Uhuru N’Uru
New Member
I can't see why it wouldn't given the extensive use of HardLinks between files in WinSxS Windows File installed from either Install.wim, or install.esd, though in my first attempt at making an ISO with the UUID tool, I couldn't get ESD to be mounted.
It was the free version, and I haven't tried to create anything but WIM since I bought the Home License, so it's not a major issue.
I make extensive use of Symbolic Links to force folders, across multiple Drives to link to my "Games" Drive where 600+ games, and 1,000s of modding tools are run via desktop shortcuts, managed with the stardock fences tool, using the rollup menus to fit far more Extra Large shortcuts.
It may not be readily apparent, just how much of windows is now HardLinked, I was amazed when I first started using one of my must have tools Link Shell Extension - Schinagl
This tool allows drag & drop link creation from context menu, and has overlays to signify Links by type, a bottom left shortcut arrow (Red=Hardlink, Green=Symbolic Link), or Chain links for Junctions.
Basically debloating is pointless without removing the WinSxS HardLink, because HardLinks share the Data, and all the filename really is is a link to the file contents, which only can be deleted when the last HardLink is removed.
I'm sure the old NTLite hands are aware of this, but I've not seen it explicitly explained in the noob guides, but I may have just missed that.
HardLinks are marvelous space savers when used for multiple file copies, but only on the same drives.
Symbolic Links are best used to link entire folders across different Partitions and/or Drives, which HardLinks can't do.
Junctions, are the most dangerous, and I've never used them, they can cause infinite loops within folder tree structures, and that can brick your OS, if not used with extreme care. While I understand Symbolic Links can't do that, only allowing limited loops it's still not ideal, so Istill restrict their use to linking to separate drives.
Before trying NTLite, my SOP with W10 was to dual boot, with a working OS, and fresh install of a new major update every six months, keeping the C Drive for Windows+Drivers, with shared programs, and games installed on other drives.
Users Folder, AppData, and ProgramData were forced to move via the Working OS, with Environment variables, and shell folder registry entries forcing most things to move, with some take ownership for the really stubborn files.
Even so, Not every dev follows SOP, and uses Environment Variables, so a Symbolic Link to original locations is needed to cover these SNAFUs, even made by so called AAA game devs that should know better.
My aim is to automate what I've previously done manually every 6 months, or so.
C:\Program Files (x86)
C:\Program Files
C:\Windows
Pretty much Vanilla + Drivers
All my Programs, User Folder Though Separate registries, not sure I want to use the same MIcrosoft folder, so I pretty much copy Software Folders with Microsoft removed via reg file, and custom tweak the parts of Microsoft, as I need, after Windows generates the fresh registry, which seems to be exactly what NTLite does, so much of my Registry Files are no different, than what I apply manually.
Debloating windows for me is more about removing UWP/Windows Phone "Apps", and legacy content, not relevant to my high end gaming system, with 2 TB of NVMe, and 1.75 of older SSDs (two real troopers from the original 2013 build), and 22 TB of much newer HDDs for data, and backburner game installs, plus the 400+ GOG offline installers, and 10,000+ game mods.
Shortage of drive space is not something I care about, it's making Windows do what I want, and that is to be just a Desktop Gaming PC, for this anti social, microtransaction hating, old single player gamer, I played pong when it was new, grew up with coin eating arcades, so have never looked back with rose tinted goggles to some 8-bit golden age that never once existed.
every advance in gaming tech has brought good, bad, and ugly games each, and every year.
My rig more than meets W11 Pro's arbitrary requirements with ExplorerPatcher added to W10 Pro must haves OpenShell, and 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, giving my desktop a W7 styled look, with all the advantages of the new, without ditching the good old stuff.
I still have a program from XP, I've kept alive while MS killed it in Vista. Beyond needing the Settings App, which is more by necessity, than choice I can't think of anything UWP based that I even want. Thankfully the era of one phone sized app fits all Windows approach seems to be over, but the long term damage will take a decade to wipe away, if not longer.
My aim is to keep my installed games, and programs running, outside of the C Drive, No way am I reinstalling all those with every OS update, it would take about 6 months, and start again, and I don't trust windows upgrades to do the job right, so I keep MS as far away from the really important stuff as I can.
