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duke7 
Member
Registration Date: 10-23-2003
Member #: 541
Location: EGYPT
Level: 20 [?]
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Next Level: 29,658
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 SlipSTreaming XP_SP2 & THOUGHTS ( UPDATED August 11th ) |
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Now that Service Pack 2 (SP2) has been released (About to) for Windows
XP a lot of people have been updating their systems. In fact, a lot
have been doing clean installations followed immediately by applying
SP2 to eliminate much of the garbage that has collected over the past
year of using XP. There really isn't a downside to reformatting and
doing a clean install, but if there was one I suppose it could be that
the installation of SP2 might be quite time consuming, especially if
you do it through Windows Update. However, there is a way to reduce
this time expenditure.
If you fall into the category of users that frequently reformat their
systems and clean install XP from the CD then creating a slipstreamed
version of XP/SP2 can be a huge time saver. You invest the time once
and then on subsequent reinstalls you avoid bringing XP up to SP2 speed
via Windows Update downloads and installations. You will still have to
get the post SP2 updates from Windows Update, but the time saved will
still be worthwhile.
There are a few essential items necessary to successfully create the slipstreamed CD. You will need:
The original Windows XP installation CD ROM ( Preferably A Corporate Edition)
Note \ it doesn’t matter if you slipstreamed a normal xp version or xp
with sp1 (By MS OR Slipstreamed before) one At the end you’ll always
come out with a XP\ SP2 CD rom.
The new CD can be created from either the Home or Professional version
of Windows XP. If your computer came with an OEM version of XP it can
also be used.
Windows XP Service Pack 2 - It will be necessary to either download SP2
or obtain it on CD. To slipstream, you need the full SP2 which is a
265MB( RTM Version) download from forum or wait till it’s officially on
Microsoft site.
CD Creation Software - A burning program for your CD-R or CD-RW drive
that allows creating bootable CD's. Unfortunately, while XP does come
with the capability to burn CD's built in, the software it uses is not
suitable for this task. Since the majority I know seem to be using Nero
Burning Rom I've used it in the tutorial, but the instructions can be
adapted to other burning software.
ISO Buster - Used to extract the boot loader image file for the Bootable CD. It's a free download (free to try ware)
Building Directories
The first step is to build a directory structure to hold the files that
will be used in the CD creation process. It's a simple structure,
requiring nothing more than a main folder with three sub-folders. It
doesn't matter what names you use for your structure or where you
locate them on your hard drive, but most users find drive C the
easiest. I used the structure shown below, located on Drive C:\ .
Create whatever folders you are comfortable with or use the ones below
if you want to cut and paste commands later in the tutorial. Whatever
your choice, it's the relationship between the components that's
important, not the naming of the parts.
Main Folder: XP-SS [Located on Drive C]
Sub-Folder: SS-Boot
Sub-Folder: SS-Root
Sub-Folder: SS-XP2
Copying and Extracting Files
The first step is to insert the Windows XP CD and copy the entire
contents into the SS-Root folder or the equivalent folder in your
structure.
Before copying the XP CD make sure that the system is set to display
all hidden and system files to ensure a complete copy of all files on
the CD. The settings to control what files are visible are located in
Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options > View tab. Make
sure [Show hidden files and folders] radio button is selected and [Hide
protected operating system files] is unchecked.
The second step is to navigate to where you downloaded the Service pack
2 file. If you downloaded SP2 from Microsoft it should be named
xpsp2_en_x86.exe.
The current RTM version named \ xpsp2_RTM_ENU.exe. Copy the file to the
XP-SS folder and then rename it to xp-sp2.exe after the copy operation
completes.
(If you are using the CD of SP1 the files should already be extracted. Copy them into the XP-SS folder)
Use the Run dialogue shown below to extract the contents of the Service Pack to the previously created SS-XP2 folder.
The Run dialogue box is accessed from [Start] [Run]
The command to begin the extraction is: C:\XP-SS\XP-SP2.EXE -U -X:C:\XP-SS\SS-XP2
Apply the extracted Service Pack 2 to Windows XP in the SS-Root folder using the [Run] dialogue box.
The Run dialogue box is accessed from [Start] [Run]
The command to apply the Service Pack is:
C:\XP-SS\SS-XP2\i386\update\Update.exe -S:C:\XP-SS\SS-Root
The Service Pack 2 is being integrated into the Windows installation folder.
Then
Successful completion of the integration process.
In order to make the new CD bootable it's necessary to add the file
Microsoft Corporation.img to the folder SS-Boot we created earlier.
