Slipstream XP SP3 onto a Dell Win XP Pro SP2 CD.....

[roberta]

Good Day,

Please, I Need your Valuable Help & Assistance....

I have a Dell Win XP Pro SP2 CD, & I want to slipstream SP3 onto it....

(1). Previous attempt

I thought I had successfully done so back in May'08 (using nLite 1.4.5), as I was able to install the resulting SP3 to my Dell Dim 8300 desktops.....

But when I tried to install the same Win XP SP3 CD to a new Dell Vostro 1510 Notebook, it enumerates the hardware OK, But then when it is

going to start the actual installation of XP SP3 it cant find an HDD to install to, so I have to terminate the attempted installation.....

Note that the SP2 CD from Dell that the SP3 is based on installs OK.....

And the SP3 installs OK in the Dim 8300, But Not in the Vostro 1510....

Why is this so?

Btw, the Vostro has no RAID or any other strange/exotic hardware....

(2). New attempt

I have downloaded & installed nLite 1.4.9.1, & want to again slipstream SP3 onto the same Dell Win XP Pro SP2 CD, so as the install SP3 on the Vostro 1510.

When I try to slipstream SP3, nLite says:

"Previous Hotfixes have been detected. You wont be able to Slipstream new Hotfixes without first removing the previous ones from the installation.

Do you want nLite to remove the previous hotfixes to enable proper Slipstreaming?"

<YES> <NO>

Should I answer YES?

What happens if I choose NO?

Thank You Very Much for your Greatly Appreciated Help & Assistance,

Best wishes,

Roberta

Edited February 8, 2009 by roberta

[johnhc]

roberta, when you say that the second machine has no RAID or other exotic stuff, I wonder, are you trying to install on a SATA drive? If so, you will need to integrate the correct text mode drivers for the SATA HDD(s). If you answer NO, you will probably get an even greater mess than you got. In general, you should not run nLite more than once against the same source. Usually you get a mess with really strange symptoms. I also want to point out that you cannot use the same key for both machines. You will probably need to create an ISO for each machine from each of the machine's original CD, but try it with the first. Now here comes my standard prose. Please make sure to always start with a fresh copy of your CD files/folders, do all your work in one nLite session and integrate only one SP. Enjoy, John.

[roberta]

Good Day JohnHC,

Thank You Very Much for your Valuable response.....

roberta, when you say that the second machine has no RAID or other exotic stuff, I wonder, are you trying to install on a SATA drive? If so, you will need to integrate the correct text mode drivers for the SATA HDD(s). If you answer NO, you will probably get an even greater mess than you got. In general, you should not run nLite more than once against the same source. Usually you get a mess with really strange symptoms.

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Yes both the Dim 8300 (for which the slipstreamed SP3 installs OK), & the Vostro 1510 have SATA HDDs

So why does it work in one, & not the other?

Btw, both the base SP2 CDs are identical, & install OK (verified with md5 checksums on each & every file & folder).

How do I get & then integrate the correct SATA text mode drivers?

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I also want to point out that you cannot use the same key for both machines.

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Each PC has its own legal XP Pro licence from MS & Dell.

You will probably need to create an ISO for each machine from each of the machine's original CD, but try it with the first. Now here comes my standard prose. Please make sure to always start with a fresh copy of your CD files/folders, do all your work in one nLite session and integrate only one SP. Enjoy, John.

The original XP SP2 CDs for both the Dim 8300 & Vostro 1510 are identical.

Anyway, I have created an ISO for each PC from their original CDs.

And I always start with a new copy of the SP2 CD's files for each nLite session to integrate only one SP3 CD.

Thank You Very Much,

Best wishes,

Roberta

Edited February 8, 2009 by roberta

[johnhc]

roberta, I would assume it works for one and not the other because the SATA drivers are not the same. Go to Dell's support site to get the drivers you need. I DLed R179638.exe and it looks like text mode drivers. Extract ( I used 7-Zip) these into a folder and point nLite to the folder. It looks like the two machines have different chip sets that talk to the HDDs. Hope this helps, John.

[roberta]

roberta, I would assume it works for one and not the other because the SATA drivers are not the same. Go to Dell's support site to get the drivers you need. I DLed R179638.exe and it looks like text mode drivers. Extract ( I used 7-Zip) these into a folder and point nLite to the folder. It looks like the two machines have different chip sets that talk to the HDDs. Hope this helps, John.

Good Day JohnHC,

I'll will look at the Dell site for the SATA drivers, as per your suggestion....

