The Croatian college student who created software to shrink Windows Vista"s footprint has updated the program so users can build installation media that integrates Service Pack 1. Dino Nuhagic updated his free vLite utility last week and then again yesterday to support "slipstreaming" of SP1, Microsoft"s recent update to Vista. Dubbed vLite 1.1.6 Beta 2, the newest version now includes a "Service Pack Slipstream" action item that lets users merge SP1"s changes with the files on an original, or RTM (release to manufacturing) install disc, and then produce an .iso file of the blend that can be burned to DVD and used to install Vista with the service pack included.
To slipstream SP1 with Vista, users need a copy of vLite, the 32-bit- or 64-bit SP1 stand-alone installer that Microsoft posted last month to its download site, and a blank DVD disc.
Nuhagic has labeled 1.1.6 as a beta. "Consider this [slipstreaming] feature a true beta test," he said in a post to his blog last Friday. "Let"s give it more time," he said today in an interview via instant messaging when asked to describe the stability of the slipstreaming function. "I will name it "final" after some more feedback. I mean, I did try it and it works, but you never know."