I can't get my brain around NTLite - need help

[BigLeo]

I've tried using NTLite before and decided to give it another go to build two new Win 10 ISO's for a couple of new machines

I find the interface very confusing and I'm sure I'm doing something really stupid. I expected to be able to create projects from the Home menu but it doesn't seem to work like that. I wanted to create two projects. One for a new laptop and another for a new desktop. Both will run Win 10 so I wanted to have NTLite read a WIN 10 ISO I downloaded from Microsoft. Eventually I realized that I need to extract (not sure if that is the right term) to a directory. Not sure why NTLite can't do that but okay.

My monitor is very large and despite increasing the size of everything in Windows (currently running Win 8.1 Pro) everything in NTLite is really small. I'm partially sighted which doesn't help! Muddling trough I got a new ISO but it would not boot on the laptop. I got a light blue screen and nothing more. It then just sat there. Does this mean something serious failed in creating the ISO? The laptop boots with a standard ISO.

Today I have tried again. Not sure if I missed something yesterday but today I get messages from NTLite saying "skipped" against a number of things. This includes all the features I wanted to enable and disable. For example, i wanted to disable Internet Explorer and wanted to enable Hyper-V.

I'm not sure if "skipped" is a subtle way of saying I haven't bought a license?

I would happily buy a license if I had a clue what I was doing and if the program told me what some of the things mean. For example, it would be great to have an option to choose recommended settings instead of just enable/disable. It will also be great to be able to choose something like security level so you could have all the options set automatically to stop Microsoft spying! With some of the things I know what they mean but others are completely meaningless to me.

Yesterday I got error messages saying "invalid parameter" but I haven't input any parameters!?

So, my questions are:

1. Any idea why the ISO did not boot on the laptop? Is this likely to be because I enabled/disabled something I shouldn't have?
2. Why is NTLite saying skipped on the features I want to enable/disable?
3. Is there a PDF guide with a complete explanation of what everything means?
4. How do I create a project for the laptop and another for the desktop? The only difference between these is the machine name, Microsoft Key and the drivers.
5. What editions should I choose? Not sure if that is the right term but there are things like the PE environment. I've no idea what I should be selecting or how to select it.

When/if I can get this to work I wanted to repeat the whole process for Win11. But at the moment it seems easier to just run the standard Microsoft ISO, run something like O&O shutup and then just back it up. What am I missing?

Thanks.

 

[Hellbovine]

I wrote a few guides (link) for exactly this situation--someone that wants to learn, but is feeling overwhelmed. It is a lot to take in, so I can relate. It would be too much to try and address all of your concerns you listed right now though, because you're touching on a lot of different topics. It would be best to do the guides first, then circle back around to the advanced stuff.

For example, what to disable and what not to, that requires trial and error and a lot of hands-on knowledge. It's something you come to learn in time. If you focus on the basics first though, familiarizing yourself with NTLite, and learning how to install Windows the right way, you'll gain the confidence and knowledge you need to start tackling the advanced stuff.

Worst case scenario, after you learn the basics you might decide that advanced tweaking isn't for you, and that's okay too, since some of us have made custom operating systems you can try out, where all the work has been done for you.

 

[garlin]

NTLite running on Win 7 or 8.1 has limited features, when modifying W10 or 11 releases. This restriction is based on DISM, the Windows software which allows servicing (updating an image). DISM can only support Windows versions equal or lower than the host's version.

When you're not at W10 or 11, then NTLite can only remove components. It cannot add updates, or enable/disable Features on Demand.
NTLite can still operate to setup unattended installs, update settings & services, and run Post-Setup tasks. It will create a bootable ISO.

The only solution is to run NTLite on a newer platform. If you don't have another system, it's possible to run Windows 11 inside a small virtual machine (VM). It's slower in process time, but works.

Error 87 invalid parameter is the normal error when your DISM doesn't match.

Without a preset, it's hard to know why the ISO didn't boot. Some removals are licensed, those will normally be grayed out.

You can create a preset for one PC, and load it again to preload the settings for the other PC. Make changes and save this preset under a different name. Each preset will generate an ISO targeted for their respective PC's.

Choosing editions is dependent on what's the current Windows license you own. Is it a retail license (purchased from a store), or OEM (shipped with the PC). If you have a specific product key, you pick the W11 edition matching that key (Home, Pro).

If you're intending to upgrade two PC's, it's probably best to use MS's plain ISO to install at least one W11 system. Afterwards, NTLite will have no problems editing W11 features. You're still limited by the free components, but the rest of NTLite should work correctly.

