How to: Make WinXP with SP3 Setup CD
Through
Microsoft Help Groups I found a way to make a
Windows XP with SP3 boot Setup CD [grin removed!]
Why do you need one? There are various functions in
Windows XP that if you use them will ask you to mount your Setup CD, but it will ask for the SP3 version
IF you have SP3 installed.
The utility you need is
nLite 1.4.7 (for personal use only, see EULA)
The site has a guide and download.
WARNING - The downloads from the
nLite site
seemed to be corrupted, the installs did not work. Also, the online instructions are for an older version but still apply.
But I did find an alternative download site where the
nLite 1.4.7 Installer DID work, from
Softpedia.
nLite will not only slipstream SP3 into your original copy of
Windows XP, but includes the ability to tweak configuration settings so the install will look like you want it to. Just some of the tweaks are; screen resolution, classic menu & Explorer look, pre-setting your
[Start] menu options, PRE-ENTERING your Windows XP KEY, and disabling the Windows Tour. refered to by Nlite as the "OOBE" (Out of Body Experience).
nLite is very easy to use IF you are familiar with the ins-and-outs of
Windows XP.
What you'll need:
- Windows XP installed on your system [of course removed as felt unnessecary in this situation]
- Your original Windows XP Setup CD and Product Key
- Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 installed
- A copy of SP3 update
- At least 2GB of free hard drive space (they say 1GB but that's pushing the limits). Note, the ISO file and the contents of the source folder (Setup CD contents, do not remove the folder itself) may be removed after you have your new Windows XP w/SP3 CD.
- A CD-ROM CD-R drive, and you may need a DVD-R drive if the ISO file created by nLite is greater than 700mb CD limit
Make sure you read and follow the online instructions, suggest you print the pages.
NOTES:
As said before, the online instructions are for version 1 of nLite, so the screenshots will not match, but the steps are still applicable. Especially note the creation of the destination folder (where
nLite will copy your Setup CD)
prior to starting
nLite.
If you are slipstreaming SP3, you should
SKIP the hotfix steps. SP3 rolls-up all previous
Windows XP updates.
The online instructions do not mention that you can add any personal addons (installers for
applications/utilities) to the CD. But careful if you do NOT have a DVD writer since this may make the ISO file greater than 700mb CD limit. I added the .NET Framework 2.0 installer, Adobe Reader, and a few other utilities I wanted handy if I use my new
Windows XP Pro with SP3 Setup CD.
nLite 1.4.7 does have a note about when to add your own addon, just prior to making the ISO image.
The "Unattend" step in
nLite is where you can tweak your new Setup, including entering your
Windows XP KEY, "
Skip OOBE" and much more.
The very last step creates a bootable ISO image that can be written to a blank CD-R or DVD-R.
nLite 1.4.7 also includes writing the ISO image for those who do not have their own CD/DVD writing utility.
[Last paragraph removed as it was considered too much like a review, which is not the aim of our articles]