Cannot choose source folder ?

[sblancho]

Hi all,

I followed the instructions of the site http://www.nliteos.com/guide/part1.html to use nLite

in order to make a installation CD from my PC.

But I couldn't go further than the 3rd picture you can see in part1.html, because nLite

refuse my "C:\installXP" directory in which i copied the i386 folder where are the system files !??

Do you have any ideas of what happens ?

ErrMsg on nLiteError2.jpg

Thanks in advance.

[Ponch]

nLite refuses my "C:\installXP" directory in which i copied the i386 folder where are the system files !??

Do you have any ideas of what happens ?

Have you copied all files from your original MS Windows XP cd in that directory ?

[jaclaz]

First things that come to my mind:

1. Which is the original source of the \i386? I mean a "standard" XP CD or some branded OEM version?
   
2. Did you also copy the "tag files" that are in root of a Windows CD? And the other directories?
   
3. How did you copy it to C:\InstallXP? I mean did you se simply Explorer or something else?
   
4. Any chance that some "aggressive" Antivirus has botched the copy process?
   

I would suspect #2 , see step 1. in this other guide that should clear the iteam at hand:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=193872

This one is also clear:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial154.html

Once you have made sure you have all the software or media listed above, you should create a folder that will be used to store the files that will be written to the installation disc. For this tutorial, we suggest you create a folder on your C: drive labeled XPCD. Once the folder is created, please copy the entire contents of your XP CD to this folder.

jaclaz

P.S.: Sorry Ponch, cross-posting

Edited August 4, 2009 by jaclaz

[sblancho]

Hello,

All the files i put in my "C:\installXP" folder are \i386 that i found somewhere in C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles.

This folder is dated 2 Nov 2008, the day i installed SP3 ...

This i386 folder is around 400 Mo, so i thought it was the one i needed (see i386source.jpg).

My PC is a fujitsu siemens AMILO 1425 and I don't have any windows CD.

That's why i want to slipstream my windows installation and burn it on a CD.

I followed the steps of this site (in french) :

http://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/sujet-5...c-grande-marque

It is said that i must copy \i386 files in a "C:\installXP" directory

+ autorun.inf

+ win51ic

+ dotnetfx folder (.NET framework)

+ all files oembios.* that i can find on my hard drive

+ valueadd folder if any

And That's it !!!

It's what i've done (see installXP.jpg).

I know that's light too ...

Might miss something as you both told me.

Is there an easier way to do what i want ?

Thanks again for your answers.

[Ponch]

Basically, nLite is not designed for what your guide describes. All I see is "if you're lucky, it might work" but there is absolutely no check on what is or is not on the CD. Chance is also that after hours of work, you do end up with a cd but, it does not allow you to install a perfectly working XP.

If you have a valid licence (a sticker on your Amilo), get a corresponding XP version cd from eBay.

[jaclaz]

With all due respect to the Author of the mentioned guide:

http://www.commentcamarche.net/faq/sujet-5...c-grande-marque

1. Pré-requis: La présence des fichiers système sur le disque dur.

Avant de commencer, il faut vérifier la présence des fichiers d'installation de Windows XP sur le disque dur de votre PC.

Commencez par activer l'affichage des fichiers et dossiers cachés (dans l'explorateur, déroulez le menu Outils, Options des dossiers, onglet "Affichage", "Paramètres avancés", cochez l'option "Afficher les fichiers et dossiers cachés" et désactivez la case «Masquer les extensions des fichiers dont le type est connu». Cliquez sur OK

A la racine du disque C:, vous devez trouver un dossier nommé "I386" (ou i386). Dans certains cas, celui-ci peut se trouver dans le dossier "Windows".

Une fois le dossier "I386" retrouvé, vérifiez qu'il dépasse 400 Mo (clic droit, propriétés). Si ce n'est pas le cas, ou s'il vous est impossible de le trouver, il sera également impossible de créer le CD. Pour vous, l'aventure s'arrête là.

checking that the files are OK ONLY basing on their side is a bit "optimistic", (I have in mind another word, but I am afraid of the word filters).

Anyway, the guide was made in the assumption that you had a SP0, SP1 or SP2 installed, it is possible that the "sheer" SP3 files are more than 400 Mb, and the Author did not think about this.

Are you positive that there isn't "anything else" looking "like" \I386" anywhere on HD?

Did the computer come with a Recovery CD?

Or has it a (hidden) restore partition?

@ponch

Actually (besides the way the check is made) the Author clearly expresses that:

1. Pré-requis: La présence des fichiers système sur le disque dur.

i.e.:

Pre-requisite: presence of operating system files on Hard disk.

jaclaz

[sblancho]

Yes, i also think that the author is optimistic !!

It's said that the \i386 folder should be at the C: root and mine is far far away in C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles !!(?)

That's not a good beginning !

There is another \i386 in C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache but smaller.

No problem, I will see if I have a recovery CD or not.

I was just trying nLite.

It's a pity it doesn't work.

But I always have the solution of eBay ....

Thanks for all.

[Ponch]

Also there is no mention of the file "setup.exe" itself. The guide is flawed. Fujitsu does provide XP cds with their machines, they are also labelled "Product Recovery CD-ROM". Thanks Jaclaz for your translation. Next time someone refers to an italian site, I'll translate for you .

[jaclaz]

Next time someone refers to an italian site, I'll translate for you .

Sorry

I didn't read/remember you were from Belgium and thus know French very well.

Thanks anyway for the kind offer.

jaclaz