was extracting and mounting the ISO off a network drive/samba share. It seems to be working now when i put the files onto the virtual hard disk.

ffrules wrote:

yes i will try to use  winreducer update tool, my next test will be:

* full integration of all updates
* FULL optimization (including experimental .NET reduction features)
* install Visual Studio, test .NET 3.0,3.5,4.0,4.5 apps

i will post my findings here

Thx dude.
That would be awesome.
I dont use many .NET apps that I know of, besides Winreducer, but it would be great to have it verified so we can reduce .NET with confidence of no apps being broken

winterstorm2050 wrote:

billybully wrote:

spidernz wrote:

Drivers > RamDisk - Support

Needs to be switched to Support - Ramdisk


Also
Accessories > Action Center
Control Panel > Action centre

Instead should it be

Control Panel > Action centre
Control Panel > Action centre (files)

Great observation. This would make it easier to comprehend.

Yes, I'm totally agree with you, it will be changed in ...... v1.00 (Final) ! Thank you for your idea !  

Is the final version near??   If so, would you consider THIS? Please, lol.

ok so far i manged to create an iso with all optimizations EXCEPT "EXPERT - WinSXS cleanup"
i get an autorun error trying to install the iso if i trigger that one
but, good news, visual studio 2012 installed fine and .NET apps are fully building & working ! so i guess .NET is fine

any idea about the WinSXS cleanup issue "?

@ffrules
Is the windows update function still working ?

@YubiGalaxy & @All

Happy New Year  

updated 7 patches that were not integrated successfully, i'm still working on more tests (i think ive done atleast 50+ iso's so far.. )

Hey Guys,


I WISH YOU AND TO ALL YOUR FAMILIES AN : HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!

@billybully: I will integrate them after the v1.00

@ffrules: This preset is still early experimental, but please if you want to discuss about it, there is a dedicated thread in the "Presets" Forum for it, thank you !

 

Hi winter. 
Any update on wifi preset inclusion ? 
Happy new year :-)

Anyone having an error where on a reduced Win 8.1 install

When saving files it comes up saying ""You do not have permission to save in this location. Contact the administrator to obtain permission. Would you like to save in the My Documents folder instead?"

I only have one local account, which was set as admin by WR81.

it better to give to option  with automatic software installation 1) automatic that install all software in folder 2) manual  that install software automatic but  selected software so possible to choose different set of software for different pc and user

I personally hope, that winterstrom will not integrate more features to install software.
I observed this way of development at the program "WinToolkit".
Since the delevoper adds features to integrate programs - automtic installations, 90% of all questions and problems in the forum belong to program installations and errors with them.

To my mind, it makes sence that the program is called "winreducer" and not "wininstaller".
So I hope, that winterstorm will still focus on reduceing the windows installations.