usbehci.sys is corrupted

[NOTS3W]

I posted in another thread that my slipstreamed CD was looping through reboots after installation. I found a problem with my original CD file set but now I have another problem.

PROBLEM

At the start of the installation, I get an error message that USBEHCI.SYS is corrupted. The installation stops there.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED AND DONE SO FAR

My original files are from a Dell Reinstallation (not upgrade or restore) CD, Home Edition, part number 3R350, version 5.1.2600.0. I can use those files to create an ISO without slipstreaming a service pack and it works perfectly. My Computer ~ Properties reports Windows XP, 2002 version with no mention of a service pack although the original files do include a SVCPACK folder which contains 13 hotfixes.

I've downloaded the SP2 file several times, so I seriously doubt there's anything wrong with it.

As described elsewhere, I've tried the method of deleting SVCPACK.* files and SVCPACK folder from I386 on the originals then manually slipstreaming SP2 into what's left. nLite does exactly the same thing (after allowing nLite to remove the previous hotfixes) with one exception: The manual process has you delete DEPLOY.CAB from the original files then replace it with WindowsXP-KB838080-SP2-DeployTools-ENU.cab, renaming it back to DEPLOY.CAB. nLite retains the original DEPLOY.CAB file. I don't know if that's significant or not. Both procedures report successful slipstreaming.

The file USBEHCI.SY_ is added by both nLite and the manual process. It doesn't exist in the original file set so it must be part of the SP2 integration. It doesn't make sense that it's a problem with the original files.

If I delete the file as a test, the installation returns an error message that the file is missing (then aborts) so something is looking for it.

The original Dell installation routine must not be looking for the USBEHCI file or it wouldn't ever run since the file doesn't exist on the CD. So SP2 must include its own installer that knows about USBEHCI but it would seem that the new installer from Micosoft would either work with the USBEHCI file or not, regardless of what original files are present. Am I missing something?

I've used nLite's Bootable ISO feature to make all ISOs, so far. It could be a problem with nLite's ISO program but then wouldn't we all have trouble with corrupted USBEHCI files?

FINALLY, THE QUESTION(S)

If the files on the Dell CD can be used to make an ISO that boots up successfully to a pre-SP1 version of Windows, what can possibly be so unique about those files to make them incompatible with SP2 files that didn't even exist when the CD was made by Dell?

I've read a lot about failures slipstreaming SP2 into Dell CDs. Others report success using the manual or nLite procedures without mentioning any extra steps that led to their successes. I suspect they have a different Dell CD. The only thread returned on MSFN for a search of "Dell slipstream" is one that was closed a year ago by a moderator saying that "The topic of Dell OEM slipstreaming has been answered before." Uh, where? Has anyone successfully slipstreamed a Dell CD, in particular a 3R350 CD? If so, would you be willing to share a directory listing of the files so I can see what makes it different from mine?

Thanks for your patience.

Ray