Slipstreaming SP2 with Hotfixes

I decided to try my hand at slipstreaming, since I have always been annoyed at having to patch my OS a dozen times while installing. With the advent of SP2, it was even more worthwhile to me, considering the baggage involved with that installation.

I used the procedure written by the Elder Geek, with a few modifications.

First, I created a few folders:

XPCD
XP-SP2
XP-Bootimage

Then I copied the contents of my XP-Pro CD into the XPCD folder... make sure you are carrying over the hidden and system files when doing your copy. There are two ways of ensuring this-- have the folder options in Explorer set to show hidden files and the hide protected operating system files option is unchecked, or use the xcopy routine with the /e /i /v switches. I like to see everything when I'm exploring the file system anyway, so I had no problem doing a drag and drop.

Next, I put the SP2 download into the XP-SP2 folder. My file name was WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe

I extracted SP2 using the following command in the run dialog:

E:\XP-SP2\WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe -x

I allowed the extraction to go into the originating folder.

Next, apply the update: E:\XP-SP2\i386\update\update.exe -s:e:\xpcd

The -s: option is the new slipstream switch which Microsoft has begun to include in their latest crop of updates. It takes a little while for SP2 to do all of the replacements.

Now here's where I deviated from the Elder Geek. I also slipstreamed the latest patches and hotfixes.

Finding out which patches you do and don't need by surfing through the Knowledge Base is futile at best. What I did was pull up the history from the Windows Update site and wrote down the items I installed since I performed the SP2 update on my computer. There were 46 for me:


KB834707
KB890859
KB890923
KB893066
KB893086
KB887742
KB873333
KB888113
KB867282
KB891781
KB885250
KB890047
KB888302
KB890175
KB885836
KB886185
KB885835
KB873339
KB834707
KB885884
KB885250
KB890046
KB890859
KB893066-v2
KB893756
KB894391
KB896358
KB896422
KB896423
KB896424
KB896428
KB899587
KB899591
KB900725
KB901017
KB901214
KB902400
KB904706-v2
KB905414
KB905749
KB905915
KB908519
KB910437
KB911927
KB912919
KB913446

There were a couple diagnostic tools such as KB890830 Malicious software removal tool and the new ATI driver but those won't slipstream using the process I used here. First, I created a new folder in the I386 folder called SVCPACK. I then looked up each update by its knowledge base number and downloaded them into the new folder. All of the hotfixes here use the version 5.4.15.0 of Update.exe to deploy. This made things easy:

E:\XP\I386\svcpack\Q885835.exe /integrate:E:\XPCD

But with the number of hotfixes I now had to install, I went the lazy route and created a batch file to do it for me:



The /integrate: switch works similar to the slipstream command we used earlier to put the fixes into a deployable installation folder or CD, in my case, E:\XPCD which will become my slipstreamed installation CD.

The /Q switch turns on Quiet mode and the Z switch inhibits restart.

The procedure I used above was derived from Knowledge Base Article 828930. There is an article for integrating driver hotfixes as well: Article 814847

Ok, that's the best I could do. The ATI driver was done by the manufacturer, Microsoft was just kind enough to provide it to me through auto update and I haven't found a way to integrate Mediaplayer 10 yet, so I will just have to install that in my next project-- Unattended!

Back to the Elder Geek. I needed to make the CD bootable and for that, I needed an ISO image.

I downloaded ISO Buster, and with the XP Pro CD in the CDROM selected Bootable CD then clicked Microsoft Corporation.img and finally clicked Extract Microsoft Corporation.img file.

I extracted it to the XP-Bootimage folder.

Now I get to burn the CD... as I said earlier, my next project is to build an unattended install disk that will do everything for me in one fell swoop. The advantage is I can fire and forget and, barring any complications, come back to a fully loaded and optimized XP computer. Downside... I am pretty much limited to one unattended disk per system, not enough flexibility for my taste.

So I am also working on an answer file, which will leave me some flexibility at the cost of having to attend the installation somewhat. Neat thing is, either way, I get to save myself from having to find and plug in my CD key.

On with the burning. I have Nero 5.5.10, and the Elder Geek's instructions were for the version 6 Nero. Turns out the process is the same, just the screens look a little different.

Rather than go through the labor of writing down the entire burn procedure, just go to the Elder Geek and see how he did it.

Once the CD was burned, I had to test it... it wasn't enough to boot my computer up with it to see if it indeed was bootable (it is), I had to try doing an install with it. Conveniently enough, I happened to be rebuilding the kid's computer and this was the perfect opportunity to test out the Slipstream CD.

Once I managed to get the stupid computer running (bad PSU, CDROM, and floppy), and then blew all the dust out of the CDROM that ultimately went in (found four bad ones besides which), the CD installed like a charm. Yay for me!

Perhaps this ought to be stickied?


You just made things easier for me Dngrs... I was planning to do this soon, to make future installs easier but also to make a BartPE disc.

Glad to be of help... and now Bart PE is my newest bookmark

Let me know if this is an interesting topic for everyone. I've been developing different ways of using this type of cd-rom for hundreds of different purposes. I'd be happy to expand on this a little if you'd like to see it. I also a load of other great resources you may be interested in. Post in this thread or PM me. If it's a hot topic maybe the admins will give us another section in the forums that we can dedicate to this.

I'm interested- I haven't actually built my slipstream disc or BartPE disc yet, so now's a great time to do some other things before I wipe that data out


If there's enough interest, I could sticky it. I'm interested to see more though.

Just finished a slipstream and compression of Office XP, I'll publish that one when I get time. I am also trying to squeeze both Microsquish products onto one CD... almost done with that.

It's taking me a while to get the unattended file done... lots of variables to deal with and still not solid on what will and won't be on the install disk.

So, needless to say, I have some interest.

You won't be able to get both on one CD, but you can get the core components of both. Not sure I'd recommend it though.

Don't miss this tutorial for creating unattended (or bootable) Windows XP CDs.

http://unattended.msfn.org/

I'm assuming this is for your own use, so if you have access to a DVD/RW drive, you could make a bootable DVD instead. Of course you could only boot it from a DVD drive.

And if you do get both on one CD, let me know how you did it

I'm also working on developing this technology for booting from USB storage devices, like thumdrives since they're so easy to carry.

You know, I was just wondering that this morning-- can one make a bootable thumb-drive. That could come in handy.

I did manage to get Office XP and XP Pro squeezed onto one disk... it was hard, an there's no room for anything else

So... I will probabbly do a PE setup which will copy a couple disks down to the HDD and unattended install from the hard drive.

Until I can scrape together enough $ to buy a DVD Burner, that is. Any recommendations on a decent, inexpensive burner?

I think it's possible to boot off of some USB devices, but there is little BIOS support for it, if any. I've hard it can be done though, but apparently there is another method for getting it to work? I'm glad you'v been coming around more often Nilpo

Cheap burners? Check out ComputerGeeks... I've seen them for under $25 (CD burners, DVD for under $45)- also, PM me regarding this.

I've read several interesting bits of info on bootable micro-linux distros based on Thumbdrives etc. Windows on one would be fascinating.


I'm still waiting for AMD and some mobo mfgr to work a joint venture whereby the ram is actually flash memory based (imagine how easy upgrading would be- you just need to able to define the flash memory as TRUE memory, not a separate drive or extra file space)- the technology is already partially in place since they use an on-board memory controller. Actually, someone might have done this- I've been pushing all my learning effort into enhanced cooling, so I'm a bit out of the tech loop.

Check out this link when you're ready to put together your unattended install.

http://unattended.msfn.org

Thanks Nilpo, that's where I started from when I decided to slipstream... great resource, there.