diff --git a/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd.nix b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix
similarity index 95%
rename from modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd.nix
rename to modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix
index 2d21eaa13009..18300f01ee93 100644
--- a/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd.nix
+++ b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-base.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-# This module contains the configuration for the NixOS installation CD.
+# This module contains the basic configuration for building a NixOS
+# installation CD.
 
 {config, pkgs, ...}:
 
@@ -72,11 +73,6 @@ in
   # Use Linux 2.6.29.
   boot.kernelPackages = pkgs.kernelPackages_2_6_29;
 
-  # Don't include X libraries.
-  services.sshd.forwardX11 = false;
-  fonts.enableFontConfig = false;
-  fonts.enableCoreFonts = false;
-
   # Show the manual.
   services.showManual.enable = true;
 
@@ -176,7 +172,11 @@ in
   services.mingetty.helpLine =
     ''
         
-      Log in as "root" with an empty password.
+      Log in as "root" with an empty password.  ${
+        if config.services.xserver.enable then
+          "Type `start xserver' to start\nthe graphical user interface."
+        else ""
+      }
     '';
 
   # To speed up installation a little bit, include the complete stdenv
diff --git a/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-big.nix b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-big.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..fada3cd1017a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-big.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# This module defines a NixOS installation CD that contains X11 and
+# KDE 4.
+
+{config, pkgs, ...}:
+
+{
+  require = [./installation-cd-base.nix];
+
+  services.xserver = {
+    enable = true;
+    autorun = false;
+    defaultDepth = 16;
+    desktopManager.default = "kde4";
+    desktopManager.kde4.enable = true;
+  };
+}
diff --git a/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-small.nix b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-small.nix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7b0103f9ada5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/installer/cd-dvd/installation-cd-small.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# This module defines a small NixOS installation CD.  It does not
+# contain any graphical stuff.
+
+{config, pkgs, ...}:
+
+{
+  require = [./installation-cd-base.nix];
+
+  # Don't include X libraries.
+  services.sshd.forwardX11 = false;
+  fonts.enableFontConfig = false;
+  fonts.enableCoreFonts = false;
+}