[GUIDE] Creating The Ultimate Windows XP Installation CD/DVD

[rado354]

Please post SOMETHING to help me finish this guide.

I'm getting:

Sorry, but when your post merges with your previous post, you will have used too many images in your combined posts

Post something and I will be able to post the second part of the guide!

P.S.: Thanks to pNoy.r3D28 for posting :D

This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating an unattended Windows installation CD with the latest hotfixes, drivers, DirectX, IE7, WMP11, Office 2007 and any other software that you would like to include on the CD. Remove useless components, apply tweaks and system hacks for the highest possible performance and productivity.

Don?t miss the video version of this tutorial where you can actually see the whole process of creating a fully customized, unattended installation CD and the result tested and running in VMware Machine.Requirements:b>

- nLite 1.4

- Net Framework 2.0

- WinXP CD1.b> Copy the entire content of your WinXP CD in some local folder.2.b> Install .Net Framework 2.0 and nLite.3.b> Choose your preferred language on the first screen:

4.b> Tell nLite where are your WinXP files. Select ?Browse? and navigate to the local folder you created in step 1:

[/5.5. Choose what you want to do. You can choose only one operation, all of them, or any combination. For example, you can choose to create an ISO and skip the rest:

[/6. Service Pack:k: Slipstream a Service Pack into the installation. Just download SP2 for WinXP and nLite will do the rest. If you integrate SP2 you will not need SP1 because SP2 supersedes it.

[/7. Hotfixes, Addons and Update Packs:s: Add hotfixes and/or update packs to your installation. Any addons for nLite that you add here will be installed silently during Windows Setup also.

[/How to get all hotfixes after SP2:2:

* Use RyanVM Post SP2 Update Pack.

* Install WinXP. Run Windows Update and write down all the required hotfixes. Download them manually from Microsoft.

* Windows Updates Downloader - let this program download all hotfixes for you.

* Information about the hotfix releases could be found here: MSFN, TheHotfixShare and SoftwarePatch

Windows Media Player 11:1: Download WMP11 Integrator and the WMP11 installer. Use WMP11 Integrator to slipstream WMP11 into your WinXP CD before making any changes with nLite. Once WMP11 is slipstreamed you can proceed with nLite.

Internet Explorer 7.0:0: Just download IE7 and slipstream the .exe with nLite.

Office 2007:7: Work in progress!

Addons:s: Download more than 350 addons for nLite from WinAddons. These .cab addons will be installed silently during Windows Setup.

Video Tutorial Video tutorial: Slipstream Windows Media Player 11

Video Tutorial Video tutorial: Slipstream Internet Explorer 7 with nLite

Video Tutorial Video tutorial: Integrate addons with nLite

Edited December 3, 2007 by rado354

[JAbad28]

So you need an original Windows XP Installation CD? The only CD I have that would be able to install Windows is my Recovery CD that came with my computer. Is it possible to do that because when I install the recovery CD it is still SP1 and all that junk.

[rado354]

8. Drivers: Integrate drivers into the installation. Browse to some .inf files and nLite will do the rest. Thanks to http://driverpacks.net/ you can create an installation CD with drivers for almost any piece of hardware. During setup Windows will only use the drivers required and will ignore completely the others. Unused drivers won?t be copied on your hard drive.

Video tutorial: Integrate drivers with nLite9. Components:b> Select the components you want to remove from the installation. Make sure to read the short info before removing components especially those in red. Check the Components Removal Example to get an idea about the most important components you should not remove.

By clicking on Advanced you will be given the opportunity to keep some specific files. For example you can remove ?Command Line Tools? but you can preserve ping.exe, ipconfig.exe, etc. which are part of this component by adding them to the Keep Box:

Power users could ignore the Compatibility Wizard:

[/10. Unattended:d: Set personal settings in advance so you don?t have to during the installation like Users, CD-Key, Regional settings, etc. Here you can also add Windows themes:

Video tutorial: Unattended installation CD with nLiteAdding themes:mes: you?re using some neat Windows theme and want it on your CD as well? Here is an example how to slipstream Luna Element 4 and set it as a default theme:

Video tutorial: Integrate themes with nLi11. Options:tions: You can pretty much ignore the General tab and go directly to Patches:

[/urlMaximum unfinished simultaneous connections (TCP/IP patch):atch): Set it to 100 or 1000 for max P2P performanUSB Port Polling Frequency (Hz): (Hz): Increase for smoother USB mouse movement. Not for wireless mice or any other USB device, use with caution! Works on Logitech MX, MS IntelliMouse Explorer 3, Razer Viper and possibly otheUnsigned Themes Support (Uxtheme Patch):atch): Set it to enable and you will be able to use a 3rd party themes (from DeviantArt for examplSFC (Windows File Protection):tion): Set it to disable to stop the automatic recovery of replaced or deleted system files and folders. Although it might sounds like a useful feature, it?s highly recommended to disable it. The duration of your installation will be reduced drastically.

