With slipstreaming, you can keep an OS image reasonably up-to-date and keep post-install updates to a minimum. Microsoft uses this process to create updated integrated installation media of its own each time a Windows service pack is released. So, you can use slipstreaming disk to prune all the unnecessary applications and features, customize the desktop, set up user accounts and install needed drivers, in three words –“have fresh OS install” without millions of updates to install, after the OS install.

Slipstreaming process (can be used for SP2 or SP3):

Download the Service Pack:

1. Download the latest Service Pack from Microsoft’s web site.
2. This will typically be one large executable file.
3. Run the executable with a -x at the end.
   “xpsp3.exe -x” – no quotes (name of the file has variations, anyway, use the correct name of the file, in my case: windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu.exe )
4. It will first verify the integrity of the file.
5. Then you will be prompted for a location to extract the Service Pack.
6. For the example, use c:\xp_sp3
7. Click on OK when the extraction is complete

Copying the Source Files

1. If your WindowsXP source files are already on the computer’s hard drive you can skip this section.
2. Insert your WindowsXP CD
3. If prompted, do not install WindowsXP
4. Create a directory on the hard drive and copy the entire contents of the CD to that directory
5. For example, use c:\winxp

Performing the SlipStream

1. Given the previous examples, go to the c:\xp_sp3\i386\update directory
2. Run: update.exe -S:c:\winxp
3. When it is finished, you will see the message The Integrated install has completed successfully
4. You can now copy the c:\winxp directory to a CD or other location.
5. If you need to make a bootable CD ROM, there are other locations on the Internet with good detailed instructions.

Tags | Howto, Tips and Tricks, Windows, Windows XP