How To: Slipstream Windows XP SP3 and Vista SP1
Posted 07/01/08 at 11:30:27 AM by David Murphy
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1. Setting Up a Vista Slipstream Disc
Creating a Vista slipstream disc is much like creating one for XP. Download and fire up vLite, place your Vista disc in your optical drive, and select it as the source of your installation files. Once vLite has copied the files to a new location on your hard drive, click Next. The following screen lets you pick what you want to modify on the disc. We want to merge SP1 into the installation files, so click that option. But note that you have to do this before you run any tweaks or secondary modifications—this procedural matter is important enough that the program actually grays out any other customization options.
Click Next and you’ll be prompted to select the location of the SP1 executable (you can download it at http://tinyurl.com/2pj24b). Once you’ve done that, the program will automatically integrate the update into the Vista installation files. After 60 to 90 minutes of activity, you’ll have a slipstreamed Vista SP1 disc. And now you can begin to tweak it!
Click the Tasks tab and select all five boxes of optional tweaking pages, then click Next. The following Integration page is just like the one we described for nLite: You use the Hotfixes tab to add in any supplemental patches you’ve downloaded, the Drivers tab to include the latest drivers for your peripherals, and the new Language Pack page to—you guessed it—add additional language packs to the slipstreamed disc. Whatever you choose to do, you have to click the “enable” box before you start—the Insert option will be grayed out until you do so. When you’re done, hit Next.
2. Tweaking and Burning a Vista Slipstream Disc
In the Components window, you’re able to set the options you know you’ll be running in Vista, just so you don’t accidentally remove them with your component tweaking. Other than that, this process is exactly the same as it was for nLite. Go through the list of options and click those you’re sure you want to remove from the installation disc: Perhaps you don’t need Accessibility options, hate Vista’s built-in games, or want to nuke all the operating system’s multimedia functionality and install your own programs later. Once you’ve made your modifications, click Next.
The following Tweaks page gives you the chance to modify some of Vista’s more annoying features before you install the OS. The first thing we did was flip off the relentlessly nagging UAC option. We also adjusted our power scheme to high performance and tweaked our Explorer settings to our liking. We ended up ignoring the Services section, as there was nothing we felt needed editing—or rather, nothing we felt comfortable turning on or off. Tweak away and hit Next—you’re almost done!
Since we’re only testing a Vista slipstream disc, we opted to skip entering our product key on the Unattended Setup options page. But we did choose to accept the EULA and we made edits to the various name and network location options. And that’s it! Click Accept and select the imaging technique you want to use. The Rebuild One option saves you a ton of space, but you only get the tweaked operating system you selected in the beginning of the process. Rebuild All places all Vista versions on the disc, even the ones you haven’t tweaked the options for.
Make your choice: Burn or create an image of your slipstreamed disc, and you’re good to go!
Tracking
Submitted by PhoneyVirus on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 6:47pm
I got to make a new Slipstream with SP3 soon.
Slipstream Windows Server?
Submitted by MardeeT on Tue, 08/18/2009 - 2:31pm
Any reason this would or would not work for taking a Windows Server 2003 SP1 to SP2? This is pre RC for Windows Server 2003. We have the install disk for Server 2003, SP1 only. Whenever we create a physical server we have to update to SP2, patch like hell, and then we have an updated server. In the virtual world I created a template with SP2 installed, so that took care of that. Anyone done windows server?
Easy Way To Add Drivers
Submitted by BillBurn on Fri, 04/03/2009 - 3:39pm
This was incredibly easy to set-up, thanks Maximum PC!
Just a tip for others: An easy way to add all of your non-MS drivers is to first download a driver backup program , such as WinDriversBackup. These programs automatically create a folder of all the drivers specific to your system. You can then just point nlite to this folder when it asks you for system specific drivers. This is *a lot* easier than trying to find the drivers manually and results in an install with no unknown devices right off the bat.
WGA???
