Nice guide! But it always depend on your use. Some others components recommended for you are safe to remove regarding your personal use.
Anyway it can help some people
Thank

my suggestion:

Display Adapters - remove all use newer driver or integrate it
Diva Server - remove it u mostly dont need it
Ethernet Network adapters - leave it its tiny and very useful when its new OS getting inet to work
Modems - remove it use the web to get the lastest driver
Printers - remove it all use the web to get the lastest driver
QLogic Fibre Channel Adapter - remove it u mostly dont need it
Scanners - remove it all use the web to get the lastest driver
Sound Controllers - small driver for hd sound driver keep it if u dont wanna use the "big" driver
Storage Controllers - leave it its dont take much
TV-tuners - remove it all use the web to get the lastest driver


vista will work lessy bugy with newer drivers

As for the drivers section; If you integrate newer drivers, then it's safe to remove all...

Nice guide,but you should add "the other" components who are hidden with the "compatibility list"

and some components that are safe to remove in you guide need components that arent safe to remove?

Thanks anyway!

i tick most of the red ones

'IMAPlv2 Burning Support - Keep it, or else you won't be able to burn CDs or DVDs'
huge lie

For many components you only say keep it but you should give a reason at least. A good reason would be even better.

Simple TCPIP Services - i removed it and its OK
Telnet - most home users dont use telnet right? i removed it too without problems

thats just my opinion

but this is a great guide. care to do 1 for Services too?

i remove some of the items u listed as red & i never have any problems

That is exactly why we need a thread like this. I do not know in detail about all the components. Therefore it says keep it at many places, since I'm too unsure to remove it. So if everyone could try to specify which things they know are safe to remove, then do so.

i only remove languages.. lol.. scared to remove others..never knw it can cum in need...

Keeping this thread going and updated with information would be fantastic. Sometimes it's hard to track down what every component does, or what effects can happen when it's removed.

Ive had no problem removing it.

Remove it and use the manufacturer's driver.

Remove it and use the manufacturer's driver (do people still use dialup?).

Stability reasons? Hmm Ive removed and my Vista is fine.

Remove it and use the manufacturer's driver.

If you dont have or use Firewire then just remove it.

If you dont have or use a modem then just remove it.

If you disable sounds then just remove it.

If you dont plan on recording using your mic then just remove it.

Remove it and just use a third-party photo manager.

If you dont use PlugnPlay, just remove it.

If you dont download DRM-protected files, you can remove it.

Remove it and use a third-party burning software. And afaik, they dont need this component.

You can just remove it. Windows Update will have the latest version anyways.

I consider this component rather useless since Im rather capable of monitoring my security software myself.

Remove it and just use a third-party image viewer like XnView.

Remove it and just use a third-party archive tool.

Good initiative. I agree with all the follow-up posts here at the moment, and got a couple of extra notes for you:


It is also used for text-to-speech applications. Ventrilo for example uses this to make Microsoft Sally (or whatever her name is) say who connects to the server, changes channels, etc.


Isn't this needed for Dynamic Drives?

As for drivers. If you have downloaded drivers available for integration, you can remove them all.

thats wrong. if u use nero or cdburner u dont need this crap!

I would point out that many Printer/Scanner drivers use parts of the integrated drivers.Canon for example.Removing integrated drivers means that Scanner/printer wont work even with fresh drivers.
IMAPv2 Burning support is needed for a ISO maker app that uses it.

Sounds like a poorly coded and outdated app. Anyways, there's tons of OSS for ISO creating/burning that are coded without using any "native" resources on windows.

Remove and integrate your own.

Mainly used for WMV (WMV3/9 and WC-1) decoding. It also supports most MPEG-4 standards such as h264, DivX4+ and XviD. Just get ffdshow to cover all crap you need. It's still needed as noted for wmv streams along with WMP (the firefox addon won't do much without WMP as a side note

Note that this is still needed if you want the thumbnail support for some codecs such as WMV at all. If anyone knows a way to fix this (has an idea on what files are needed for wmv decoding /w thumbnail support) send me a PM.

