[Mayro]

I build rebuilds of windows XP with the service pack and such integrated. Is there a way to burn these to a DVD or to leave them on a differnt hard drive and be able to install windows xp to a hard drive without a version of windows running?

Basicaly, I want to install windows xp on a clean machine without having to write the iso image to a DVD.

[Partizan]

One way is to install Windows with all Service packs and programs loaded and then make a drive image with a program like Symantec Ghost. You don't need to reinstall windows, you just copy the image to the drive.

Beware: Won't function if you change your hardware.

Regards, Partizan

[PangingJr]

if i understand the questions correctly then generally yes, there are some ways to do what you want... however, you would need to prepare a custom Windows installation. things among other things will be either have the Windows setup program copy all of the necessary files for the setup from other installation points (other then the Windows setup CD), such as from a shared distribution point which is located on a network server, or from the copied of the i386 on the local hard drive. for the Windows installation via the network share, you would need to boot the PC with a networking floppy/CD, then map the shared and then start to the setup program.

and yes, you can also use an exact image method as said on above post if the system that has been used for this image preparation has same hardware specs by restoring the image onto the empty or new hard drive.

[Mayro]

Thanks guys. I made this new version of windows with nlite (finaly got a DVD RW) and I stuck it in and went to watch that new movie corpse bride. Having forgot to unplug my pc from the network, I had been online for 3 and a half hours by the time I had got home without a fire wall, antivirus or anything like that installed or turned on (aka windows firewall was removed from windows).

This build was so good, that alot of the services that have no use for me were pre disabled and I didnt even get spyware or anything with the system being totaly un protected lol.

[nitrousoxide52]

Usually nothing happens if you leave a firewall off for even days at a time. All of those statistics are scare tactics lol. Like the thing where they say "Before the time it took for a new computer to get attacked was 15 minutes, now it's 15 seconds." They just do it so you pay someone 500 dollars to secure your pc lol

[Yousaif]

Originally Posted by nitrousoxide52

Usually nothing happens if you leave a firewall off for even days at a time. All of those statistics are scare tactics lol. Like the thing where they say "Before the time it took for a new computer to get attacked was 15 minutes, now it's 15 seconds." They just do it so you pay someone 500 dollars to secure your pc lol

Normally what you said here is correct, but do you remember the Blaster worm from a few years back? The number of viruses actively scanning for machines with no protection was so high that in some cases it was less than 10 seconds before it found you and infected you.

I was working tech support that day at my ISP. Was an absolute nightmare.

[PangingJr]

Lol Mayro. you did not get viruses is a good news, but that does not mean it's because you have removed some system files and disabled some services with the tool.

[SexPistoL]

Today I reformated, installed OS with a slip-streamed SP2 I made, then used http://www.autopatcher.com/ to get all the other OS updates sinse SP2 that I needed. Then installed my ethernet driver, installed my AV then updated it before I would even go on line. You can never be too careful Only then did I use my live updates to install all my Mobo drivers. Another good thing to do is get all the latest; Mobo, GFX and any other drivers you need, put them on a CD-RW or a seperate HD, before you format the PC. I know this has gone slightly off your subject but I hope it helps........

[Lowfat]

I got a question. Anyone know how to install third party programs with windows? I have seen it a few times, and would really like on on my own.

[Mayro]

I do that, its the other reason that I now have 500ish gigs of HD space

As for you, tulcakelume, integrateing software into windows XP is a giant pain in the butt. Literaly by the time you would learn/do the auto installs for windows xp, you would have used so much time that if you are like me and then find out that a new version of that same software has come out, you would then want to add it too. That cycle would repeat over and over and you would finaly go insane hehe.

Its much simpler to just put all the files (programs) that you want to install into a folder and go one by one installing them. I use a DVD RW for that so that when a updated version of the software comes out, I just replace the current installer.

[SexPistoL]

Agreed with Mayro,

But you can "slip-stream all the Hot fixes" into SP2, that would make a re-install quicker. Your mobo, gfx and apps would be a nightmare to keep on top of..............