xiaodown

@GM: The file doesn't appear twice in the log, that's two different entries from two different attempts at this process. I opened the log files while it was waiting to download, and that's the step at the very bottom. The half hour between accounts for the time that I let it sit, and then I removed the files and started over from scratch. Gotta go to work, will work on this more later tonite. ~Will

@ it_ybd: We do have an install server that does that for us. For reasons that p*** me off and that I'm not going into, the install server is on a different subnet, which crosses a router that set us back the GNP of some third world countries and works less well than a linksys cable/dsl jobbie, so we don't use it when we wipe a user's machine - we just use CDs. I guess we could make an install server on the other subnet. But, anyway, we deal with so many computers that need so many obscure drivers and stuff that we have to be able to use them after installing the os. Plus, the EU may want us to install software for them, or whatever. Also, I am not sure that some of our customers would know a windows XP key sticker from a NASCAR promotional sticker. But, yeah, our system builder uses sysprep and a drive blaster whenever he can. What would be really nice is to have a local windows update server - something where you just point the browser at 10.0.0.254 or something, and it behaves just like windows update, and is able to update windows 95, 98, me, 2k, and XP depending on whatever that specific computer needs. This wasn't possible 8 months ago; i know microsoft is attempting to make something that can do this.

Hrm, now XPCREATE gets to the point where it's downloading: -- 8:29:57 -- Downloading: SVC-X2M\mm20enu.EXE -- 8:57:23 -- Downloading: SVC-X2M\mm20enu.EXE And iOpus File Manager sits there, saying "Downloaded 0 bytes (total size unknown)" I've done this 3 times now, and it always stops at the same spot. If you tell iOpus to cancel download, it will, and it will go on to download the next thing in the list just fine. I've searched the forum, and one thing mentioned with download problems is to check your firewall, but A.) mine's off and B.) why would it download some files and not others? ~Wx

However, being able to put in the area code, time zone, and stuff like that would be cool... But, I'll look into it before I bug anyone about it. Again, thanks for the product and the help!

Eh, don't really want anything to be done for the product keys. When we wipe and reload a user's machine, we need to put in the product key that they paid for. It might slow the process down a bit, but it's necessary to ensure we stay legal and that users can still register w/ microsoft. Usually it's not a big deal, as we can either find their sticker of auth or use magical jellybeans to find the key.

Thanks, GM, I'm following your suggestion now. (I have to download sp2, I'm at home now, and I first posted at work where we had the file on a shared drive, so... I'll try this is a bit). If I can get this to work, I'll head over to unattend.msfn.org to see how to answer all the questions except for the product key one... that would save a little time too. Thank you again for your help.

I'm posting here because I have a total n00b question. My delima is this: I work at a computer repair shop, and we wipe and reload machines 20 a day. Slipstreaming SP2 into the WinXP cds we have would save us a lot of time and bandwidth. So: I've asked my friend, who has done this many times, and he says XPCREATE is tops. But, anyway, the CDs we use at the store to wipe and reload are just burned copies of Windows XP Home or Pro OEM. We use the user's product key (usually afixed to their case) when we W/R, so everyone's copy is unique. So I'm trying to slipstream SP2, and I can't get my XPCREATE to find this boot/xpctboot.bin - there's no boot directory on my CD. So, I poke around the forums, and GM suggests using a real CD, not a fake burn whatever (i.e. don't use a pirated CD). So, I actually go and borrow the store's master copy (which is just a winxp home oem CD, but it is real with the holographics and stuff), and XPCREATE still isn't finding it. There's no boot directory, and no file called *boot* on the CD. Yet, it is bootable. I'm confused. I'm sure this is a n00b question, and I'm going to get pwned by everyone for not digging deeper into the forum, but... there you have it. I'm sure it's something simple, and any help would be wonderful. Thanks in advance. ~wx