 

[Hellbovine]

NTLite running on Win 7 or 8.1 has limited features, when modifying W10 or 11 releases. This restriction is based on DISM, the Windows software which allows servicing (updating an image). DISM can only support Windows versions equal or lower than the host's version.

Does NTLite have a message that explains this scenario? Probably a good thing to add if not. I forgot about this myself, but now I remember another thread had the same issue recently, so I'm pondering if a message does exist that maybe it might need rewording or something.

 

[nuhi]

I've tried using NTLite before and decided to give it another go to build two new Win 10 ISO's for a couple of new machines

Thanks for your feedback, let's see.

I find the interface very confusing and I'm sure I'm doing something really stupid. I expected to be able to create projects from the Home menu but it doesn't seem to work like that. I wanted to create two projects. One for a new laptop and another for a new desktop. Both will run Win 10 so I wanted to have NTLite read a WIN 10 ISO I downloaded from Microsoft. Eventually I realized that I need to extract (not sure if that is the right term) to a directory. Not sure why NTLite can't do that but okay.

Yes, this is the barrier you nicely detected, it was intentional to not make it too easy for noobs (not you) to start reinstalling without even knowing what the WIM image is.
But these days tool matured and it's ready for direct ISO reading, it is in the works.

My monitor is very large and despite increasing the size of everything in Windows (currently running Win 8.1 Pro) everything in NTLite is really small. I'm partially sighted which doesn't help!

Hm, can you please make a screenshot of NTLite next to your Windows Explorer for example, to see the difference?
Make sure to use the latest version of the tool.

Muddling trough I got a new ISO but it would not boot on the laptop. I got a light blue screen and nothing more. It then just sat there. Does this mean something serious failed in creating the ISO? The laptop boots with a standard ISO.

Booting ISOs is a Windows thing, rarely broken by NTLite. Attach your preset and a screenshot of that blue hang.

Today I have tried again. Not sure if I missed something yesterday but today I get messages from NTLite saying "skipped" against a number of things. This includes all the features I wanted to enable and disable. For example, i wanted to disable Internet Explorer and wanted to enable Hyper-V.

I'm not sure if "skipped" is a subtle way of saying I haven't bought a license?

garlin replied well, potentially a Win7 host. Provide a log next time please.

I would happily buy a license if I had a clue what I was doing and if the program told me what some of the things mean. For example, it would be great to have an option to choose recommended settings instead of just enable/disable. It will also be great to be able to choose something like security level so you could have all the options set automatically to stop Microsoft spying! With some of the things I know what they mean but others are completely meaningless to me. \

Recommended is as Microsoft intended, all else is your choice. If you are not sure what to change, don't do it, there is no shame in using defaults.
On the other hand, Templates were added to removals, might do the same for Settings, I'm guessing disable all privacy concerning options would suffice for most.

Yesterday I got error messages saying "invalid parameter" but I haven't input any parameters!?

When, how to get there? Next time something like that happens, save %temp%\ntlite.log and potentially a screenshot.

So, my questions are:

1. Any idea why the ISO did not boot on the laptop? Is this likely to be because I enabled/disabled something I shouldn't have?

We don't know what you did, attach a preset and test if non-edited ISO boots in the same situation.

2. Why is NTLite saying skipped on the features I want to enable/disable?

Replied above.

3. Is there a PDF guide with a complete explanation of what everything means?

NTLite Documentation

Detailed description of main NTLite features

ntlite.com

4. How do I create a project for the laptop and another for the desktop? The only difference between these is the machine name, Microsoft Key and the drivers.

Presets on the Source page, they remember your choices, load the one you want after loading an image.

5. What editions should I choose? Not sure if that is the right term but there are things like the PE environment. I've no idea what I should be selecting or how to select it.

The one you have a Windows license for, all else can be ignored, unless you need to insert a boot driver, then see here.

When/if I can get this to work I wanted to repeat the whole process for Win11. But at the moment it seems easier to just run the standard Microsoft ISO, run something like O&O shutup and then just back it up. What am I missing?

NTLite is not just a reg apply as those tools, it's much more, see at

https://ntlite.com/features

Basically it's used for preparing updated images with settings, drivers and apps applied, optionally components removed, and all of that easily edited from one preset using another image when needed etc.
It's very useful for businesses maintaining images, and for enthusiasts who want more control over deployment and/or don't want to worry about disabling background stuff, but remove instead things they won't use anyway.
It can also do the same directly on the already deployed Windows (e.g. C:\Windows or on another partition).

If you are happy with just installed default Windows, do Windows Update after and apply some privacy tweaks, that's perfectly normal, come back and check the tool in a year to see if it has more to offer for those simple scenarios - taking price into account.