Some time ago (quite a while) I remember somebody posting details of a WMP pack of sorts that someone had put together that contained certain WMP files needed once you'd removed WMP with either nLite or XPlite. It wasn't a codec pack - I must stress that - and I can't remember whether it was something you could slipstream (I tend to think not - but maybe). But somebody had definitely created something that basically allowed you to keep the certain WMP that you'd need for other apps.

Does anyone know what I'm on about - can anyone remember this or the website where it's located at?

I think this is what you are looking for.
http://ksphere.free.fr/site/codecspackage.php

The website I remember wasn't black but it seems as though it offers what I'm looking for anyway. Cheers.

Is there any way to retain the dlls in the nLite setup? I mean, instead of installing this pack, can't I just ask nLite to keep the required files?

hi Keyser Soze! i think you can by utilizing the "keep files" portion

I think this may be what you're looking for: http://www.codecguide.com/download_other.htm#wmlite

Yes indeed - yes indeed! That was the one!!