Installing Windows XP is a miserable experience. Fact. Whether you’re installing it on a new computer or reinstalling it on your current machine, it’s the sort of activity that’s more than likely to ruin a weekend.
First, you sit twiddling your thumbs, waiting to enter your product code. Next, you specify your language, keyboard layout and time zone. And once the initial installation finishes, the real fun and games begin.
If your Windows CD doesn’t contain Service Pack 2 (SP2), you’ll have to install that separately. And then there’s the 80 or so updates that have materialised since SP2 was released. It never ends.
There is a solution, however. Over the following pages, we’ll show you the art of ‘slipstreaming’. No, we won’t be tucking in behind Lewis Hamilton and belting down the Hangar Straight. Instead, we’ll be demonstrating a handy time-saving process. You simply copy the files from your Windows CD on to your hard drive, weaving all the updates into them (including SP2), then burn the result to a blank CD. Nearly as much fun, then.
If you’ll be using your ‘slipdisc’ only on your current system, you can configure Windows to install itself in ‘unattended’ mode. This allows your product key, regional settings and other details to be entered automatically – your hands will never have to touch the keyboard. If you like, you can also slipstream your hardware drivers.
We’ll walk you through slipstreaming with nLite, a free utility that’s available from nliteos.com. Follow our tips and you can rest assured: never again will a Windows installation be comparable to ripping out all your fingernails and dipping your hands into lemon juice.
1. You’ll need version 2.0 or later of the .Net Framework installed to slipstream Windows; if it isn’t showing under Add/Remove Programs, install version 3.5. Next, download nLite 1.41. But don’t launch the application just yet.
Step 1
Comments
John Golding said: This is all very well but how do you go on when your OS was already installed when you bought the computer and you do not have an installation disk or a product code
Regional Dude said: One who knows better doesnt get out or around muchThere are different terms in different regions and countriesU really oughta look outside ur window on a regular basis b4 showing how much of a homeboygirl u r
OS-Geek said: In some circles including bench engineers refer to it as a Slipdisc its a common term thats used
Adam Harris said: Like Confused I also wonder how this works without an installation discAs with most users Windows comes pre-installed on new machines and it is up to me to burn a rescue disc I have done this before but re-installation is a pig because manufacturers tattoo the system to their own designAn addendum in the style of rip your installation files to the slipstream would be good
Confused said: All very good but what about the vast majority of users who dont have a windows installation disc just a partition on their hard drive how do they Slipstream
SelfMan said: Looks like someone missed somethingwwwryanvmnetmsfn
One who knows better said: SlipDisc WTF did you come up with that moronic labelIts a Slipstreamed CD periodSlipdisc indeed pfff