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[[File:BedOS.jpg|thumb|200px|The BedOS 2.0 Desktop]]
The first bootleg that was created for Windows was not really a bootleg, but more of a [[transformation pack]], called [[BedOS]], which released in early 2000.
Several different versions of BedOS were released, including 2.0, 72214-1 (the first English version), and 3.0, which was themed after Mac OS X. Little footage of this OS exists online, aside from 2 YouTube videos that covered it. From what we know from those videos, the premise of ''BedOS'' is to take the best features of OSes like Windows 95, 98, Millenium Edition, Memphis even, and combines them to create the best experience for the end user, which also happens to feature a new theme.. which also happens to be hard to look at.
The name of the OS is a pun, as when romanized, the name would be "BadOS". It is also one of the very few bootlegs distributed as shareware.
The second earliest bootleg known to exist is one based on Windows XP before it was even released, known as [[Whistler Build 2531]].
=== nLite Era ===
nLite is a tool for customizing [[:Category:Bootlegs based on Windows 2000|Windows 2000]], [[:Category:Bootlegs based on Windows XP|Windows XP]] or [[:Category:Bootlegs based on Windows Server|Windows Server 2003]] installation media
It can do a variety of things, like integrating updates (and slipstreaming "addons", which came in CAB and INF files), like DriverPacks, Kels' CPL Bonus, the latest Windows update packs and security patches, Windows Media Player 11 and Internet Explorer 8, etc, preinstalling extra software via the setup hotfix feature, custom themes with the UXTheme patch, unattended installs (used to pre-activate the OS, and change the registration information), and even add in their own post-setup routines and drop custom files to certain locations. Because of its extensive feature set and ease of use, lots of modders use it to create the finishing bits of their creation, alongside editing the system files (and changing the image resources around) with Resource Hacker, and other important additions.
The early versions of nLite were first released sometime in October 2004, although it did not gain much traction until around 2005, when some early XP (including 2000, ''and [[Tomato Garden Server 2003|2003]], to a lesser extent'') bootlegs began to use the tool.
As the tool became easier to use and ISOs became easier to distribute thanks to the rise of file sharing websites like MegaUpload and Rapidshare, nLite would see an explosive spike in usage around early 2008, as dozens of authors began using it to create their own Windows mods and share it with their favorite forums or friends.
The latest version of this program is 1.4.9.3, and can still be [https://www.nliteos.com/download.html downloaded] today. It has not been updated for more than a decade, as the creator has switched to making a tool named NTLite, which has the same purpose and level of versatility, but supports editing Windows 7, 8.x, 10 and 11.
Despite not being updated for more than 10 years, nLite has continued to be the most popular program for making Windows XP bootlegs.
=== vLite Era ===
vLite is a tool for customizing [[:Category:Bootlegs based on Windows Vista|Windows Vista]] installations, designed as a successor to nLite. Much like nLite, it allows users to remove and add components, integrate updates, add registry tweaks, add custom themes, and more. The program also looks similar to nLite, although it has a more modern UI. Although not technically supported, vLite can also be used to customize [[:Category:Bootlegs based on Windows 7|Windows 7 RTM]] (but not SP1) installs, due to its similarities to Windows Vista.
vLite was first released in 2006, although most bootlegs
Some early examples of vLite being used are:
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