Slipstreaming Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4

a) Create a new directory on your Hard Drive (this example uses c:\win2000cd) and copy the contents of the Windows 2000 CD into it - checking that the directory structure, number of files and file sizes are identical to the CD.

b) Obtain from a cover CD or download from http://www.microsoft.com/Windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/sp4/download.asp. Get the 129MB Network Installation version which should be called w2ksp4.exe. (Service Pack 4 includes SP1 and SP2 and SP3)

c) Create another new directory called c:\win2000sp4. Launch a DOS command session and from the location of the Service Pack 4 exe file (NOT the newly created directory) type the command w2ksp4 -x c:\win2000sp4. This extracts the contents of Service Pack 4 into your new directory without running setup.

d) Move to the c:\win2000sp4\i386\update directory and type in update -s:c:\win2000cd. This starts the slipstreaming process of copying the service pack over the top of the Win2000 CD files. Once done you will receive a confirmation message that Integrated install has completed succesfully. The c:\win2000cd\ folder now contains an up-to-date copy of Windows 2000. You can now make a bootable CD containing Win2k + SP4. See the Making a Bootable CD section for details.

Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 2

a) Create a new directory on your hard drive called c:\xp and copy the contents of the Windows XP install Disc into it. Check that the directory structure and that folder and CD are of the same size, with an identical number of files.

b) After obtaining a copy of WinXP SP2 (Network version 272MB WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe ) from a cover CD or http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en , create a new directory called c:\winxpsp2. This will be the directory it unpacks to.

c) From a command prompt and at the location of your WinXP SP2 file (WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe) type in xpsp2.exe /integrate:c:\xp . Enter the target directory as the one you created in b)

d) When the extraction has finished go back into the DOS prompt and from c:\xp\ type the command update /s:c:\winxpcd to slipstream the files. The c:\xp\ directory now contains WinXP + SP2. Ready for burning to CD.

Making a Bootable CD

Using the free tool IsoBuster from www.isobuster.com to create the boot files needed.

a) Select Bootable CD from isobusters left hand pane and right click on 'Microsoft Corporation.img' file in the right hand pane, then select Extract. This creates a copy of the files needed to make a CD bootable.

b) Use a suitable burning package (this example uses the latest version of Nero from www.nero.com ).

• Click File, New and select CDRom (Boot).
• On the boot tab, click on the image file button and browser to the location of IsoBusters extracted Microsoft Corporation.img file.
• Under Expert Settings, change to No Emulation and Set Number of loaded sectors to 4.
• Click the ISO tab and check ISO Level 2 is selected.
• Check the 3 boxes under Relax ISO restrictions.
• Under the Label tab, make sure that you set the Volume Label to be exactly the same as the label on your Windows 2000 or XP CD.
• Click New, select the folder containing the updated Windows 2000 (c:\win2000cd\) or Windows XP (c:\winxpcd\) then Drag 'n' Drop the files into your compilation.
• Click the 'Write CD' button.

After following the above exactly you should now have a slipstreamed and fully bootable Windows 2000 or XP CD.