Windows XP has the ability to protect itself of 3rd party software. In Windows XP that is called Windows File Protection. Important part of Windows File Protection is the command line utility – “sfc /scannow” which you must run it from CD ROM. If you run “sfc /scannow” and get prompted to insert a CD, there are a couple of changes you might need to make to run it without CD ROM.

Slipstream your copy of WindowsXP with the latest service pack you have applied. For detailed unstructions on how to do this see: Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack : How to

Once these files are on your hard drive, you can simply make a few registry changes to point to those locations.

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to the follow locations and change the path to wherever you copied the source files.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Setup \ ServicePackSourcePath
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Setup \ SourcePath
the last one might not be necessary
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ SourcePath

3. Run “sfc /scannow” from Command Prompt (Start -> Run -> CMD)

Read more about SFC: http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

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