XP MCE install from Gateway restore disc's

[Raincity]

I would like to do a clean install of XP MCE without all the preinstalled junk that Gateway provides. I have the Gold version of XP PRO OEM. I also have all the service pack editions of XP PRO OEM. The cmponets folder installed on the C drive after a factory restore has been back-up. I know how to get the install key and add the oem files needed to get pas the oem bios check. What i need to know is how to add the MCE cpmponets folder to one of my existing SP editions and have it install the MCE componets.

Thanks

[submix8c]

I believe these are on CD#2 of the MCE Full (not Recovery) Disk set. Can't say how the structure of the folder is though. It may just be a "CMPNENTS" folder. Please note that some items in MCE are not (I believe) in the non-MCE cd's.

I think a little digging into the subject may be necessary as well as making sure that the same Service Pack level is used when constructing it. FWIW, probably all the files you need are already on the hard drive (somewhere).

edit - in case GW did the same stuff that HP did (hidden partitions) here is some info -

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=17158

Don't know if this was the case in GW PC's. It may be correct if you created the Restore CD's from a selection in the Start Menu. Only have experience in the Compaq/HP variety...

Edited February 25, 2009 by submix8c

[Raincity]

I think i got a working install.

1. Copied WinXP-SP2/OEM disc to build on.

2. Replaced OEMBIOS files with files extrated from gateway restore install.

3. extracted install key using VBS script and created winnt.sif file with following code

[Components]

medctr=on

netfx=on

[userData]

ProductKey="has been deleted"

[Data]

MSDosInitiated=0

UnattendedInstall=Yes

4. created textsetup.sif with following code

[sourceDisksNames.x86]

1 = %cdname%,%cdtagfilei%,,\i386

2 = "%cdname%","%cdtagfilei%",,\cmpnents\mediactr\i386

3 = "%cdname%","%cdtagfilei%",,\cmpnents\netfx\i386

5. copied mediactr and netfx folders left on C: drive from gateway restore into CDbuild cmpnets folder

6. slipstream XP-SP-3 intoCD build

7. extract SP-3 again into temp folder.

8. copy all the files from the XP-SP3 tempfolder/i386/root/cmpnets/mediactr/i386 to CD build cmpnets/mediactr/i386folder

Without these dll files the installer pitches a b***h and will not install the media center componets.

9. create image with cdimage

10. Burn image with Nero

I need to install the drivers to install and make sure media center 11 will install now.

[submix8c]

To the best of my knowledge, sounds right to me... Glad you got it working.

Look for the drivers via Device Manager; find any/all OEMn.INF files in the WINDOWS\INF folder (there's also a sub-folder with some INF's; note that some will be duplicates of the OEMn ones). Then save them somewhere else and look inside to find all filenames that (hopefully) are on your HDD and save them. These can then be set up to use for re-installation via Unattended (or manually, whatever).