How to Create a Windows CD With Service Pack 3

Despite the introduction of newer operating systems such as Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows XP remains a popular choice for computer users because it requires fewer system resources and many users maintain an intimate familiarity with using XP. If you are installing a clean version of Windows XP, it helps to create an installation disc that includes Service Pack 3. The original Windows XP is primitive by today's standards, and by including Service Pack 3 in the installation, you can get your system up and running quickly. The process of merging Service Pack 3 with the Windows installation files is called slipstreaming and you can easily create a new Windows installation CD complete with all recent updates in just a few simple steps.

Things You'll Need

• Windows XP installation disc with Service Pack 2 preloaded
• Windows XP Service Pack 3
• ImgBurn disc image burning application

Instructions

1. Insert the Windows XP installation disc.

2. Go to "My Computer."

3. Right-click on the CD-ROM that contains the Windows XP installation disc and select "Explore."

4. Select "Tools" and "Folder Options."

5. Select the "View" tab and uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" and then click "OK."

6. Select all contents of the Windows XP installation disc and copy them to "C:\Winxp." If this folder does not exist, create it in the "C:\" root directory.

7. Create another folder in the "C:\" root directory called "sp3" to hold the Service Pack 3 installation files.

8. Download the Service Pack 3 installer (see Resources).

9. Select "Start," "Run" and type "cmd" then press "OK."

10. Execute the following three commands, one at a time:

    cd \
    cd sp3
    windowsxp-kb936929-sp3-x86-enu.exe -x:c:\sp3

11. Navigate to "C:\winxp" and find the "wxp10.zip" file to unzip. This ZIP file will be located in the "C:\winxp\wxp10\cds\wxphome\files" or "C:\winxp\wxp10\cds\wxppro\files" depending on what edition of Windows XP you use.

12. Unzip "wxp10.zip" to the C:\ root directory. You should now have the two directories you have created earlier ("winxp" and "sp3") in addition to the file "w2ksect.bin" in your "C:\" directory.

13. Launch a command prompt window once again, following the instructions in Step 9.

14. Execute the following five commands to combine the Windows XP installation files with Service Pack 3:

    cd \
    cd sp3
    cd i386
    cd update
    update.exe /integrate:c:\xp

15. Click "OK" once the combination is complete.

16. Launch Notepad by clicking "Start," "Accessories" and "Notepad."

17. Enter the following exactly as displayed:

    IBB

    [START_BACKUP_OPTIONS]
    BuildMode=1
    Destination=0
    TestMode=0
    Verify=1
    WriteSpeed=0
    Copies=0
    FileSystem=1
    UDFRevision=0
    PreserveFullPathnames=0
    RecurseSubdirectories=1
    IncludeHiddenFiles=1
    IncludeSystemFiles=1
    IncludeArchiveFilesOnly=0
    AddToWriteQueueWhenDone=0
    ClearArchiveAttribute=0
    VolumeLabel_ISO9660=HTHSP3
    VolumeLabel_Joliet=HTHSP3
    VolumeLabel_UDF=
    Identifier_System=
    Identifier_VolumeSet=
    Identifier_Publisher=
    Identifier_Preparer=
    Identifier_Application=
    Dates_FolderFileType=0
    Restrictions_ISO9660_InterchangeLevel=2
    Restrictions_ISO9660_CharacterSet=1
    Restrictions_ISO9660_AllowMoreThan8DirectoryLevels=1
    Restrictions_ISO9660_AllowMoreThan255CharactersInPath=1
    Restrictions_ISO9660_AllowFilesWithoutExtensions=1
    Restrictions_ISO9660_DontAddVersionNumberToFiles=1
    Restrictions_Joliet_InterchangeLevel=1
    Restrictions_Joliet_AllowFilesWithoutExtensions=1
    Restrictions_Joliet_AddVersionNumberToFiles=0
    Restrictions_UDF_DisableUnicodeSupport=0
    Restrictions_UDF_DVDVideoAllowUnicodeVolumeLabel=0
    BootableDisc_MakeImageBootable=1
    BootableDisc_MediaEmulationType=0
    BootableDisc_BootImageFile=C:\w2ksect.bin
    BootableDisc_DeveloperIdentifier=
    BootableDisc_LoadSegment=07C0
    BootableDisc_LoadSectorCount=4
    [END_BACKUP_OPTIONS]

    [START_BACKUP_LIST]
    C:\XP
    [END_BACKUP_LIST]

18. Save the file as "xpsp3.ibb" to your desktop.

19. Download and install ImgBurn, a free image burning application, if you do not have it already (see Resources).

20. Launch ImgBurn.

21. Select "File" and "Load Project" and then choose the "xpsp3.ibb" file you have just created.

22. Insert a blank CD into your CD-ROM and then click "Burn Image" at the bottom left of the screen. This will burn your new Windows XP installation disc with Service Pack 3 integrated.

References

• Microsoft Support: How to Slipstream Hotfixes
• Microsoft Support: How to Integrate Windows XP Service Packs

Resources

• Microsoft: Service Pack 3
• ImgBurn