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That said, I'd love to figure out how to slipstream IE8 and WGA and so on, as the process I mentioned above *does* leave a few things out.

You could include the updates manually in the $OEM$ distribution folder. Of course this isn't true slipstreaming as the updates will be installed afterwards.

Tools such as RyanVM's Integrator and nLite also can provide an easier, automated way to slipstream updates and customize Windows installs. nLite also supports addons that people can create for things like WGA and IE8.

A good source of information and downloads for custom Windows installs is the MSFN forums,Unattended Windows install guide, and WinCert.net forums.

Man, karma be damned, this is the first post I've bursted out laughing at on Slashdot in a while.

P.S. Your website is of immeasurable value, assuming you are RyanVM of ryanvm.net.

That works quite well indeed. I've got a DVD I made for all of my XP installs that includes all of the driver packs and SP3; it takes about 1GB.

Eventually RyanVM will probably release another pack that includes updates since SP3, as he does with post-SP2 releases. I made one just before SP3 came out, with the RyanVM updates & driverpacks, & it worked well.

After installing nLite, get the majority of patches from RyanVM's website. Any extra patches can be downloaded and applied after that, but his post SP2 update pack covers most of the big ones.

This is a nice idea for individuals who only have to do this once. However, the RyanVM and Xable update packs have been offered for years and integrate into your installation disc. No need to run another lengthly installation after the install is done.

Instead of starting a flamewar like the other comment to your post, I will actually try to include some information.

I maintain a custom XP Pro disc. I use nLite to apply these custom changes. I purchased XP Pro w/SP2 at one point for a friends computer that I built. The only options that are not pre-set on the custom disc is the serial number that I force new computer users to buy because I'm not a large advocate of piracy (I, personally, use Gentoo Linux in my home). I update the disc every so often (usually once a month) to apply new Windows Updates, etc. I use the RyanVM's XP post SP2 update pack.

:-)

Ryan VM FAQ

Ryan VM Torrent Files

Ryan VM FAQ

Ryan VM Torrent Files

Have you heard of WGA Notifications? Every time you boot your computer it phones home to Microsoft and sends information about your computer. Every time you install Microsoft updates it phones home to Microsoft and sends information about your computer. If you Windows Update it sends information about your computer and forces you to install the wgatray spyware.

This is why I no longer use Windows Update. I use AutoPatcher (for existing installs) or RyanVM Update Packs (integrates into the cd, I use this for new installs. "RyanVM WGA Addon" contains the wga spyware).

Also, you should block the following domains at your router:

genuine.microsoft.com
mpa.one.microsoft.com
wpa.one.microsoft.com
wustats.microsoft.com

If you're using SquidGuard or similar, you should block or rewrite the following URLs:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=74005
http://runonce.msn.com/runonce2.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/

If you have this spyware installed, XP AntiSpy can remove it.

Now the individual post-last-SP patches, those are a pain to do offline mainly because there are so many of them.

You can always slipstream post-SP2 patches to an XP SP2 disc... along with drivers and what not. Start here: http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/

He has an update pack to 2007/02/16.

Finding drivers for Windows is often a PITA. However, if you're doing a clean install you should look into DriverPacks. This includes nearly every driver available for Windows XP. I use this with RyanVM Update Packs to integrate all updates, a patched uxtheme.dll, themes that aren't so Fisher Price, replace notepad with Notepad2, etc. Works great.

And while you're into Nlite, make sure you download the RyanVM update pack. It has all the Windows updates up to a few months ago.

After integrating RyanVM, last check there are only 6 updates to do.

Check out Ryan's files here

Dell OEM eh, can I interest you in an addon or two that will automatically and legally activate your version of XP for you... forever! Just a quick google search or two for some vlk keys and you're golden ;). Or... maybe you already have some, who knows? Enjoy!

For anyone interested in this sort of thing, you might also want to check out RyanVM:

http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/

This allows you to produce updated Windows installation CDs, that actually have the service packs and post-service pack hotfixes *already integrated into the installation*. This saves the extra time normally taken to install Windows *then* go apply all the updates.