Again, keep it with Windows Media Codec (70MB~) until someone can figure out those 1-3MB worth or files needed (only*) for WMV thumbnail/playback support as well.

Same call as on XP, your choice.

If you've gotten used to BSODs I suggest you remove it. Most BSODs for normal folks are cause by display drivers anyways...


I also recommend you to try the extreme switch once your familiarized yourself with vLite.

@ Randomness How much Memory did your Vlited Vista take, please ??
Thank you...

You mean Check all.

I've got a question. You say to check the UAC control to remove it but I get a message saying that "run legacy CPL" needs that to function and for the legacy CPL item, you say to leave it.

So what's the deal?

I have the same problem and don't know what to do... can I remove CPL elevated??

@ Randomness: I find this so called 'Guide' of yours kind of a waste of time in my opinion. Have you even slightly looked up what all of the components and services really do? Most of the tips you give are misleading and dead wrong! Stop writing these guides if you don't know what your talking about. It's a good initiative, I agree, but only if started by someone who really knows all of the components and services including their dependencies inside out...

Sorry to be a little harsh here, but it kinda bugged me
No disrespect whatsoever

Could you please make some corrections if you think that there were some mistakes? My Vista Image is based in a part on this guid so before the installation I would like to know if I have to correct something, I don't want then my system to be unstable. Thanks

Well, if you read the reply's on this thread, you'll notice that a lot of users are correcting almost every part of the "Guide"

I've read all the topic, well it's not so long, just 2 pages and I did some changes but still maybe there is something I did wrong following the guide...

Removing cpl and uac are fine. I've yanked both of them out and the os is functioning fine (so far as I can tell)

its better to have guide for WHAT happens if a component is removed than what can or cannot be removed (u can always create a Remove all (all checked) install)
eg: i never use Zip folders then whats the ponit in keeping it? there are so many components like the same..

Better provide a detailed description,dependencies etc for each componet ,update it with user feedbacks
It helps nuhi to less document the app and more on features

I work on the basis that if I don't know what it is I must not use it therefore I remove it

I am joking of course but this does work in some cases. If you know what drivers/hardware you need/have then the Drivers and Hardware Support sections should be easy. Basically, do as it says in the info. If you don't have a QLogic Fibre Channel Adapter (whatever that is) then you don't need the driver. If you don't have a firewire port or don't have any firewire devices don't bother with the hardware support (just make sure you have it turned off in the bios otherwise you'll get unknown hardware in you device manager if you have a port but don't use it).

For example I have a TV card but I have a driver. So I can check Drivers->TV Tuners but must not check Hardware Support->TV Tunner support.


As for the rest of the components I'd suggest you do a little more experimentation, maybe try removing lots of components and checking the install in a VM. I guess it's reasonable for a first attempt but I think maybe you should change some of those DO NOT REMOVE components to I DON'T KNOW components and we can get a few more notes in about their use. For example Distributed Link Tracking Client and Protected Storage can be safely removed as most users don't use or even know what these are for. Error Reporting can be safely removed so it should be green. It's irrelevant whether people like MS or not.

Also there seem to be quite a few missing components here. Perhaps we can see an update coming soon? Perhaps you could add systems you've tested on and your setup in general with a mention of the hardware and software you use.

Anyway well done on the effort. If you can keep at it this will turn into a valuable resource.

Just remember (as mentioned) everyone has different systems and software. What works for one may not work for another. It's the bane of the software makers existence.

can someone provide a list of components vlite can remove because I havent got a full ISO of vista, just one which someone else has done

I might try and make a list of what components can be removed without any trouble

That sounds illegal. Tut. Tut.

