During installation from the MEPIS 8 liveCD, is there any way to control exactly what programs it installs? For instance, I never use that Jbidwatcher program it comes with, and it's one of the first things I remove when I have to reinstall. Also all the games--I never play any of them. I haven't learned how to remaster yet.

Probably:
In theory, yes, but ...
Although I do think you someone could hack the installer to alter the list of what gets installed; it would probably be easier to re-master.

In practice, no, because ...
Who is going to bother to hack the installer when re-mastering is probably easier. I assume that shortening the install time is not your objective; rather eliminating the hassle of manually uninstalling the unwanted pkgs. What I would look at is developing a custom install/uninstall list in dpkg -set-selections format for apt-get or aptitude. Put it in a script & automate not only removing the stuff you don't want, but also adding all the stuff you "can't live with out".

I haven't learned how to either remaster or write scripts yet. May I have some links to instructions?

check it out
http://www.mepis.org/docs/en/index.p...stering_script

also
antix is a remastered mepis 8
https://www.mepis.org/node/14212

How about the command line, do you know how to open that (kind of window) & use it?

Yes, that I can do.

did you try remastering yet?

many distro's can be remastered
some ar harder than others

what are your thoughts?