Thank You Very VERY Much,

Best wishes,

Roberta

[roberta]

Hi JohnHC,

I forgot to ask clarification on what I should answer to nLite's prompt:

"Previous Hotfixes have been detected. You wont be able to Slipstream new Hotfixes without first removing the previous ones from the installation.

Do you want nLite to remove the previous hotfixes to enable proper Slipstreaming?"

<YES> <NO>

Should I answer YES?

What happens if I choose NO?

Thank You Very Much,

Best wishes,

Roberta

[johnhc]

roberta, you should NOT get this prompt! You did talk about it and I said if you answered NO you would get a bigger mess than you have. Please start with a fresh copy of your CD files/folders. Also, please see my standard prose (admonition), posted earlier.

I was also wondering if you included other drivers (regular, not text mode) in the previous CD? If so, you may need to get a complete set of drivers from the Dell support site. I don't know what kind of CD you have, but if it is a recovery disk, it may already have the drivers on it. Please attach (not paste) your Last Session.ini (in your source folder after running nLite - do no post Last Session_u.ini). I use a purchased OEM CD for my installs and have no experience with recovery CDs. Also note that I posted a link to the your Dell drivers page. Enjoy, John.

[roberta]

Greetings & Salutations John,

roberta, you should NOT get this prompt! You did talk about it and I said if you answered NO you would get a bigger mess than you have. Please start with a fresh copy of your CD files/folders. Also, please see my standard prose (admonition), posted earlier.

As I've previously said, I always start with a fresh copy of the SP2 CD files & folders.....

I was also wondering if you included other drivers (regular, not text mode) in the previous CD? If so, you may need to get a complete set of drivers from the Dell support site.

No other drivers at all.

My current SP3 build now includes the SATA ones u pointed me to....

I don't know what kind of CD you have, but if it is a recovery disk, it may already have the drivers on it.

It's the Dell SP2 Reinstallation CD, which has an OEM folder.....

Please attach (not paste) your Last Session.ini (in your source folder after running nLite - do no post Last Session_u.ini). I use a purchased OEM CD for my installs and have no experience with recovery CDs. Also note that I posted a link to the your Dell drivers page. Enjoy, John.

Please see attached.

Thank You Very Much,

Best wishes,

Roberta

zz_Last_Session.ini

Edited February 9, 2009 by roberta

[johnhc]

roberta, the message indicates that your original CD has been altered, perhaps by Dell, although I have never heard of this. I assume both disks do this, since you said they were identical. Do your ISOs work? Were you able to get past the 'not finding HDD' problem? Have you tried both 'yes' and 'no' and if so, do either produce a working ISO? Since you don't know what is integrated on the CDs (I assume this is correct), perhaps you should not slipstream SP3 and allow Windows Update to determine what updates are required. To answer your earlier question, I don't know what happens if you answer no. I assume nLite will leave the integrated hot fixes in place and slipstream SP3. This may well make a mess. Please let us know where you are and what kind of problem(s) you have remaining. I hope you and yours are not in harm's way from the fires. Enjoy, John.

[roberta]

Good Day John,

roberta, the message indicates that your original CD has been altered, perhaps by Dell, although I have never heard of this. I assume both disks do this, since you said they were identical. Do your ISOs work? Were you able to get past the 'not finding HDD' problem?

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They are original media as shipped by Dell with the individual PCs.

I have now checked all my other original Dell Win XP & Vista Business media, & they all have Dell added hotfixes.

Yes I've been able to get past the 'not finding HDD' problem thanks to the drivers u pointed me to (Please see further below).....

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Have you tried both 'yes' and 'no' and if so, do either produce a working ISO?

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Yes, I have tried both, & both produce working ISOs.

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Since you don't know what is integrated on the CDs (I assume this is correct), perhaps you should not slipstream SP3 and allow Windows Update to determine what updates are required. To answer your earlier question, I don't know what happens if you answer no. I assume nLite will leave the integrated hot fixes in place and slipstream SP3. This may well make a mess. Please let us know where you are and what kind of problem(s) you have remaining.

.....

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Yes, nLite leaves the integrated hotfixes in place & adds/slipstreams SP3.

I agree with You, I'd rather say 'yes' to remove the original hotfixes.

I have now successfully installed the resulting SP3 CD to the Vostro 1510......

..Thanks to your Very Valuable Help & Assistance....

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I hope you and yours are not in harm's way from the fires. Enjoy, John.

Have been Very lucky to date, But unfortunately the bushfires are still raging......

Thank You Very Much for your Greatly Appreciated concern & good wishes.

Thank You Very VERY VERY Much for your Valuable Help & Assistance,

Best wishes,

Roberta

[johnhc]

roberta, great! It sound like you have things quite under control. You are welcome and enjoy, John.