Need some clarification about usage (checkboxes, popups, folders...)

This tool seems to have a lot of promise, and I'm eager to build a working ISO/USB-Installer with it. Thank you, Winterstorm, for your time to create it.

However, some of the options I do find very confusing, since there is no actual tutorial or even short info anywhere to be found.

Since WinReducer switches randomly between [checked=INSTALL] and [checked=DON'T INSTALL] for various option pages, I don't actually know on some pages if I should check or uncheck the boxes to get the desired result. On some pages it is explained what the checkbox means, but on many it isn't.

Like on these pages of the Components Reducer category, for example - does checked mean the features WILL BE installed, or does it mean they WON'T BE installed?
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In my opinion it would be less confusing if all the checkboxes on all pages were like this, for example - that would take the guesswork out of the problem:

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And then there's the part about drivers, updates, and .NET 3.5 integration:
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When I check the Drivers checkbox, the popup asks me for the folder with "prepared drivers for Windows 8." How do I prepare those drivers? I assume I can't just link to plain .exes, the drivers probably need a special format? Or maybe they just need to be extracted, so I have the usual .cat, .inf, .dll, .sys files? Either way, I have no clue as to what WinReducer wants me to do.

When I check the Updates checkbox, the popup asks me if I "want to keep my saved folder" - I have no clue what that means, there is no reference to a "saved folder" anywhere else. How do I integrate updates? Also, the Update Download Tool button is greyed out - how does one activate it, and where does it get its updates from?

The .NET 3.5 integration wants the root sxs folder, I assume, not a specific *netfx35* folder? Because there are about 40 of those in the sxs component storage.

I'd be very grateful for some clarifications - thanks in advance!

Hi and welcome,

1) in components reducer tab : everything you check will be removed

2) For Drivers folder : you need to add a folder for each drivers containing all *.inf and .sys files, etc ...  (no *.exe)

3) For net framework 3.5 folder : just point to your ISO sxs folder (in sources folder), and everything will be installed automatically

4) for updates folder : just choose a folder by hitting no, and "Download updates button will be available

Let me know if you have troubles ...

Thank you very much for your reply, Winterstorm. This clears things up for me.

In the meantime, I saved my check/uncheck steps as a preset and looked at the XML/WCCF if I guessed right about the options, heh.

Also downloaded the relevant Windows updates via WindowsHotfixDownloader - but now that you explained the function of the integrated updater to me, it's of course much more convenient!

By the way, for people that want to have an overview of what the included fonts actually look like, here's the list of all MS fonts: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] - makes it easier to decide which one to keep and which one to ditch.

You are welcome,

and your font link description is interesting, I will use it in the future, thank you very much !

Have a nice day

Here's the font part of my .wccf. It has all non-Latin fonts removed (Chinese, Thai, Hebrew, etc.) and keeps all the Latin ones (several of those fonts include Cyrillic and Greek as well). You gotta hand it to Microsoft - most of their fonts are really pretty and useful.


The font folder looks like this after a fresh installation (the Meiryo font is still there for some reason, and it can't be deleted even after taking ownership of it, unfortunately):
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Is the "split .wim" option supposed to work? I tried it four times, and it never split the file. I was checking the "split" box, and entered "1024" or "2000" for split size, but it didn't do it. Or is it supposed to only work with "create .wim", and not with "create wim + create .iso"? Had to split it manually with imagex and create a new bootable ISO with Imgburn.

It's really annoying that UEFI/GPT only supports FAT32 for USB sticks...

(One time I clicked on "create .wim + iso" before clicking the "advanced" button, and then there was no way back to select splitting at all, so I had to redo everything. :/ )

0x029A wrote:

Is the "split .wim" option supposed to work? I tried it four times, and it never split the file. I was checking the "split" box, and entered "1024" or "2000" for split size, but it didn't do it.

I haven't actually tried the split .wim option (haven't had the need to).

Just for testing purposes, I shall give It a shot, and reply with the outcome.

0x029A wrote:

Is the "split .wim" option supposed to work? I tried it four times, and it never split the file. I was checking the "split" box, and entered "1024" or "2000" for split size, but it didn't do it. Or is it supposed to only work with "create .wim", and not with "create wim + create .iso"? Had to split it manually with imagex and create a new bootable ISO with Imgburn.

It's really annoying that UEFI/GPT only supports FAT32 for USB sticks...

(One time I clicked on "create .wim + iso" before clicking the "advanced" button, and then there was no way back to select splitting at all, so I had to redo everything. :/ )

I confirm : it's a winreducer bug ... I will fix it tomorrow with your font bug ... Thank you for your feedback !

After testing It, I can also confirm that It didn't work.

Good to read that the bug will be fixed.
Thanks Winter.

Ok, I made a stupid mistake for split wim function, but it's solved now ...

Unfortunately, there is no bug for Meiryo font. Did you select the protect presets "Protect MS Office" ? because with this preset the meiryo font is kept even if you want to remove it ... We have made some tests and this font was needed for MS Office so ... I can't do something about that