vLite is a freeware tool for customizing Windows Vista OS before installing it. The program allows you virtually remove any integrated component of Vista to reduce the space occupied after install. This tool doesn’t use any kind of hacking; all files and registry entries are protected as they would be if you install the unedited version with only the changes you select. ComputerWorld reports that a barebone install of Vista was compressed from 15GB to 1.5GB.

This tool is made by the same developer who built the nLite program which provides similiar functionality for Windows XP.

After you pick and choose which components, hotfixes, drivers and language packs are to be installed, vLite allows you to burn the image as a bootable CD for future use.

Key features of vLite for Windows Vista include:

+ hotfix, language pack and driver integration
+ component removal
+ unattended setup
+ tweaks
+ split/merge Vista installation CDs
+ create ISO and burn bootable CD/DVD

For users who are planning to upgrade to Service pack 1 for Vista, vLite can be used only with the slipstreamed version of the OS because the standalone SP1 setup would abort if it detects that some integral components are missing. A guide to slipstreaming SP1 with Windows Vista can be found at Winbeta.

Click here to download vLite for Windows Vista.

Help keep your PC trouble-free with Windows Live OneCare