I've been using nLite and RyanVM's update pack to do this for a while now. Great stuff, even works with my Dell OEM version of XP.

http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/

This is what I've used with good results.

And slipstream this, too: RyanVM's Windows XP Post-SP2 Update Pack. It'll take care of most of those updates left. Makes life a hell fo a lot easier.

http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/ does the same thing
also use http://www.driverpacks.net/ to add drivers

Last updated July 14. About 45 MB with optional add-ons like WMP 10. You'll see a full list of what's included on the front page.

There are a multitude of ways around this.

Ghost the machines, and keep your images updated every couple of months.

Make a slipstreamed CD that includes all the current updates. This is a dead-simple way to do so..

If your network were bigger, you could use WSUS to keep a local repository of all the updates, so you're just downloading them once, and the WSUS server hands them out to all your local computers.

Ok some tools I use to make my life easier (all free):

• nlite (creates unattended installs, needs dotnet) slipstreams automatically service packs and hotfixes and allows other unattended options (more then MS tools). w2k and higher only. http://www.nliteos.com/
• autopatcher contains all the hotfixes, tweaks and third party extras like dotnet 1,2, flash, shockwave, java. http://www.autopatcher.com/ **
• driverpacks contains all the winxp drivers in existence (I think) http://driverpacks.net/Projects/DriverPacks/
• RVM packs, contains hotfixes and some extras. And is compatible with nlite. http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/ **

Basic usage:

• Drop the contents of your winxp install CD onto your HD. Download the latest service pack.
• Start and Point nlite to both.
• Choose any option that you like but don't create an iso.
• It will automatically integrate the service pack.
• About integrating hotfixes see RVM packs, which is compatible with nlite. http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/ (also more info about appz integration)
• Again options, choose what fits you. (Talking about nlite)
• Save
• Now follow the driverpacks site instructions to add the drivers to your install CD/DVD.
• About integrating extra applications see: http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/page/list /switch/ for general info look at its home site: http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/ and google for specific appz.
• After first boot run autopatcher latest version. (if needed, RVM packs if done well, don't need this step)
• Run your personal little script.
• Now you have a working winxp installation with all tools and most actual updates.
• Deploy!

Ok some tools I use to make my life easier (all free):

• nlite (creates unattended installs, needs dotnet) slipstreams automatically service packs and hotfixes and allows other unattended options (more then MS tools). w2k and higher only. http://www.nliteos.com/
• autopatcher contains all the hotfixes, tweaks and third party extras like dotnet 1,2, flash, shockwave, java. http://www.autopatcher.com/ **
• driverpacks contains all the winxp drivers in existence (I think) http://driverpacks.net/Projects/DriverPacks/
• RVM packs, contains hotfixes and some extras. And is compatible with nlite. http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/ **

Basic usage:

• Drop the contents of your winxp install CD onto your HD. Download the latest service pack.
• Start and Point nlite to both.
• Choose any option that you like but don't create an iso.
• It will automatically integrate the service pack.
• About integrating hotfixes see RVM packs, which is compatible with nlite. http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/ (also more info about appz integration)
• Again options, choose what fits you. (Talking about nlite)
• Save
• Now follow the driverpacks site instructions to add the drivers to your install CD/DVD.
• About integrating extra applications see: http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/page/list /switch/ for general info look at its home site: http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/ and google for specific appz.
• After first boot run autopatcher latest version. (if needed, RVM packs if done well, don't need this step)
• Run your personal little script.
• Now you have a working winxp installation with all tools and most actual updates.
• Deploy!

As others have mentioned, it is fairly easy to slipstream SP2 into an XP CD. But if you want to integrate the more recent updates, there's really only one option. RyanVM's Windows XP Post-SP2 Update Pack does exactly what you want and works like a charm. There are even third-party addon packs which let you add other interesting things to your XP install CD.