The Best and The Easiest Way to Slipstream Service Pack 3 (SP3) into Windows XP Setup

We all know Microsoft has released the third and last service pack for Windows XP. So here I'm posting a simple and detailed guide for slipstreaming this SP3 into your Windows XP Setup, so that whenever you do a fresh Windows installation, you'll not need to wait for hours to download and install Windows updates or to manually install SP3.

If you are wondering why should I slipstream SP3 into my Windows setup, then following are a few points which will satisfy you:

1. By slipstreaming SP3 into Windows setup, you'll get an up-to-date Windows setup which will install an already updated Windows. So you'll not need to update it over Internet to download 100+ updates.

2. You'll not need to install SP3 manually after installing Windows as it'll already contain it. So it'll save your time.

3. You'll not need to enter Serial key at the installation time because SP3 includes this new feature which allows you to install Windows without entering serial key. You can enter it after the installation completes.

So here we start our slipstreaming tutorial:

Prerequisites:

Windows XP Setup CD or Setup copied in your system
Service Pack 3
nLite
A CD burning software e.g. Nero, a blank CD and CD/DVD Writer

Getting Started:

1. Create a new folder in your system e.g. "Windows XP Setup" and copy Windows setup from CD in this new folder.

2. Now open nLite and it'll show the welcome screen where you can select the language that will be used throughout the setup wizard.

3. Click on "Next" button.

4. Now it'll ask for the folder location where Windows XP setup is stored. Click on "Browse" button and locate the recently created folder. You can also type the folder location in the given textbox.

5. Once you tell the folder location, the wizard will automatically detect the Windows version, language, size and other details. Now click on "Next" button.

6. Now it'll show "Presets" page. We are not covering it in this tutorial as its not required. So just click on "Next" button again.

7. Now the wizard will show you a number of tasks which can be performed on the Windows setup like Service pack integration, drivers integration, removing unwanted components from setup, a few Windows tweaks and creating bootable ISO.

Since this tutorial is for slipstreaming SP3 into Windows Setup, we'll recommend you to select following 2 tasks:

Service Pack
Bootable ISO

8. Now click on "Next" button. The wizard will ask you to tell the SP3 file location.

Click on "Select" button and locate the SP3 EXE file. Once you tell the file location, setup will automatically start slipstreaming it into Windows Setup.

Once it completes the integration, it'll show you a pop-up message:

9. Click on "OK" button and then click on "Next" button.

10. Now the wizard will show "Bootable ISO" page. Where you can change the CD label:

11. Now click on "Make ISO" button and the wizard will start creating bootable ISO image:

12. When it'll complete the ISO image creation, it'll show a message at bottom:

13. Now click on "Next" button and it'll show the final completion message:

14. That's all. Click on "Finish" button.

15. Now you can burn the bootable ISO using Nero or any other CD burning software.

That's the end of this guide. Now you can enjoy your new Windows XP installation.

NOTE: You can also choose other tasks mentioned in Step 7, like Tweaks, Options which will allow you to enter Product key, owner name, organization name, timezone, etc to make the whole setup unattended.

This article was posted in Windows XP.

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63 Comments

nitin gupta

please help me , when i open nlite and try to browse the location of xp cd for windows installation ,, the error comes like "make sure that the selected folder or drive contains the i386or AMD64..........."
bilal

can I use the i386 folder which my OEM put on my HDD to slipstream with nlite since i dont have the installation cd?
VG

^^ I'm not sure but I think you can. You'll need to give it a try.
Pat

A techniclal query regarding Slipstreaming SP3 into Windows XP Pro.
Having successfully Slipstreamed as per your Tutorial, which i found to be Simple, very Easy to follow, and does the Job in about Ten Minutes.
However one point eludes me:

SP3 has been slipstreamed and the ISO burned to Disc using INFRA RECORDER. Then checked that the Disc did have the SP3 Slipstreamed into Windows. It Did.

But what about the HotFixes, Patches , etc which Microsoft keep bring out. Am I mistaken in thinking that nLite has the facility to Slipstream theses as well.

Or Do You Not Recommend that these be incorporated into the Windows XP Pro Slipstreamed SP3.

My Sincere Thanks

Kind Regards

Pat
VG

^^ If a hotfix was released after SP3, then you can slipstream it in the setup using nLite. Check point 7 which shows the button to "integrate hotfixes" in the screenshot.
Tim

Hi, the slipstream seemed to work ok, but it ends up being around 957 mb and my cd is only around 700. Do i need to use a dvd burner?

thanks for your help.

-Tim
Tim

I realized I had the SP3 in the same folder and that added 300+ mb. I moved that, recreated the iso and it fit onto one cd.

thanks,
-Tim
Hayami

Hello VG I have one question, my computer never came with boot discs so I had to make my own once I ran the computer for the first time. However when I copy the contents of the boot discs that contain windows mce 2005 nLite will not load it. So pretty much am I copying the correct thing or am I SOL since I do not have a windows disc that came with my computer?
VG

^^ Does it contain "I386" folder?
Hayami

Yes it does however nLite keeps telling me that the folder I add needs I386 even tho it does have it in there so I'm not sure whats up...any specific file list thats supposed to be in there perhaps I'm missing something?