Creating a bootable Windows XP Pro plus SP1 CD

| Polychromic's Workshop | Hacking XP | Hacking Vista | UDIC Links

Part 1 - Assembling the files needed for the slipstreamed CD

Create a temporary folder on a drive with about 700MB or more free space. This folder will hold the files you will eventually burn onto the CD-R disc. I use a folder named C:\CD. You will also need to make temporary folders for the Service Pack 1 files (C:\SP1), for the Rollup (C:\XP-Rollup) or for any Hotfixes you include, and for the boot files (C:\BOOT).

Copy the entire original Windows XP CD to this folder (C:\CD).

Download the Windows XP Service Pack 1. Be sure to specify the Network Installation version so you can work with entire thing at once.

Extract the downloaded Service Pack to a folder (C:\SP1) using the command "xpsp1a_en_x86.exe -x" at a command prompt.

Next, slipstream the SP1 into the C:\CD\i386 folder by issuing the command "C:\SP1\UPDATE\UPDATE.EXE -S:C:\CD".

If you don't wish to add further Hotfixes or the Security Rollup to the CD skip to Part 3.

Part 2 - Adding the Security Rollup and Hotfixes

(The procedure is the same for any hotfixes (including the Security Rollup) that you wish to include on your slipstreamed CD.)

Navigate into your C:\CD folder and into the \i386 folder. Create a folder named Svcpack there (C:\CD\i386\Svcpack).

Copy the QXXXXXX.exe or KBXXXXXX.exe file to the C:\CD\i386\Svcpack folder. Hotfixes may need to be renamed to the indicated shorter filename.

Extract the files from the QXXXXXX.exe or KBXXXXXX.exe file to a temporary folder (C:\XP-Rollup).
For example, you would extract the Security Rollup file using the command "KB826939.exe -x" to your C:\XP-Rollup folder.

From the temporary folder (C:\XP-Rollup), copy the QXXXXXX.cat or KBXXXXXX.cat file to the C:\CD\i386\Svcpack folder.

Next, delete any binary files that are be replaced from the C:\CD\i386\Svcpack folder,
then copy any new binary files from the temporary folder (choosing sp2 over sp1 if necessary).

For example, the Security Rollup needs these files deleted and added:
Deleted	Deleted	Copied	Copied
accwiz.ex_ crypt32.dl_ cryptsvc.dl_ hh.ex_ hhctrl.oc_ hhsetup.dl_ html32.cn_ itircl.dl_ itss.dl_ locator.ex_ magnify.ex_ migwiz.ex_ mrxsmb.sy_ msconv97.dl_ narrator.ex_ newdev.dl_ ntdll.dll ntkrnlmp.ex_ ntoskrnl.ex_	ole32.dl_ osk.ex_ pchshell.dl_ raspptp.sy_ rpcrt4.dl_ rpcss.dl_ shdocvw.dl_ shell32.dl_ shmedia.dl_ srrstr.dl_ srv.sy_ svcpack.in_ sysmain.sd_ urlmon.dl_ user32.dl_ win32k.sy_ winsrv.dl_ zipfldr.dl_	accwiz.exe crypt32.dll cryptsvc.dll hh.exe hhctrl.ocx hhsetup.dll html32.cnv itircl.dll itss.dll locator.exe magnify.exe migwiz.exe mrxsmb.sys msconv97.dll narrator.exe newdev.dll ntdll.dll ntkrnlmp.exe ntkrnlpa.exe ntkrpamp.exe	ole32.dll osk.exe pchshell.dll raspptp.sys rpcrt4.dll rpcss.dll shdocvw.dll shell32.dll shmedia.dll srrstr.dll srv.sys sysmain.sdb urlmon.dll user32.dll win32k.sys winsrv.dll zipfldr.dll

(You do not have to copy Update.exe, Update.inf, SPmsg.dll, SPcustom.dll, SPuninst.exe, Update.ver, or symbols (.pdb) files.)

Create or edit the Svcpack.inf file at C:\CD\i386\Svcpack.inf, using the following content:

[Version]
Signature="$Windows NT$"

[SetupData]
CatalogSubDir="\i386\svcpack"

[ProductCatalogsToInstall]
QXXXXXX.cat
or
KBXXXXXX.cat

[SetupHotfixesToRun]
QXXXXXX.exe /q /n /z
or
KBXXXXXX.exe /q /n /z
qchain.exe

If you plan to deploy multiple hotfixes together, add an entry for each hotfix under both [ProductCatalogsToInstall] and [SetupHotfixesToRun]

Edit the C:\CD\i386\Dosnet.inf file by making the following changes:

Add the svcpack folder name to the [OptionalSrcDirs] section:

Add the names of the hotfixed files to the [ForceCopyDriverCabFiles] section. This section is located at the end of the Dosnet.inf file. For example:

Part 3 - Burning the files to the disc

You will need to download the Windows XP CD boot sector.

Extract the downloaded boot sector to a temporary folder (C:\BOOT).

Next copy any extra files you'd like to include on your new CD to the temporary folder (C:\CD). I usually create a folder named C:\CD\Included and include drivers for my hardware and files that I use to customize my computers. Be sure that the total size of the files and folders doesn't exceed that of the blank CD you intend to use (usually 640MB or 700MB).

You can use other CD recording software but for these instruction I refer to CDRWIN from Goldenhawk.

Now start CDRWIN and choose the File Backup and Tools icon (the wrench).

First select the Backup/Tool Operation, then choose Build and Record an ISO9660 Image File. Set the other options and checkboxes to match this picture,

Then click the Advanced Options button. Set the Volume Label, System Identifier, Volume Set and Application Name, Publisher and Data Preparer so they match the following image or something similar. The values are only cosmetic but many prefer to have the values accurately match the official discs.

The Volume Label and related fields depend on your Windows XP version:
Windows XP Professional Retail:	WXPFPP_EN
Windows XP Professional Upgrade:	WXPCCP_EN
Windows XP Professional OEM:	WXPOEM_EN
Windows XP Professional Volume Licensed:	WXPVOL_EN
Windows XP Home Retail:	WXHFPP_EN
Windows XP Home Upgrade:	WXHCCP_EN
Windows XP Home OEM:	WXHOEM_EN
Windows XP Home Volume Licensed:	WXHVOL_EN

Next click the "Bootable Disc" tab and set the options as indicated in this picture. Be sure to select or browse to the boot.bin file for the "Image File Name" field. The Emulation Type should be Custom and the Sector Count should be 4.
Finally, click OK, then Start, then click Continue to burn your new CD.

E-mail

Note: the tips presented here are for advanced computer users.
Standard disclaimers apply - if your hair turns white,
your cat explodes and your computer melts down because you've used these tips,
then don't blame me. These tips all worked fine on my computers.