hi, thanks for your prompt replies, unfortunately I have already deleted sourcess directory, but i'm planning to repeat the complete test, so I can revert you at the soonest. I could only check the presence of the two files (and they were both there) in hfslip.log. I'm also planning to check enbel's suggestions. Additionally, I miss to tell you that I have performed the setup with the slipstreamed CD by using the repair option on an existing XPSP2 1st partition already inclusive of all same hotfixes, this just to avoid the annoying problem of microsoft windows xp activation: by the way, have you any other idea on how to overcome this activation problem? At the end of setup I made the check on windows update site. Also, i used nlite last version to integrate nvidia raid 0+1 drivers. Also, i made another test by doing a fresh xp installation on a logic partition by using a cd prepared in the same way but in italian language: in this case i had no problem at all and i verified through windows update site a full incorporation of all files. thank you again