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One of the most common complaints that come up at Microsoft Connections & TS2 events that I present at is that Microsoft is not doing enough to help partners streamline the patch and upgrade process. What is interesting is that the slipstreaming process has been around for years but people rarely use it. If you are a system builder or just happen to reinstall Windows often, this should save you some time.
Slipstreaming is the process by which you can integrate the latest service packs into the Windows installation so that the newest service pack is installed at the same time as Windows. This will save you from going to Windows Update to download the latest service pack as well as the time needed to download and run the update. Slipstreaming process produces new media that can be used to install Windows.
Obtain the service pack
In order to create a new installation CD you must first obtain the latest service pack that you wish to integrate. Because the latest service pack rolls up previous updates (ie, includes all the previously released fixes) you only need to download the full network install. For the purposes of this guide, we will be using the English version of Network install available from Microsoft Download Center.
Download the service pack and save it in your C: directory.
Copy the retail CD
In order to create new media you need to copy the files from the original media (CD) that came with Windows XP when you purchased it. Insert the Windows XP Installation CD, Explore it, and copy all the contents to C:XPRetail
Integrate the service pack
Once the copy process has been completed you are ready to integrate the service pack into Windows XP. Drop to the command prompt (Start > Run > cmd) and navigate to the root of the C: drive where the Network Install of Windows XP SP2 was downloaded. To integrate the service pack simply type: WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU /integrate:C:XPRetail
The process of decompressing and integrating of the service pack will start and within a few seconds you will have a brand new WindowsXP SP2 CD.
Making it bootable
Before you can boot using this CD you need to strip the boot image off the Windows XP retail CD. The best priced (free) utility for this is IsoBuster. Open it up, select the drive holding the WindowsXP retail cd, select the Bootable CD folder and extract Microsoft Corporation.img file.
Burning the new media
You are now ready to burn the new media. Open up Nero and select a CD-ROM (Boot) compilation. Click on the Boot tab and select Image file. Click on Browse and navigate to the Microsoft Boot.img we stripped in the previous step. Make the rest of the settings same as below:
Finally, copy over the C:XPRetail directory structure onto the new CD and burn it.
Enjoy the new CD
That’s all there is to it. You are now a proud owner of a Windows XP SP2 CD. The next time you install Windows XP using this CD, Service Pack 2 will be integrated and you will get all the security advantages upon the first boot.
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