Windows xp service pack 3 slipstreaming guide

Windows XP service pack 3 can be downloaded directly from Microsoft. EXE" at the top level of drive C:. Actually, you can save it anywhere you want, and leave it at its default name if you wish. If you save it as some other name, you will have to change the command lines I supply below yourself to the appropriate one. Note : if you did not configure Windows to show you the full filename you should probably do so before changing the name of the file.

Otherwise, you may be inadvertently saving the file as "XPSP3. EXE" without your knowing. That is, you see the filename as "XPSP3. You can either extract it from your CD yourself, or just download a boot sector already extracted by others. To save myself some time describing the procedure for extracting the boot sector, this tutorial will just use the same method mentioned in my guide to create your own XP setup disk. That is, download the file wxp Update : the site mentioned in the previous paragraph is no longer available, and I don't know any reliable alternative locations that provide the wxp When you've got the file, open it by doubleclicking it in Windows explorer.

Go into the "cds" folder and into "wxphome" or "wxppro"; it doesn't matter which folder, followed finally by the "files" directory. Drag the "w2ksect. Don't get creative and place it in some other directory. Create a temporary folder for the integration to take place. To create a folder, open "My Computer", go to drive C:, right click somewhere in the window and select "New" followed by "Folder" in the menu that appears. Put your existing XP setup CD into your drive.

If the setup wizard appears, dismiss it. Open a command prompt window. You can do this by running the program "Command Prompt", found in the Accessories folder of your Start menu. From the command prompt window, which will be a black window with a blinking cursor, type the following, followed by the ENTER key. If you did not name the service pack "XPSP3.

This completes the slipstreaming part of the tutorial. If you have not downloaded ImgBurn, get it now and install it. You will find it listed on thefreecountry. Save the file as " xpsp3. Do not add or delete anything from the file.

Start ImgBurn. Select "Mode Build" from the menu. That is, click the "Mode" menu, and select the "Build" item on the menu that appears.

Then, select "File Load Project". Look for the xpsp3. This makes it worthwhile for everybody with an older CD to do and is quite easy only taking a few minutes. Here are 2 ways to integrate the Service pack, the first using the Command Prompt, and the second through the excellent slipstreaming tool nLite.

If you are not a fan of using the Command Prompt or like an easy life, try the nLite method below. Please do NOT use spaces in the folder names! Download nLite and install then run it. Alternatively you can download and run the portable version. At the screen to locate the Windows installation, Click Browse and point to the folder containing the files copied off the CD eg.

All you need to do here is press the Select button and point to the Service Pack executable. The slipstream will then proceed. When the process completes, you should get a confirmation. This Service Pack cannot be integrated into a destination that also has integrated Software Updates. Consult the Service Pack documentation for more details about supported integration scenarios. This is caused by the fact that your Windows XP CD contains updates that will be automatically installed when you run setup.

You cannot use this type of CD to create a slipstreamed SP3 install, only the standard untouched discs as they came from Microsoft are fully compatible. Burning the files back to a bootable CD is incredibly easy thanks again to nLite. All you have to do is click a few buttons!