There are a number of ways to do this but the easiest is to use ISO
Buster. With the Windows XP CD in your CD drive,( Or Any Bootable Win
Xp Version You Might Have) open ISO Buster. Click on Bootable CD in the
left pane then right click ( Microsoft Computing.img )( IF Its Not The
MS Original CD The Boot File Name Might Any Thing Else The Most Common
IS ( Arnes Boot Record.img ) so any way we’ll use the (*.img file) in
the right pane,
finally right clicking Extract Microsoft Corporation.img file. (Extrack To SS-Boot Folder)
Setting Up The Nero Burning Rom Software
Depending on how you have Nero configured it may open to a wizard that
offers a number of screens to walk you through the process of selecting
the type of CD to be created. If the wizard does appear, close it so
the main Nero application loads
Select [File] [New...] from the menu bar.
The New Compilation window will open.
In the left column, select “CD-ROM (Boot)” then select the Boot tab
In [Source of Boot Image Data] section, select the [Image File] radio button.
Use the [Browse] button to navigate to the C:\XP-SS\SS-BOOT folder and
select MicrosoftCorporation.img file ( it ill be asking for A “*.ima
File Put the last scroller down on ( all files (*.*) ) and choose the
*. Img file we extracted earlier (it will work fine).
Make sure the [Enable Expert Settings] box is checked.
Set [Kind of Emulation] to No Emulation
Set [Load Segment of Sectors] to 07C0
Set [Number of Loaded Sectors] to 4 (Failing to set this to 4 will make the CD unbootable)
Once the settings are in place, switch to the ISO tab
ISO Tab
Select them as follows
File Name Length ( Max Of 31 Chars ( ISO Level 2)
Format mode 1
Character Set Iso 9660
And then make sure all the other options are checked
Very Important Note
In the [Relax ISO Restrictions] section it's essential you check the
[Do Not Add the ';1' ISO File Version Extension] checkbox or the
slipstreamed CD will not be able to boot. If this option is not
available on the ISO tab, you must stop now and upgrade to a newer
version of Nero - Burning Rom before proceeding.
The Label Tab
I've never had a problem with any of the slipstreamed CD's I've created
by using a Volume Label different from the label that is provided for
Windows XP home and Professional version CD's. However, if you prefer,
set a Volume Label consistent with the original XP CD. The official
labels are listed below.
Set the [Volume Label] field depending on your Windows XP version.
If you have Windows XP Professional enter WXPCCP_EN
If you have Windows XP Home enter WXHCCP_EN
If you have Windows XP Professional OEM enter WXPOEM_EN
If you have Windows XP Home OEM enter WXHOEM_EN
With SP2
Set the [Volume Label] field depending on your Windows XP version.
If you have Windows XP Professional enter WXPCCP_SP2_EN
If you have Windows XP Home enter WXHCCP_ SP2_EN
If you have Windows XP Professional OEM enter WXPOEM_ SP2_EN
If you have Windows XP Home OEM enter WXHOEM_ SP2_EN
Once the Volume Label has been set, click the [Burn] tab to open the window where the basic burn parameters will be selected.
The Burn Tab
Make sure the [Write] and [Finalize CD] options are checked in the
Action section of the Burn tab and that the proper [Write Speed] has
been selected for your burner. The [Write Method] should be set to
Disc-At-Once. If you want more than one copy of the CD, enter a new
value in [Number of Copies].
Once the burn options have been set, click the [New] button to open the
window where the files to be added to the CD will be selected.
Adding The Files To Be Copied
Clicking the [New] button in the previous step opens the Nero - Burning
Rom - ISO1 window that's divided into two distinct sections; ISO1 and
File Browser.
In the File Browser window, navigate to SS-Root or your equivalent
folder. Click on the first file in the list, hold down the Shift key
and click on the last file in the list to select all the files and
folders in the C:\XP-SS\SS-Root folder.
Drag and drop the selected files to the ISO1 window.
Press the [Burn] icon on the menu bar to open the Write CD window. the
[Burn] icon is the ninth one from the left in the menu bar.
(Important Important Important )
When you press burn the previous setting window will appear before you
press burn button in the right go back to the boot tab and make sure of
the following one more time
*Make sure the [Enable Expert Settings] box is checked.
*Set [Kind of Emulation] to No Emulation
*Set [Load Segment of Sectors] to 07C0
*Set [Number of Loaded Sectors] to 4 (Failing to set this to 4 will make the CD unbootable)
Nero will by default disable them so make sure there set right
Its better of you reviewed the rest of the settings as will
Burning XP,
The Write CD screen allows visual monitoring of the burning process. A
few notes are in order relating to insuring a successful burn.