Submitted by bandeezee on Sun, 03/15/2009 - 7:23pm
I've tried nLite with a Windows XP Pro SP1 disc with SP3 slipstreamed and it works great on Virtualbox. What I haven't tried yet is slipstreaming all the hotfixes that come up after the install. I've been using WinUpdateList to show me what updates I've installed since the fresh OS install, but when it takes me to the Microsoft website there's nowhere to download the WGA file.
My question is do we have to slipstream WGA in order for the other hotfixes to install? Is there a way to slipstream the WGA files into our disc? I've been looking on the web and it gets pretty complex and involves add-ons like RyanVM, but I was hoping there was a way I could just do it with nLite.
Also, will there be any issues if the hotfixes that you usually download after you verify your windows is Genuine are installed and then you install WGA? Will the installs fail because you haven't installed WGA yet?
Sorry, many questions, but main one is do you have to slipstream WGA and if you do, how do you do it using nLite? I guess I could test and see, but I didn't want to waste a bunch of time if someone out there already had an answer. Thanks in advance =)
Submitted by lorencel on Sat, 01/17/2009 - 8:31pm
would this work with full home premium x64 + ultimate x64 upgrade? I use those 2 dvds whenever i restore my comp.
Submitted by lorencel on Sat, 01/17/2009 - 8:31pm
would this work with full home premium x64 + ultimate x64 upgrade? I use those 2 dvds whenever i restore my comp.
i'm a little lost(nothing
Submitted by pfm069 on Tue, 12/30/2008 - 8:41am
i'm a little lost(nothing new)but how would i turn ..say "whats Running"into a add-on !!??(for nlite)
Submitted by yr on Thu, 01/08/2009 - 5:54pm
google nlite addon and several choices will pop up. With these programs you can create an add-on that nlite will treat just like a windows update and it will install at the end of the Windows installation. If you don't use command line to set up a silent setup, the installation's install will be shown near the end of the windows install and you would install the program as you would on an already installed windows.
Nlite and Mac
Submitted by Aspra on Sun, 11/02/2008 - 6:47am
How would a nLite disc of WinXP Sp2 do with installing it with bootcamp? I only have a sp1 disc so I was think of making a Sp2(or 3 if mac allows it) version of XP.
Submitted by yr on Mon, 10/06/2008 - 3:36pm
I find it CRAZY ANNOYING having to reinstall every program every time I reinstall.
There are programs that turn ANY programs into add-ons for nlite and vlite. You can then add ANY program that you want to your install. Here are a few that I added (ALL FREEWARE):
- dotnet 1,2 & 3
- firefox
- Ccleaner
- Open office
- 7zip
- ImgBurn
- Exact Audio Copy
- Media Player Classic / Real Alternative
- FFDshow
You can make add-ons for almost ANY program. THIS is for power users!
I wish that the magazine would cover this, instead of just the basic slipstream.
Submitted by gothliciouz on Sat, 12/06/2008 - 11:09am
may we know what is the name of this " power users programs"
Submitted by sinless on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 12:59am
You said smtgh about a program which slipstreams anything ... which one ?
Submitted by n0ukf on Wed, 09/10/2008 - 5:37pm
Your article talks about using this process for XP Pro and Vista Home, but what about XP home? Is anything significantly different or will the same process work without changes?
Appearantly so…
Submitted by B5Freak on Sun, 04/12/2009 - 8:39am
At least I proceeded that way on the assumption that the SP3 download that the article tells you to download is actually good for Home as well Pro, and I had no problems during the slipstream process. However, I haven't actually tested the ISO that nLite produced yet, as I haven't had need to nuke the current install I have on my rig, and don't yet have a test rig to experiment with. If I do get a chance to test it out, I'll update this comment with the result.
UPDATE: I recently used the DVD I burned the ISO to in order to do a clean install and it worked flawlessly.
"I know what I know because I have to know it, and if I don't have to know it, I don't tell me and I don't let anyone else tell me either."
Michael Garibaldi, Babylon 5, 2259
Submitted by sfhassan on Sat, 10/17/2009 - 9:07pm
i read this blog thoroughly, nobody has answered if x64 can be slipstreamed. I have a dell XPS 710 and i am looking for someone who has installed XP 64bit successfully.
