w2k3 + sp1 + hotfixes & tweaks fails to install

[dadanada]

I built an Nlite version of windows 2k3 with slipstreamed sp1, all subsequent hotfixes, my laptop drivers, removed some stuff I didnt think I needed, added more tweaks from nlite's menus, and added my product key. When I installed this disk, I had two problems:

1. when setup was copying the files to the disk at the start of installation, it reported 19 separate files it could not find - mostly .inf files (irdasmc.inf, irnsc.inf, etc), also oembios.bin, some .chm files, and concerningly, oleacc.dll. Presumably this is just an oversite and not a real problem, but I couldn't complete the install to find out, because:

2. setup rejected my known valid product key(s). It told me the key was not valid. I had previously installed w2k3 with this same key, so I know it works. I also tried another w2k3 post sp1 key that had also previously worked. This was a showstopper. Any idea what went wrong or what to do about it?

[nuhi]

1. oembios.bin? That means that you used the custom remove box for extra files, and maybe even later overwritten txtsetup.sif with older one...can't tell for sure but suffice to say it's not something you can click yourself into.

2. only time when i heard about failed cd key and confirmed it was during Windows XP Media Center edition editing and it got it's own compatibility option. For Windows 2003 it never failed, could be the byproduct of the first errors. You should remodify it by using that same preset but on the clean installation files and be sure not to use the Remove box unless tested (components page - advanced)

Also never overwrite txtsetup.sif and dosnet.inf after nlite.