Installing Windows XP

[LuckyTaxi]

I've read articles where the author blasts Windows XP for the time it takes to install Windows XP. Initially I thought it took less time than an installation of Fedora or Mandrake. Well, I started around 11:30 and it's still not done. Between patches and applications the user would need, I am still installing the required patches. I think it's working on SP2 at the moment.

Damn! I knew I loved FreeBSD's installation for some reason. Install, cvsup and run buildworld and all the other commands. Boom, patched system in less than an hour!

 

[n0cmonkey]

It takes FreeBSD less than an hour to build world? :Q

XP takes a while. It was generally an hour to install it, then you'd have to download a couple of patches, hunt down software, install said software, edit preferences, reboot a few dozen times.

 

[TGS]

Slip stream those patches. Every install after that is upto date, at least from whatever build you are using.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
It takes FreeBSD less than an hour to build world? :Q

XP takes a while. It was generally an hour to install it, then you'd have to download a couple of patches, hunt down software, install said software, edit preferences, reboot a few dozen times.

it did for me.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: lilcam

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
It takes FreeBSD less than an hour to build world? :Q

XP takes a while. It was generally an hour to install it, then you'd have to download a couple of patches, hunt down software, install said software, edit preferences, reboot a few dozen times.

it did for me.

On what hardware?

 

[LuckyTaxi]

AMD 2800 with 1GB of ram. I swear, it took less than an hour.

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: TGS
Slip stream those patches. Every install after that is upto date, at least from whatever build you are using.

I made a special DVD with Windows XP slipstreamed all the service packs patches etc up to date. Then added all of the " Normal " applications etc ( MS Office, Nero, NSW2k5, ISO Buster, ..... ) that I usually install when I perform a clean install on a system with a text file included with all of the serial # CD Keys etc on one bootable DVD.

Installs system, all applications etc all up to date, no CD swapping etc, just a few reboots. When new updates are out I just redo the DVD.

I can get from a clean drive to a fully functional PC with applications in about 1.5 to 2 hours.

pcgeek

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: pcgeek11

Originally posted by: TGS
Slip stream those patches. Every install after that is upto date, at least from whatever build you are using.

I made a special DVD with Windows XP slipstreamed all the service packs patches etc up to date. Then added all of the " Normal " applications etc ( MS Office, Nero, NSW2k5, ISO Buster, ..... ) that I usually install when I perform a clean install on a system with a text file included with all of the serial # CD Keys etc on one bootable DVD.

Installs system, all applications etc all up to date, no CD swapping etc, just a few reboots. When new updates are out I just redo the DVD.

I can get from a clean drive to a fully functional PC with applications in about 1.5 to 2 hours.

pcgeek

So, you're saying this DVD of yours will install windows xp with the latest patches AND it'll install the "normal" applications you want?! How did you go about doing this?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: lilcam

Originally posted by: pcgeek11

Originally posted by: TGS
Slip stream those patches. Every install after that is upto date, at least from whatever build you are using.

I made a special DVD with Windows XP slipstreamed all the service packs patches etc up to date. Then added all of the " Normal " applications etc ( MS Office, Nero, NSW2k5, ISO Buster, ..... ) that I usually install when I perform a clean install on a system with a text file included with all of the serial # CD Keys etc on one bootable DVD.

Installs system, all applications etc all up to date, no CD swapping etc, just a few reboots. When new updates are out I just redo the DVD.

I can get from a clean drive to a fully functional PC with applications in about 1.5 to 2 hours.

pcgeek

So, you're saying this DVD of yours will install windows xp with the latest patches AND it'll install the "normal" applications you want?! How did you go about doing this?

Slipstreaming. It gets mentioned here a few times a month, and some good links are generally posted (which I've never copied down, but I guess I should). The only problem is that this assumes you have a working Windows machine to start with.

 

[pcgeek11]

lilcam,

It will install the Windows XP all up to date as of the DVD build date. The applications are just on the same DVD in a folder " Applications " that I inserted into the ISO file with Ultra ISO. I actually have to run the installer for the add on applications MS Office Norton SW 2k5 etc... I didn't mean to imply everything was automated, just the windows install up to date etc... Do a google for automated install or unattended Windows XP install... I am sure there is a how to on the net somewhere.

Here is the how to that I got just now searching:

http://unattended.msfn.org/

I just had the idea of how I hate flopping all those CD's in and out as I install different software. This makes it VERY easy! everything on ONE bootable XP DVD.

I did the same thing with Suse 9.2 Pro, 5 CD's combined into one DVD...

pcgeek11