Slipstream Windows XP, 2000 and Server 2003 Service Packs into your CD/Network Install Media

This section provides guidance on how to cleanly and neatly integrate (slipstream) Microsoft Windows Service Packs into the windows installer without relying on third party software. This provides you the added benefit of installing Windows once with the Service Pack already applied (built-in)!

3 Main reasons to slipstream/integrate a Microsoft Windows Service Pack:

1. Speed. Windows Service Packs take a long time to download from Windows Update and take even longer to install. Downloading the full pack once to save mutliple downloads from Windows update in the future when you have to re-install will pay off almost as much as the time you save spending installing the service packs separately!
2. File Size. A Slipstreamed Windows Installation takes up less space on your hard disk once installed. When you install a service pack traditionally, it backs up the old files in Windows and saves them in uninstaller locations for restore. Between that and multiple hotfixes, separate installers etc. you waste space and clutter the system.
3. Security & Stability out the box. Windows with the latest Service Pack means you can install with the most up-to-date Operating System possible - so you can take advantage of the features immediately. Such as, Windows XP Firewall introduced in SP2, Server 2008 compatibility with Network Quarantine Services and High-Definition Audio support introduced in Service Pack 3!

<... See Related "Slipstreaming & Custom Installation Resources" for more tools.

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What you need:

1. Full Service Pack (Administrative Network Install version) Installer for the version of Windows you wish to update: Windows XP (Service Pack 3 - 316MB) / Windows 2000 (Service Pack 4 -129MB) / Windows Server 2003 (Service Pack 2 - 372MB);
2. Original Windows Installation CD Media (OEM or RETAIL);
3. Up to 1.2GB Hard Disk Space for the slipstream operation (this can be deleted after the guide);
4. 650MB space for Network Share or Local Folder to burn to a CD;
5. Optional CD-Burning software (such as Nero or Roxio) to burn to CD;

Step-by-Step Guide

1. First, copy the original Windows Installation CD to your hard disk. For Example, for Windows XP make a folder on your drive (e.g. C:\WindowsXP) and then insert the CD. Copy all of the contents of the CDROM to the folder. Using Windows Explorer is a simple way of doing this, or you can use the command line:
   
   md c:\WindowsCD
   xcopy X:\ c:\WindowsCD /e
   
   Assuming X:\ is your CD Drive Letter and you want it to your C Drive
2. Once you have downloaded the full network install (links above) of your Windows Service Pack (assuming they are in your C: Drive) run the following command to integrate them into your Windows Install Media folder (C:\WindowsCD):
   Windows XP Service Pack 3:
   C:\WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe  /integrate:C:\WindowsCD
   
   Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2:
   C:\WindowsServer2003-KB914961-SP2-x86-ENU.exe /integrate:C:\WindowsCD
   
   Windows 2000 Service Pack 4:
   C:\W2KSP4_EN.EXE /x
   For Windows 2000, this will extract the Servide Pack. Select in the Windows that opens up where to place the files (e.g. C:\Windows2000SP4) and then run:
   C:\Windows2000SP4\i386\Update\Update.exe -s:C:\WindowsCD

You can now deploy your Windows Installation to your users' computers from a shared distribution folder. However, if you'd like to place these new updated files on a CD, do the following:

1. Launch your CD Burning Software (this guide is based on NERO 7) and start a new Boot Data CD project. (See below):
   
2. In the "Image file" section, you need to select a Boot Loader file to make the CD bootable. If you don't do this, you can still install windows, but only on a PC with Windows already installed to be able to launch the setup installer. So, to make the CD boot straight after the BIOS to load the Windows Setup, specify your Boot.img file here. You can get these files by extracting them from your original Windows CD using ISO, or from Guru Guy: Windows XP/2003, Windows 2000;
3. In the "Advanced" section, you need to specify expert settings for the bootable image. We need to disable the "Floppy Emulation" and change the number of loaded sectors to "4":
   
4. Finally, drag all of the files and folders from your C:\WindowsCD folder to your CD Layout compilation. You should see a number of files and folders, including \I386.
5. Burn your CD and voila - you now have a new Windows Setup CD with the latest Service Pack integrated!

See Guru Guy's guide to slipstream Microsoft Office Service Packs...>
Slipstreaming & Custom Installation homepage

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