"Since Servicing Stack compatibility is disabled"

[lemegapro]

Hello,

I'm creating a custom Windows 11 ISO.

I'm using a preset from another ISO.

When I click Apply, in the Pending Tasks overview, under Notes, I get this message in red: "Since servicing stack compatibility is disabled, deep wipe mode is enabled. Updating this image will require a host refresh or reinstall."

What does this mean? Is it important, and do I need to change anything?

Thank you for your help.

 

[nuhi]

NTLite has 2 modes or removal, active removals are the same in both modes:

Mode 1: Servicing stack compatibility enabled, preserves Windows Update compatibility, keeps most of files in WinSxS for that (WinSxS files are passive - with exception of some runtimes but we do not talk about those anyway)

Mode 2: Deep removal with Servicing stack compatibility disabled, it does not care about Windows Update compatibility, just cleans completely from WinSxS as well.

If you pick Mode 1, you can update with each Cumulative Update directly be it with Windows Update or NTLite.
Then run NTLIte - Tools - Remove Reinstalls (or nlite.exe /cleancu) after to clean what the update returns.

In Mode 2 you can update via the Host Refresh method, if you keep Host Refresh compatibility enabled for that host when removing.
Meaning update an ISO of the same type and run setup from the host.
Or simply reinstall the OS, but I do not prefer that method as the method of updating twice a month.

 

[lemegapro]

Thanks for your quick reply, but I didn't have a choice: mode 1 or mode 2. My image is Windows 11 25H2 LTSC, and the preset was Windows 11 25H2 Pro.

I didn't quite understand everything; I clicked OK, and the application continued as usual.

I had previously updated using the Windows cumulative update file.
What's the best solution?

 

[Anonymous Internet User]

I didn't have a choice: mode 1 or mode 2

It does not actually say "mode", what Nuhi meant is that you have two options:

Servicing stack compatibility enabled - this is mode 1, simpler windows updates in the future
Servicing stack compatibility disabled - this is mode 2, complicated windows updates in the future, but saves some space

What's the best solution?

If you care about being able to easily run cumulative windows updates in the future or are simply undecided or unsure, then keep servicing stack compatibility enabled, i.e. that would be mode 1.

IMHO, this is the better, safer and easier option as you may change your mind in few months. If you ever run cumulative windows update, then run Remove Reinstalls in NTLite to remove anything that was re-added by the update.

Unless you have very specific reason to disable it and know exactly what you're doing, keeping it enabled is the better option IMHO.

and the application continued as usual.

But the resulting image will be different as per above. If you build an image with servicing stack compatibility disabled and use this image to install Windows, you may not be able to run windows updates on that PC unless you do a Host Refresh or do a complete OS reinstall.