Submitted by darkagetech on Mon, 09/01/2008 - 1:44pm
If you have a copy of XP that is pre SP1 and wish to create a slip streamed install you do not need to prep the image you create with SP1. The full installer package for SP3 that you download from the provided link in the article is a cumulitive update and contains the previous service packs.
I do how ever have one question. Does any one responding to this article know how to do an "old school" slipstream with out using nLight.
Hope this helps clear up some of your confusion.
Slipstream SP3 into SP0 Disk
Submitted by nsvander on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 12:05am
I saw that there was a lot of talk about slipstreaming SP3 into a SP0 disk. Well I just did it a few minutes ago, and installed the system with it, and it works flawless.
Also in about how to do the old school slipstream, you download the service pack, copy the contents of a XP CD to a folder, ie X:\XP-CD, and to to run type: "X:\WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe -x"
That will extract all the files, it should prompt you to create a directory.
Then open command prompt and type and make your way to the location of the above extracted file then type:
"WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe /integrate:X:\XP-CD"
where X:\XP-CD is the location you copied the contents of your cd to.
Submitted by Tim920810124 on Sun, 08/24/2008 - 8:12am
How did you extract the driver's .exe file?
Submitted by B5Freak on Tue, 10/14/2008 - 4:57pm
I don't know how he did it, but I can tell you how I did. Go ahead and start the .exe and when the installer asks where to extract the files, either note the default location or specify where you want them to go & click the 'Next' button. The installer will then extract the files there. Then when the installer continues to actually installing the drivers, cancel the install. The files that were extracted will still be in the folder that was created. Now, point nLite to that folder (drill down to the last folder in the nest to be certain that the .inf file is found by nLite), choose the one .inf file that shows up, and voila… you have just integrated your Nvidia driver into the slipstream!
"I know what I know because I have to know it, and if I don't have to know it, I don't tell me and I don't let anyone else tell me either."
Michael Garibaldi, Babylon 5, 2259
Fantastic!
Submitted by icebird on Wed, 08/06/2008 - 10:27am
Great article! Things like this are the reason I subscribe to MPC. I wiped out my pc last weekend and used nlite to reload XP and it was so fast and convenient!
K
Submitted by Danimal on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 6:17pm
Your article seems easy until you try to follow it. Download & fire up vlite is not that easy. Vlite downloads and installs PARTIALLY. you left out the fact that the WIM Filter needs to be installed... That cannot be installed until WAIK is downloaded and installed. It is an ISO file????!!! How about giving us instructions for these steps?
Submitted by noeltb1775 on Sun, 07/27/2008 - 8:52pm
I've done a run through with nlite to create a new install disk, however as I have an older motherboard (Asus A8N32 SLI), I needed to install RAID drivers during the initial build. Are you able to slipsteam in the drivers as well, or do you still need to load them during installation?
Vista sp1 slipstream, HUH?
Submitted by M1K3Z0R on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 4:52pm
from what Ihave heard SP1 slipstreams are very messy, its not as straightforward as XP and according to http://blogs.technet.com/kevinremde/archive/2008/02/09/i-can-t-do-what-why-can-t-i-create-my-own-slipstreamed-installation-of-windows-vista-sp1.aspx you cant?
Anything's Hot Swappable if you're fast enough...
Submitted by watuzi on Mon, 07/07/2008 - 8:53am
This is a very nice project to do. Can I try to install this using VMware? I just wanna know if it works or not without reinstalling it on my real PC.
Submitted by vintagegold on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 5:15pm
I'm with shadowmaster on this one - I have my original XP Installation CD that has no previous service packs with it. My understanding is that the previous service packs need to be installed before you can install SP3, so what can be done to get those bundled in there, too?
VintageGold
They say the best things in life are free, but are all free things the best?