Video tutorial: Patch Windows with n12. Tweaks: Tweaks: this is pretty much self-explanatory. Apply your favorite registry tweaks and configure Windows Services. Once Windows is installed all your tweaks will be applied, no need of post-install tuning.

It?s possible to configure the services as well.

Here you will find an excellent Windows Services Guide.

Video tutorial: Create a Bootable CD with nLite

Video tutorial: Burn ISO files with Nero

Video tutorial: Test ISO in VMware Machine 5.5 ? shareware

Video tutorial: Test ISO in Virtual PC 2004 ? freeware

Video tutorial: Test ISO in VirtualBoCopyright: Rado@e

Copyright: Rado@WinAddons

[rado354]

So you need an original Windows XP Installation CD? The only CD I have that would be able to install Windows is my Recovery CD that came with my computer. Is it possible to do that because when I install the recovery CD it is still SP1 and all that junk.

Recovery CD to working Windows installation CD ;)

[Andre S. Veteran]

Wow, how great is that? 5/5 stars! Will definitely be useful for me.

[vip_565]

wooooooooooow :drool: , 100% thanks brother (Y)

[TtamNedlog]

The only downside I can see to this... is that it will tempt me to reformat way more often than I should. :p

I reformat probably once a year, but would probably prefer to do so more often. I just put off doing it because it's basically an all day task to get up and running again.

This should simplify things TREMENDOUSLY!

[Darko3d]

Thanks alot man, just what i needed....another reason to format :p . Great Guide, is it ok if i copy/paste it to my blog

[rado354]

Thanks alot man, just what i needed....another reason to format :p . Great Guide, is it ok if i copy/paste it to my blog

Sure, feel free to spread the word :yes:

[Unto Darkness]

Very nice Guide!

Just one question, can insert my own software which are executables and not just the addons at winAddons.com which are CAB files?

[rado354]

@ UNTO DARKNESS - you can insert your own software but it must be packed as an addon (.cab, .zip, .rar, 7z) ;)

[Guest]

Oh wow, I just pretty much finished re-installing XP...

Could've down with seeing this before I did that :p.

[bobbytomorow]

Very nice guide. I may just try this out tonight. Thanks for the hard work, great stuff man!

[Simieski]

This is a superb guide!! I have three questions:

1.When integrating drivers, If I know where the .dll file is but not the .inf how do I find the relating .inf??

2.I use WinRar,when I try to add.rar file to addons I get an error message saying unsupported file type?? I can only insert .exe addons??

3.Is there a way to add .xpi firefox themes and addons to the automated .exe firefox install, would also like a 10 simultaneous connections change for firefox?

[sibot]

This is a great guide, I have always wanted to nlite my xp, and now i can finally do it with this guide!

[Raa]

SFC (Windows File Protection): Set it to disable

ABSOLUTELY not. This is how many viruses, spyware and more often than not, software incompatiblities arise.

SFC is there for a reason, and under no circumstances should it be turned off unless you're 110% aware of what you're about to do to your pc.

This isn't like the UAC debate, it's real. Do NOT do this!

Otherwise - great guide, I love it! :D

[Darko3d]

I published this tutorial on my blog and got lots of traffic from it. Now i feel really guilty for doing that even though i asked for permission. Is there anything i can do to make it up to you

[rado354]

This is a superb guide!! I have three questions:

1.When integrating drivers, If I know where the .dll file is but not the .inf how do I find the relating .inf??

2.I use WinRar,when I try to add.rar file to addons I get an error message saying unsupported file type?? I can only insert .exe addons??

3.Is there a way to add .xpi firefox themes and addons to the automated .exe firefox install, would also like a 10 simultaneous connections change for firefox?

1. Unpack the .exe with the drivers. Use Universal Extractor. If the .inf is not there I have no idea.

2. What's the point of adding .rar archives inside addons? If you want to copy files on C:\ during Windows Setup, create a selfextracting archive and pack it as an addon.

3. Yes. Create a selfextracting archive with the files from your Profile. Pack it as an addon and integrate it with nLite.

ABSOLUTELY not. This is how many viruses, spyware and more often than not, software incompatiblities arise.

SFC is there for a reason, and under no circumstances should it be turned off unless you're 110% aware of what you're about to do to your pc.

This isn't like the UAC debate, it's real. Do NOT do this!

Otherwise - great guide, I love it! :D

I agree. However, don't forget you're messing with a lot of system files while using nLite.

And you can get some nasty errors if you keep it enable.

I published this tutorial on my blog and got lots of traffic from it. Now i feel really guilty for doing that even though i asked for permission. Is there anything i can do to make it up to you

A linkback would be appreciated.

Cheers everyone!

[cyrl]

wow thanks brother..i have two questions.

1. is if the iso is larger than 700mb can i split it?

2. is can i add WLM ?