Driver integration question

[leoliver]

Hi Everyone,

When I selected to integrate some of my .inf driver files, I came to my C:\DRIVERS\SYSTEM folder which contained about 6 .inf driver files. Nlite told me I only needed to select 1 file , from that driver folder, because they would all be integrated . After completing the build process, the LAST SESSION.INI file only showed the 1st .inf file, from my C:\DRIVERS\SYSTEM folder . So my question is , where are the 5 other .inf driver files , from my C:\DRIVERS\SYSTEM folder, that were also supposed to be included in the nlite build ?

Or as a newbie , did I make a mistake in my build process?

Feed back will be appreciated !

P.S. My computer is a Dell Dimension 4550 computer, with WinXP Pro , SP3 .

[-nocturne=-]

Long story short, you don't need to integrate any drivers... well, except for AHCI/Raid drivers for the hard drive, possibly (though it appears your model has a PATA hard drive).

I know it might seem 'cool' to have all your device drivers pre-installed at the first boot, but more often than not this only has complications. After installing, windows should certainly be bootable, and it's not that big of a deal having to install your drivers as you're going to be installing plenty of programs anyways I'm sure.

Integrating drivers with nLite is mostly meant for installing RAID drivers (so you don't have to use (or find, for that matter) a floppy); and also for 'professionals' who install the same image onto countless networked PC's, perhaps without the use of a GUI. In your case, there's really no reason to bother...

Some advice though (if this is your first time)... Always test your burned cd. Always have an extra. Always have the original in case neither work, and you already reformatted everything. Take as much time to back up everything you need, and check it twice (at least). More than anything, don't go too crazy removing components with nLite -- as you might find yourself two weeks into using the new install, only to find that some of your needed aplications don't work because of missing dependencies (basically, only remove items that you know exactly what they are and what they do, and are absolutely positive you don't need). Other than that, just don't install anything afterwards that you don't need (that's the quickest way to finding yourself in need of another reformat).

Here's a link straight to the Dell Support page listing the drivers for your system...

All you need is: Audio driver, Chipset Driver, Modem Driver (if you have/use it -- under communication), Network card driver (Broadcom driver should be the one you need, second from top under Network), and your Video card driver (just get them straight from ATI/Nvidia, or even just windows update if you're not a gamer).

[leoliver]

Long story short, you don't need to integrate any drivers... well, except for AHCI/Raid drivers for the hard drive, possibly (though it appears your model has a PATA hard drive).

I know it might seem 'cool' to have all your device drivers pre-installed at the first boot, but more often than not this only has complications. After installing, windows should certainly be bootable, and it's not that big of a deal having to install your drivers as you're going to be installing plenty of programs anyways I'm sure.

Integrating drivers with nLite is mostly meant for installing RAID drivers (so you don't have to use (or find, for that matter) a floppy); and also for 'professionals' who install the same image onto countless networked PC's, perhaps without the use of a GUI. In your case, there's really no reason to bother...

Some advice though (if this is your first time)... Always test your burned cd. Always have an extra. Always have the original in case neither work, and you already reformatted everything. Take as much time to back up everything you need, and check it twice (at least). More than anything, don't go too crazy removing components with nLite -- as you might find yourself two weeks into using the new install, only to find that some of your needed aplications don't work because of missing dependencies (basically, only remove items that you know exactly what they are and what they do, and are absolutely positive you don't need). Other than that, just don't install anything afterwards that you don't need (that's the quickest way to finding yourself in need of another reformat).

Here's a link straight to the Dell Support page listing the drivers for your system...

All you need is: Audio driver, Chipset Driver, Modem Driver (if you have/use it -- under communication), Network card driver (Broadcom driver should be the one you need, second from top under Network), and your Video card driver (just get them straight from ATI/Nvidia, or even just windows update if you're not a gamer).

Thanks for your reply , it was very informative , and I read it several times . I was concerned about this issue because I never integrated drivers, or hotfixs on the nlite XpSp2 build I made last year. I did successfully use that build for a repair install of Windows. But never a full install .

After reading your reply , I don't think I will integrate anything (except for my Windows product key in the unattended section ) in my SP3 slipstream build . If I will have a bootable install of Windows , with just the SP3 update , than I could easily add device drivers , hotfixs later after a install of Windows is up and going.

Thanks again for your reply , about 2 weeks ago I posted a question on this forum and received no replies , which kind of disappointed me . So I'm glad that my last post was answered.

[-nocturne=-]

Actually, there's nothing wrong with hotfix and program integration -- actually, it'd probably end up saving space in the end (at least for the hotfixes). In the end it's just the simple principle of 'Keep It Simple' -- the more you try to do the more apt you are to run into problems. Go ahead and live a little, though -- add the hotfixes (ryanvm's pack), DX9, basic apps, IE7, WMP11, and remove plenty of the windows garbage you know you don't need -- just don't go too wild at it.

[leoliver]

Actually, there's nothing wrong with hotfix and program integration -- actually, it'd probably end up saving space in the end (at least for the hotfixes). In the end it's just the simple principle of 'Keep It Simple' -- the more you try to do the more apt you are to run into problems. Go ahead and live a little, though -- add the hotfixes (ryanvm's pack), DX9, basic apps, IE7, WMP11, and remove plenty of the windows garbage you know you don't need -- just don't go too wild at it.

Which brings another question to mind , Ryanvm's web-site lists a "post SP2" hotfix package , but wouldn't the SP3 update contain all the hotfixs released since SP2 ? Is a post SP3 hotfix package available ?

Thanks .

[ccl0]

"post SP2" hotfix package is for sp2 users only. he has not released a sp3 package yet