The Todd Today

Image via Wikipedia

Slipstreaming has become so much easier than it was not to long ago thank to tools such as nLite, Windows Updates Downloader, & WMP11 Slipstreamer.  We have been using this method for quickly reloading desktops and laptops with Windows xp, 2000 and Vista for quite awhile at the shop,  I figured I would write up a post about it for your and our future reference should we forget.

The tool that does most of the work here is nLite, nLite takes all the work that it takes to put together a slipstream disc and automates most of it.  All you have to do is answer the prompts that come up as you work through the wizards.  For a list of all the features go to http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html .   A couple big things that we love about nLite are that you can add any drivers you would like to the OS install CD as well as its ability to incorporate all the updates from Windows update onto your install disc, and that where the Windows Updates Downloader comes into play.

Windows Updates Downloader is one of the greatest time savers you can find, it takes all the work out of hunting down every windows update you could ever need.  You simply download the program and then download the url list that corresponds to the version of Windows that you wish to install, select the updates you want, hit continue and bam, you have more updates than you know what to do with.

Finally the last tool is optional but if you want to slipstream Windows Media Player 11 then you will need it.  WMP11 Slipstreamer once installed is automatically used by nLite to slipstream WMP 11 onto your Windows install CD.  No need to do any customization of this tool as it works out of the box just fine.

One last things to note is that not all updates will slipstream so during the build process of nLite you will get errors but fear not just coninue on and you will have a nice slipstream disc in no time.  If you need help at anytime referr to the forums on each products site as they seem to be very helpfull in our experience.

Hope this helps someone!