Submitted by M1K3Z0R on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 4:48pm
From my understanding, service packs are cumulative, so latest SP should have all the updates included in previous ones. I recall installing service pack 4 on a clean windows 2000 install, as well as SP2 on an original XP install.
Anything's Hot Swappable if you're fast enough...
As I mentioned below, I
Submitted by TheMurph on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 12:52am
As I mentioned below, I believe this is incorrect. You can slap SP3 onto a fresh installation of Windows XP. At least, unless I was using a slipstreamed disc myself, I just did this the other day. Let me try this out Thursday and get back to you, but all signs (and my experience) leads me to believe that SP3 does not require the installation of SP1 or SP2. The release candidate for SP3 required SP1, which might explain the confusion.
Submitted by alan6288 on Sat, 08/02/2008 - 4:28pm
Can you slip stream xp and vista x64.
Submitted by vintagegold on Mon, 07/14/2008 - 2:06pm
This Microsoft Tech Net article indicates you need SP2 installed before doing SP3.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/cc164204.aspx#1
To install SP3, your computer must meet the hardware and operating
system requirements listed below. In addition, your computer must at
least be running Windows XP with Service Pack 1 installed.We recommended that you have Service Pack 2 installed before installing SP3. You can download Service Pack 2 at the Windows XP Service Pack 2 website.
Is this information just old an outdated?
Is this thing on?
Submitted by scushn8r on Thu, 07/10/2008 - 11:00am
I don't believe you've had to have previous service packs installed since NT 4.0. You can go straight from an original unService Packed disk to putting SP3 on it.
These instructions work great. I created my slipstreamed disk with an un-SP'd CD and SP3 in 20 minutes. I am using it to install XP Pro SP3 on my ASUS Eee right now.
Thanks Murph.
Hey
Submitted by Techrocket9 on Tue, 07/01/2008 - 10:21am
Could the author of this article help with the similar problem at:
http://www.maximumpc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=78963
Submitted by shadowmaster on Wed, 07/02/2008 - 3:45pm
I
have XP installation disc here since my computer is old, the XP
available here is service pack 0. but Sevice pack 3 requires at least
service pack 1. How can i both slipstream service pack 1 and 3 at the
same time?
Submitted by TheMurph on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 12:49am
Are you sure SP3 requires SP1? Looking at the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, SP3 is supported on Windows XP, Windows SP1, and Windows SP2. In fact, I'm quite confident I just slapped SP3 on a fresh Windows XP installation in the Lab the other day.
Suffice, if your computer demands you use SP1 for some reason, here's how you slipstream both. First, use nLite to add SP1 to your standard Windows installation files. Don't make any other configuration changes, just follow the above directions and install the SP1 upgrade instead of the SP3 upgrade. That's it. Use this to create an .iso of your installation CD.
Once you've done that, fire up nLite again. Instead of targetting your original (in this case, SP0) Windows CD, target the .iso. You can do this either by mounting the file in a program like Daemon Tools or just burning the image to a CD. Now slap SP3 on using the guide you've just read, and feel free to make any changes as necessary.
In short, you're doing this guide twice. The first time, you're just making an SP1 disc. The second time, you're making your SP3 disc along with your requisite modifications.
First and foremost, MaxPC
Submitted by kleinkinstein on Tue, 07/01/2008 - 9:11am
First and foremost, MaxPC should have a dedicated "How-To" board on their forum. Their are all sorts of invaluable how-to's from users and their does not exist an appropriate repository to share (and improve). Second, slipstreaming is perhaps one of the most useful how-to's. For a similiar XP+SP3 how-to with a bit more meat click here, http://lifehacker.com/386526/slipstream-service-pack-3-into-your-windows-xp-installation-cd and also here, http://www.howtohaven.com/system/slipstream-xp-service-pack-3.shtml.
For slipstreaming up to Acrobat 8.1.2 see here, http://www.maximumpc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=78663.
there is.. sort of
Submitted by whisp on Tue, 07/01/2008 - 10:27am
http://www.maximumpc.com/forums/index.php?c=9&sid=666616846cc90edf558e2813c370833a
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