It was the free version, and I haven't tried to create anything but WIM since I bought the Home License, so it's not a major issue.
I make extensive use of Symbolic Links to force folders, across multiple Drives to link to my "Games" Drive where 600+ games, and 1,000s of modding tools are run via desktop shortcuts, managed with the stardock fences tool, using the rollup menus to fit far more Extra Large shortcuts.
It may not be readily apparent, just how much of windows is now HardLinked, I was amazed when I first started using one of my must have tools Link Shell Extension - Schinagl
This tool allows drag & drop link creation from context menu, and has overlays to signify Links by type, a bottom left shortcut arrow (Red=Hardlink, Green=Symbolic Link), or Chain links for Junctions.
Basically debloating is pointless without removing the WinSxS HardLink, because HardLinks share the Data, and all the filename really is is a link to the file contents, which only can be deleted when the last HardLink is removed.
I'm sure the old NTLite hands are aware of this, but I've not seen it explicitly explained in the noob guides, but I may have just missed that.
HardLinks are marvelous space savers when used for multiple file copies, but only on the same drives.
Symbolic Links are best used to link entire folders across different Partitions and/or Drives, which HardLinks can't do.
Junctions, are the most dangerous, and I've never used them, they can cause infinite loops within folder tree structures, and that can brick your OS, if not used with extreme care. While I understand Symbolic Links can't do that, only allowing limited loops it's still not ideal, so Istill restrict their use to linking to separate drives.
Before trying NTLite, my SOP with W10 was to dual boot, with a working OS, and fresh install of a new major update every six months, keeping the C Drive for Windows+Drivers, with shared programs, and games installed on other drives.
Users Folder, AppData, and ProgramData were forced to move via the Working OS, with Environment variables, and shell folder registry entries forcing most things to move, with some take ownership for the really stubborn files.
Even so, Not every dev follows SOP, and uses Environment Variables, so a Symbolic Link to original locations is needed to cover these SNAFUs, even made by so called AAA game devs that should know better.
My aim is to automate what I've previously done manually every 6 months, or so.
C:\Program Files (x86)
C:\Program Files
C:\Windows
Pretty much Vanilla + Drivers
All my Programs, User Folder Though Separate registries, not sure I want to use the same MIcrosoft folder, so I pretty much copy Software Folders with Microsoft removed via reg file, and custom tweak the parts of Microsoft, as I need, after Windows generates the fresh registry, which seems to be exactly what NTLite does, so much of my Registry Files are no different, than what I apply manually.
Debloating windows for me is more about removing UWP/Windows Phone "Apps", and legacy content, not relevant to my high end gaming system, with 2 TB of NVMe, and 1.75 of older SSDs (two real troopers from the original 2013 build), and 22 TB of much newer HDDs for data, and backburner game installs, plus the 400+ GOG offline installers, and 10,000+ game mods.
Shortage of drive space is not something I care about, it's making Windows do what I want, and that is to be just a Desktop Gaming PC, for this anti social, microtransaction hating, old single player gamer, I played pong when it was new, grew up with coin eating arcades, so have never looked back with rose tinted goggles to some 8-bit golden age that never once existed.
every advance in gaming tech has brought good, bad, and ugly games each, and every year.
My rig more than meets W11 Pro's arbitrary requirements with ExplorerPatcher added to W10 Pro must haves OpenShell, and 7+ Taskbar Tweaker, giving my desktop a W7 styled look, with all the advantages of the new, without ditching the good old stuff.
I still have a program from XP, I've kept alive while MS killed it in Vista. Beyond needing the Settings App, which is more by necessity, than choice I can't think of anything UWP based that I even want. Thankfully the era of one phone sized app fits all Windows approach seems to be over, but the long term damage will take a decade to wipe away, if not longer.
My aim is to keep my installed games, and programs running, outside of the C Drive, No way am I reinstalling all those with every OS update, it would take about 6 months, and start again, and I don't trust windows upgrades to do the job right, so I keep MS as far away from the really important stuff as I can.