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Slipstreaming Windows Service Pack: A Step-by-Step Guide for Home and Business Users

August 26, 2007 Freddy Reyes

Learn how to slipstream Windows XP Service Pack 2 and create a bootable CD for easier installation. This process helps ensure correct installation files.

Slipstreaming Windows Service Pack: A Step-by-Step Guide for Home and Business Users

The process of Slipstreaming a Service Pack is to integrate the Service Pack into the installation so that with every new installation, the Operating System and Service Pack are installed at the same time.

Slipstreaming is usually done on network shares on corporate systems. But with the advent of CD burners, it does actually make some sense for the home user or small business user to do the same.

Microsoft added the ability to slipstream a Service Pack to Windows 2000 and Windows XP. It not only has the advantage that when you (re)install your OS, you don’t have to apply the Service Pack later, but also if you update any Windows component later, you’ll be sure that you get the correct installation files if Windows needs any.

1 - How to Slipstream Windows XP Service Pack 2

First, you have to download the (full) “Network Install” of the Service Pack from Microsoft (English version [266 MB]), and save it to a directory (folder) on your hard drive (in my case E:\WINXP-SP2).

Next copy your Windows XP CD to your hard drive. Just create a folder (I used XP-CD), and copy all the contents of your Windows XP CD into that folder.

Next, open the DOS Command Prompt:

Start > Run > cmd

Go to the folder where you downloaded SP2:

cd foldername

Type the command:

servicepack filename /integrate:drive/path

In my example the command is:

WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU /integrate:E:\XP-CD

If you get the error:

This service pack can't be integrated

This is caused by the fact that your Windows XP CD contains updates that will be automatically installed when you run setup. This type of CD will usually be from larger OEM suppliers (like Dell, HP, or others).

You cannot use this type of CD to create a slipstreamed SP2 install.

First, the files will be extracted, and next, they will be integrated into your Windows XP files.

When ready, you should get a confirmation. Windows XP Service Pack 2 has now been slipstreamed into your original Windows XP files.

Slipstream Completed

2 - How to Create a Bootable CD

For this part, you can use IsoBuster and Nero Burning ROM 6 (make sure you have the latest version, but at least 5.5.9.0).

After you install IsoBuster, you can choose to use only the product’s free functionality for what we want to do. IsoBuster will look like the image below (you need to have your original Windows XP CD in the CD-ROM drive).

Start by extracting the boot loader from the original Windows XP CD.

Using IsoBuster:

Select the Bootable CD folder.
Right-click Microsoft Corporation.img.
From the menu, choose:
```
Extract Microsoft Corporation.img
```
Extract it to the folder on your hard drive where you have your Windows XP files (E:\XP-CD in my case).

Extract Boot Image

Next, start Nero Burning ROM, and choose:

CD-ROM (Boot)

in the New Compilation window.

On the Boot tab:

Select the image file under the Source of boot image data
Browse to the location of the Microsoft Corporation.img file
Enable Expert Settings
Choose:
```
No Emulation
```
Change the:
```
Number of loaded sectors = 4
```

Otherwise, it won’t boot.

Nero Boot Settings

The ISO tab should be configured correctly as shown below:

Nero ISO Settings

If you have an older version of Nero, you won’t have the option:

Do Not Add ";1" ISO file version extension

under Relax ISO Restrictions.

You won’t be able to boot your new CD, so update Nero.

You can configure the Label tab to your liking. However, it is recommended that you keep the Volume Label the same as on your original Windows XP CD.

Here are some (English) labels:

Windows XP Professional: WXPCCP_EN
Windows XP Home: WXHCCP_EN
Windows XP Professional OEM: WXPOEM_EN
Windows XP Home OEM: WXHOEM_EN

Nero Label Settings

Next, press New, and from the File Browser window:

Select the files and folders from your slipstreamed location (E:\XP-CD in my case)
Drag & drop the selected files into the ISO1 window

Copy Files

Next, burn your new CD.

Burn

Done! You now have a Bootable, Slipstreamed Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD!