Licencing and removal

[TanyaC]

Hello. I manage 15 computers across multiple locations.
I create 4 separate images based on each sites needs.
Most of the PCs are updated annually, but PCs at my site are updated as often as monthly.
Updated means a complete format and reinstall of WIndows from an image I will create using NTLite.
Then using backups apps, settings and configurations are restored over the fresh install.

1: NTLite licence allows 5 activations. Does that mean I have to buy a new licence every 5 months after formatting/refreshing my PC?
2: I was using MSMG toolkit, but this is dead. I remove almost every non-essential component (and accept the risks associated with doing so).
3: I also have a PC I use for testing purposes. It is dedicated to nothing but testing. So each image I create will be tested with latest versions of apps etc. before I roll them out to the actual PCs.
4: Are the components (systemapps, packages, windowsapps), actually completely deleted freeing up the disk space?

This is not a commerical scenario. These are PCs for my sons, brother and his family.

Windows 10 21H2 LTSC IoT. All hardware Z790. CPUs 13600KF to - 14700KF. All 32GB DDR4 or 5 (except mine which is 64gb), All using Kingston KC3000 SSDs and Seagate NAS drives. At my site all network infrastructure is 10Gbe. No wireless anywhere. All ethernet at all sites.

Is NTLite the product I need to completely debloat Windows?

thank you.

 

[MacVap]

1. You use 1 NTLite activation on the PC where you prepare the images. The other PCs don't need to ever see NTLite if you don't want to (if you don't use live removals). But you can if you want to, there are some (small) things that are better removed on live installs. In any case, the activation lasts 1 year since the moment you first activate your license on the first PC. You have 5 activations in that year with that license, either on 5 different PCs or maybe on the same PC if there are major hardware changes (If some is erroneously deactivated, contact Support). When the year expires, you can still use NTLite indefinitely with the features you had during that year (no new features, but you will receive bugfixes).

In the prepared images there are no limitations, you can use them in as many PCs as you want to. Nobody will know they are prepared with NTLite (except maybe if they are looking hard for clues/traces of NTLite, if they exist).

2. NTLite in my opinion is far safer than MSMG Toolkit because of the years of development, experience and user feedback. I can't say which one removes more, because I haven't used MSMGT, but because of the safety I will always choose NTLite (although you can still mess up if you get carried away).

4. Yes in the final install, but the ISO might actually grow due to the peculiarities of Windows.

 

[TanyaC]

Thanks MacVap.

Ok, so for licencing, I gather I would have to back up my licence, because when I reinstall Windows each month it's done on a fresh formatted drive. otherwise, if I then activate NTLite with each Windows install I'd have to buy a new licence every 5 months or so?

Or are you saying that when I reinstall Windows and reinstall NTLIte, it won't use another activation because it will detect the hardware hasn't changed (or whatever triggers activation), and therefore doesn't affect my activation count?

Am I understanding this correctly?

I do hope to update a couple of PCs to Nova Lake later next year (assuming it's affordable).

This is a bit different to other programs (I'm not saying bad - just different). Some licences I simply deactivate, reinstall then re-activate (MBAM, Macrium etc), or in the case of programs like Filebot, my perpetual licence can be reactivated indefinitely within the licence period.

Messing up is a good thing. It teaches you what you can and can't do.

My testing so far suggests MSMG removes way more. The resulting images I've built in the past seem stable. But then, I've been using the trial version of NTLite, so perhaps I haven't seen the real impact yet.

thanks

 

[MacVap]

when I reinstall Windows and reinstall NTLIte, it won't use another activation because it will detect the hardware hasn't changed (or whatever triggers activation), and therefore doesn't affect my activation count?

This.

Activation uses an online check. Unfortunately, but in this day and age I guess it can't be avoided.

As I said, for any problems, contact Support, they are very reasonable (if the requests are reasonable). I don't know if it is possible to deactivate a license, I never tried.

My testing so far suggests MSMG removes way more.

Quality over quantity.

GL

 

[Anonymous Internet User]

If you want to be extra sure, then backup

C:\Program Files\NTLite

This will include your license.dat file, and then just copy it all back after reinstalling Windows. As long as your hardware hasn't changed you won't use up another activation. NTLite is a standalone application, you don't need to run the installer every time. Just copy it back and run the update, it'll work fine. I never had any problems this way. Then I buy a new, discounted upgrade license every December (there is a holiday sale every year) to cover any upcoming updates and changes in the following year. It's totally worth it.