Fix, Recover, Restore and Repair Windows XP - Slipstreaming Windows XP/Vista: How to create a Windows XP/Windows Vista installation CD/DVD containing the service packs and missing drivers

Slipstreaming Windows XP/Vista: How to create a Windows XP/Windows Vista installation CD/DVD containing the service packs and missing drivers

Read How to create a boot (startup) CD for Windows XP at the top of this page for information on how to create a startup CD (not a Windows XP installation CD) that allows you to access the system without using the existing installation of Windows XP.

Many websites provide illustrated information on how to copy the contents of a Windows XP installation CD, which could be the original version, or the updated Windows XP SP2 version, to a folder on a computer's hard disk drive, add the missing service packs, and edit the configuration files. The process is called slipstreaming. If you have a Windows XP SP2 installation CD, you can use the method to add Service Pack 3 (SP3) to its files, which includes all of the security updates up to the date on which SP3 was finalised. You ca also add the SATA drivers. The missing updates can then be added by visiting Windows Update after Windows XP SP3 has been installed from the CD that is created in the process.

A utility/tool called nLite from http://www.nliteos.com/ makes the process of slipsteaming fairly easy.

Note that you can also use it to create a copy of Windows XP minus unwanted components.

To use nLite, copy the entire contents of the Windows XP CD that you want updated with service packs into a folder of its own that you can create by making use of Windows Explorer, which can be opened by right-clicking Start => Explore. You can then select a drive letter or an existing folder in which to create a folder and then click File => New => Folder. An unnamed folder then appears where you want it and you have to give it a name, such as SlipsteamingXP.

If you intend to use the slipstreamed CD/DVD install Windows XP on a computer with an SATA hard disk drive that has no floppy disk drive, you must copy the driver files for the SATA controller to the folder. Make sure that you obtain the 'Text mode' drivers, because the Plug and Play (PnP) drivers you would use to add hardware to an existing installation of Windows XP can't be used. The following page provides information on how to obtain the correct SATA drivers.

Making and Customizing an Unattended Windows Install CD [DVD] -

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Guides/windowscustomization1/11.html

If you want to slipsteam SP3, use an SP3 CD/DVD, or the Network Installation Package, which is intended for corporate installations, because the standard version only includes a program that downloads the files in order to install them on an existing installation of Windows XP.

You can download the network package here:

Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers -

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?...

nLite has some unnecessary options, so some of the screens can be skipped. Run the program and select the language you want to use. Next, locate the folder that contains the copy of the installation Windows CD/DVD.

Going past the Presets screen brings you to the main Task Selection screen. The Integrate Service Pack, Integrate HotFixes, and Integrate Drivers are the ones that most people want to use. There are other options that are just as self-explanatory. Note, however, that if you add a driver for your SATA, RAID or some other unsupported hard-drive controller, you have to choose the text-mode drivers option.

Now you can choose to create an ISO image, which can be used to burn a bootable CD by using disc-burning software's option to burn an image, or burn directly to a CD/DVD, which is probably the best option.

If you need more information on selecting an SATA driver, the following page provides a step-by-step example.

Slipstreaming SATA driver into WinXp boot cd using nLite -

http://maxeasyguide.blogspot.com/2008/04/preparations-for-winxp-installation-cd.html

Slipsteaming the Windows Vista installation DVD with Service Pack 1 (SP1)

The above information is also applicable to slipsteaming Windows Vista with the Service Pack 1 (SP1), which was the only service pack available at the time of writing. However, you have to use vLite from http://www.vlite.net/.

If you require an illustrated do-it-yourself guide, enter slipsteaming windows vista in the Google search box at the top of this page (with its Web radio button enabled).

CONTENTS OF RECOVERING AND REPAIRING WINDOWS XP

Click the relevant link to go to that information

Introduction: Recovering and repairing Windows XP

Methods of recovering Windows XP

System Restore

How to create a boot (startup) CD/DVD for Windows XP

How to find out the cause of a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) error message - Shutdown and reboot in Windows 2000, XP and Vista

How to perform a repair installation/install of Windows XP

Recovery by reinstalling Windows XP over itself and the consequences of so doing

Using the Recovery Console and the CHKDSK Hard-disk-drive Diagnostic Tool/Utility

How to use the Recovery Console to restore a corrupt Windows XP Registry when the PC/computer won't even boot into Safe Mode

Copying files and making backups: Using the Xcopy and Robocopy commands from the Command Prompt in Windows XP and Windows Vista