nLite

I found this freeware gem while I was looking for an easier way to slipstream the copy of Windows XP that came with Virtual PC for the Mac so that I could use it in Bootcamp / Parallels / VMWare Fusion. In short, nLite makes it easy to slipstream service packs and patches for Windows, while as a bonus, it enables you to remove unnecessary apps like Windows Media Player, Outlook Express, Messenger, etc. It makes a bootable image that you can save to iso or burn on the spot. Here’s the feature list from the developer:

* Service Pack Integration
* Component Removal
* Unattended Setup
* Driver Integration
* Hotfixes Integration
* Tweaks
* Services Configuration
* Patches
* Bootable ISO creation