Before you start the burning process close all other programs. Burning
a CD can be very processor and memory intensive and there is no sense
in taxing the system more than necessary.
If you use a screensaver, disable it before the burning process as an
extra precaution. The same applies to your anti virus software if it
starts scans or updates automatically.
How long the burning process takes will vary widely depending on your
system and the CD burner speed. It may not appear like anything is
happening at times, but be patient and more than likely all will be
fine.
If the burn does fail, especially because of a buffer problem, reduce the speed of the burn and try again.
Thoughts 1
AN (at least in my opinion) A worth to try Update
I’m still Checking the version & configuration Updates and new Added stuff
but the first thing to notice is the security box Which they claim has a powerful
1-firewall 2- a virus protection method!!!( it automatically detect your anti-virus)and report its status
another update is ( a Wireless Network Setup Wizard )Didn't try yet(maybe because have no wireless connection)
a new online and automatic update system (looks fine) i don't know how good its!
Thoughts 2
Worm viruses and security issues made Microsoft paranoid about every thing
In sp2 there’s almost a security something for every task
1-Installing a new device
Now xp prompts to with 3 option to check drivers online (windows Update site)
Or to not
2-System properties hardware pane has little changes as will ( added A widows Update tab there
3-The Auto Update tab (They Change How it looks)
4-The advanced tab\ setting button (a new tab added it’s called
“ Data Execution Prevention “ (DEP) Helps to protect against damage
from viruses and other security threats ( so says Microsoft). Ad it’s a
service turned on by default. With 2 options
A- Microsoft essential progs (default)
B- all Progs
5-Security center A Microsoft (mostly Monitoring tool) Included
A- Firewall Monitoring (Windows Firewall And Others Installed) ON by Default
B- Automatic Update (checks and monitors Automatic Updated ) You’ll be
asked After Installation whether on or of(and it will bug you to turn
it on
C- Virus Protection ( detects Your Anti-virus And report Its Status
6-An integrated pop-up blocker
7- Improved Win FireWall ( On by default )
8- Wireless Network Setup Wizard ( I didn’t use it but a friend told me that this is a great improvement !!!) I’ll find out more
9- in control panel \ internet options\ privacy tab\ The Pop-up Blocker Options Added ( on By Default )
During and After installation it removes all the previous updates on add\remove and only Sp2 is there
10- The Sp2 & the SlipSTreamed Version(if you made one) Install both windows media Player 9 And DirectX 9.0c
Note \ Installing Over previous updates (previously updated "patched"
WINDOWS might IN SOME CAASES cause problems To the extend of windows
not able to start
this happens because of some users disabling some services in windows...
Problems Reported :
1- Errors on right clicks (shell menu)
2- Errors while trying to copy exe files (widows fatal error)
3- Errors installing device drivers ( for those who disable Printer
Spooler Service) Don't do it unless you know what you're doing
4- windows not able to start fatal error ( it's because of disabling
more that 5 essential services for xp so while trying to access the
service t update it encounters error because of it'd disable
Please for now don't try to tweak xp with software’s like (Tweak xp
pro...etc) Unless it's mentioned on there site that they support SP2
this will be proven fatal to your system...
Hopefully i'll add more soon ( what to disable and what not on win xp +sp2 )
Plus I’m Not 100% sure of this yet But overall I think it’s a little
resources consuming but it improves the performance noticeably
I think that P3 owners or AMD k6 (1.2 – 1.4) Owners have to know it will slow you down a little
As will reported some issues with XP Home Edition OEM Versions
The Sp2 Can BE Slip Streamed over any version Of xp And slipstream it
on a xp with sp1 will do because it contains all the updates required
The final size of the Slipstreamed version CD is 589 MB ( Dear
daffyduck73 It replaces the files so no extra space is taken (mostly).
(I Recomend Installing a slipstreamed version Or A fresh Copy Then Sp2)
If you have any question please ask or pm
Take Care
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This post has been edited 5 time(s), it was last edited by duke7 on 08-11-2004 01:32.
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08-09-2004 03:38 |
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SailCat
Contributor
Registration Date: 10-23-2003
Member #: 1303
Location: Left Coast, USA
Level: 14 [?]
Experience: 4,505
Next Level: 5,517
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Thanks for the offer to share slipstreaming information, duke7. I've
never done it myself and with SP2 available, it might be a good time to
post a tutorial.
I'm gonna 'wait & see' what user's experiences are with the new
Service Pack. Figure I'll put on my wife's computer as a trial and to
play with configuration; I need mine daily.
Anybody else installed the final build, yet?
~SC
__________________
"We cannot love or hate something until we've understood it." - Leonardo da Vinci
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08-09-2004 04:13 |
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