possible to *gut* contents of dell xp cd to create a non dell xp cd?

[hofan41]

So anyways, here is the deal, I have been having problems with a fresh install of the OEM windows xp mce 2005 and would like the rock solid stability of the install that my dell laptop has, which is also mce 2005 but with all the updates/rollup 2. as to why the OEM mce 2005 doesnt perform the same, i cant explain, i think it has to do with the order in which the updates from the internet are installed that cause it to behave differently from the mce 2005 on my dell laptop.

anyways, since they are both mce 2005, i was wondering if there was anyway to make a "slipstreamed" mce 2005 which has all the content of the dell cd, but can be used to install on my desktop using my OEM key. any ideas? i'm going to try to do it by changing the boot image later tonight.

 

[TechnoPro]

Check out nLite - sounds like just what you need.

 

[hofan41]

yes that would be a good way, however, aside from the fact that we know dell includes update rollup 2, is there anyway to figure out which other updates/hotfixes are installed on the dell cd and which are not so i know which ones to include in nLite ?

 

[TechnoPro]

Originally posted by: hofan41
yes that would be a good way, however, aside from the fact that we know dell includes update rollup 2, is there anyway to figure out which other updates/hotfixes are installed on the dell cd and which are not so i know which ones to include in nLite ?

Here's a utility that will tell you what updates are installed on any given machine. Try it out.

 

[hofan41]

thanks a lot! i may not have wasted $110 purchasing mce. =)

 

[pcgeek11]

You can just use the Dell OEM to install and just use the proper CD Key when asked. I've done it often. If the PC you are installing it on isn't a Dell it will need to be activated with a proper key (you will have to change it using one of the many key changers ). The other way is to make an image of the Dell OEM, Use an ISO editor and delete the OEM folder and the " winnt.sif " file in the i386 directory ( that is where the Dell install CD Key is listed ). Then burn this image to a CD.

pcgeek11

 

[hofan41]

Originally posted by: pcgeek11
You can just use the Dell OEM to install and just use the proper CD Key when asked. I've done it often. If the PC you are installing it on isn't a Dell it will need to be activated with a proper key (you will have to change it using one of the many key changers ). The other way is to make an image of the Dell OEM, Use an ISO editor and delete the OEM folder and the " winnt.sif " file in the i386 directory ( that is where the Dell install CD Key is listed ). Then burn this image to a CD.

pcgeek11

if i delete the OEM folder wont I also be deleting the auto installation scripts that run after I install mce 2005? If so, do those auto installation scripts in the $OEM$ folder install .NET/update rollup 2?

 

[pcgeek11]

Originally posted by: hofan41

Originally posted by: pcgeek11
You can just use the Dell OEM to install and just use the proper CD Key when asked. I've done it often. If the PC you are installing it on isn't a Dell it will need to be activated with a proper key (you will have to change it using one of the many key changers ). The other way is to make an image of the Dell OEM, Use an ISO editor and delete the OEM folder and the " winnt.sif " file in the i386 directory ( that is where the Dell install CD Key is listed ). Then burn this image to a CD.

pcgeek11

if i delete the OEM folder wont I also be deleting the auto installation scripts that run after I install mce 2005? If so, do those auto installation scripts in the $OEM$ folder install .NET/update rollup 2?

Sorry you may be correct... I have never used MCE... Anyway it doesn't matter. Leave the OEM folder and just get rid of the " Winnt.sif " file in the i386 directory or change the CD Key before you have to activate and it works like a charm. I use my Dell Branded CD all the time on Non-Dell Systems, I just have to use ( change over to ) a valid CD Key when activating. It doesn't install a bunch of crap either.

pcgeek11

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: pcgeek11

Originally posted by: hofan41

Originally posted by: pcgeek11
You can just use the Dell OEM to install and just use the proper CD Key when asked. I've done it often. If the PC you are installing it on isn't a Dell it will need to be activated with a proper key (you will have to change it using one of the many key changers ). The other way is to make an image of the Dell OEM, Use an ISO editor and delete the OEM folder and the " winnt.sif " file in the i386 directory ( that is where the Dell install CD Key is listed ). Then burn this image to a CD.

pcgeek11

if i delete the OEM folder wont I also be deleting the auto installation scripts that run after I install mce 2005? If so, do those auto installation scripts in the $OEM$ folder install .NET/update rollup 2?

Sorry you may be correct... I have never used MCE... Anyway it doesn't matter. Leave the OEM folder and just get rid of the " Winnt.sif " file in the i386 directory or change the CD Key before you have to activate and it works like a charm. I use my Dell Branded CD all the time on Non-Dell Systems, I just have to use ( change over to ) a valid CD Key when activating. It doesn't install a bunch of crap either.

pcgeek11

Dell is wonderful this way. They include all of the crap on other CDs which you can accidentally throw in the trash.