I didnt say I downloaded it lol so will anyone help provide a list

What?! You think just because you didn't download it then it's not illegal? Are you for real?!

lol I didnt keep it lol I just borrow it so I can reformat my hard drive because it was bloated by what the OEMS put on there

1. sound controller driver, it won't affect system like harddisk or motherboard, also vista can find it very quickly through windowsupdate.

2. IMAPlv2 Burning Support, if I use nero, can I safely remove it?

1. if its a driver thats on the original dvd then it should be on windows update and no it wont effect anything

2. yes you can remove imapi because nero uses third party components, I think only microsoft based burning software uses it e.g. wmp

@Goldart - yes you can safely remove IMAPI.

*ops wrong topic*

Hey there, I have a question. I am Vliting my version of Vista Ultimate for my laptop. I won't ever connect to the laptop with remote desktop but i may want to use my laptop to connect to my home desktop computer. So i was wondering if I remove Remote desktop and Assistance what does that do? Does it completly slag remote desktop or will it still let me use remote desktop client to connect to some other computer?

Thx in advance

i make my version of vista and i distribute it to my friends, they install it with their own serial. what's wrong with you guys? even vlite in its unattended setting installs a trial windows vista serial.

and i have a version of vista and a version of windows server 2008 distributed legally by magazines here in greece. i could turn those trial versions to full by purchasing a serial.
illegal is to distribute a warez version, not a trial.

i think its better to put those core drivers files in printer support

Better guide to services: http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/servicecfg.htm

Grafx - I followed this layout fairly close and it came out to 5 and a half gigs initial install.

Michal - don't bother removing UAC. Just disable it under tweaks. If "something" were to try to enable them and it were not installed it would be a huge headache.

Lobbie - you are absolutely right. My main concern aside from wrong explinations is that he advocates using freeware in place of some accessories, but not others, and says to use something better than defender "Seriously" without any explaination or suggestions...

Thank you very much for this. this will be very useful. The only thing missing from Vlite now is the ability to add addons like Nlite. I hope it will be added some time soon.

A question for you all ... If i use an USB floppy, can i remove floppy support, since i am using USB devices because i am a laptop user?

no you would still need floppy support

Thanks for all the replies folks. It is true what many say. This guide would be worthless if I did not have any idea of what components to check. However, by having shared your knowledge with me, I can make up for these mistakes by correcting the list. That is what my goal is with this thread.

Now the list has been updated big time. The amount of red items are now half of what it used to be... at least! But as a warning to all those who plan to use this guide, it should not be done without having read the comments for each item.

#8 system

digital locker - is safe to removed because check this

Digital locker

is a Microsoft platform for the delivery of software electronically that works with Windows Marketplace and is secured by use of Windows Live ID. The digital locker platform is comprised of four major components:

1. Windows Marketplace catalog
2. Multi merchant download cart
3. Digital Locker Assistant (a client side application that facilitates the download of purchased applications)
4. Digital Locker.

For consumers, the digital locker and Windows Marketplace can be used for purchasing and downloading third party software titles compatible with Microsoft Windows, and then using that purchased software on any computer the software license allows.

For software developers, the digital locker and Windows Marketplace can be a cost-effective channel for the distribution of their software titles.

Windows marketplace is only available for residents of the USA.

link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_locker

TIP: rather than use a third-party program, go to the manufacturers (like NVIDIA, Realtek, Intel etc) site and get the latest driver from there.

You can remove if you use a static IP.

You can just remove it if you dont use.

I *think* this is only needed for installing from (within) Windows. If you just boot from the disc you can remove.

iirc Removing it improves performance for file transfers.

Unless you really like seeing how Vista rates your computer, you can remove it.

#6 network

Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) - safe to remove because read this

only if you are home user removed

This package contains the Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) responder. The network map on a computer running Windows Vista shows a graphical view of the computers and devices on your network and how they are connected by using the LLTD protocol. The LLTD responder must be installed on a computer running Windows XP before it can be detected and appear on the network map.