Using Virtual PC to save time experimenting

[random0xff]

I have already installed Windows XP about 20 times in a Virtual PC environment. Each time I get a bit more tweaks done and software installed. But the process is tedious, and error prone. I don't use nLite that much, just regular .reg files and right now I'm using cmdlines. What I want to know is this:

At what point during the install can I still change the contents of cmdlines.txt or the batch files it starts? I know it executes at T-12 but when is the file read? Is it copied to the hard disk, or cached?

If I know that time is late during the install (let's say T-18) I can save the state of the Virtual PC, copy the hard disk and resume. Should there be a problem, I can stop, change the contents of the ISO or the virtual hard disk (using winimage for instance) start again from T-18 and see if my changes solved the problem. This saves a lot of time.

Hope my question is clear, otherwise I can elaborate.

Thanks!

[Martin H]

cmdlines.txt is parsed from the install-source at T-12, so i personally take a snapshot just a little before that, and then when the install finishes, i remake the ISO with the needed changes and restart the VM from the snapshot

[random0xff]

Great, I'm gonna try that now!