[DarkShadows]

I didn't want to answer these types of questions, but here you go. If you are using WinRar to create your MSDownloads.exe, do this:

• Open WinRar.txt
  
• Select my working comment and copy it to the Windows clipboard.
  
• Close WinRar.txt
  
• Select all the files in your WORK folder (all those on the checklist in my guide above).
  
• Right-click and select WinRar - Add to Archive... from the Windows Explorer Context Menu. Fill out each tab from Right-To-Left
  
• On the Comment tab, paste the comment you copied from my file.
  
• On the Time tab, ensure the following options are set:
  • High precision modification time
    
  • Store Creation Time = enabled
    
  • Include files = Of any time
    
  • Set Archive Time = Latest File Time
  
  
• Ensure nothing is enabled on the Backup tab.
  
• On the Files tab, ensure the following options are set:
  • File paths = Store Relative Paths
  
  
• On the Advanced tab, ensure the following options are enabled:
  • No options on the tab itself
    
  • Click the Compression button and set the following options on that screen
    • Text compression = auto
      
    • Prediction order = 63
      
    • Memory to use = 128
      
    • Audio compression = auto
      
    • Channels = 0
      
    • True color compression = auto
      
    • General compression - Dictionary Size = 4096
      
    • Enable all three compression types
    
    
  • SFX Options button—pasting my comment already set these SFX Options correctly for you. You can take a look at them so you know where they go, but do not change anything.
  
  
• On the General tab, ensure the following options are enabled:
  • Archive name = MSDownloads.exe
    
  • Update Mode = Add and replace files
    
  • Archive format = RAR
    
  • Compression Method = Best
    
  • Create SFX archive
    
  • Create solid archive
    
  • Test archived files
  
  
• Since these options will work well for any SFX silent switchless installer, save them for later use
  • Click the Profiles... button.
    
  • Select save current settings to new profile
    
  • Profile Name = SFX Silent package (disable all other options)
  
  
• Click OK to create MSDownloads.exe.

If you had previously created the SFX Silent Package profile, you could've just done this:

• Open WinRar.txt
  
• Select my working comment and copy it to the Windows clipboard.
  
• Close WinRar.txt
  
• Select all the files in your WORK folder (all those on the checklist in my guide above).
  
• Right-click and select WinRar - Add to Archive... from the Windows Explorer Context Menu.
  
• Click the Profiles... button.
  
• Select the SFX Silent Package profile.
  
• On the Comment tab, paste the comment you copied from my file.
  
• Click OK to create MSDownloads.exe.

By creating an SFX with my comment (and the settings above), you will get the smallest SFX archive file size, and the SFX will unpack to a temporary folder inside of %Temp%, launch SFX.cmd (the installation payload), and finally delete the unpacked temporary files after installation.

This post has been edited by DarkShadows: 17 January 2008 - 11:49 AM

[DarkShadows]

I have learned that there is another Windows Update that is a requirement. I have updated the first post accordingly (MSDownloads.zip has not changed). This is of minor impact to most, as you should already be including the required Windows Update in your XPCDs anyway. See the first post for more information.

[DarkShadows]

"Forum member in a Private Message" said:

Hi,
I am not getting the shortcut to windows update on my start menu. I had a look at the InstWUWC.inf file and found that there was no entry for add.shortcut. I would have corrected it myself but i don't know how to enter the path to the icon in shell 32.dll

InstWUWC.inf does not actually add a Windows Update shortcut, which should already be in the Start Menu as a result of a default Windows XP installation. If you are installing InstMUWC.inf (which creates a Microsoft Update shortcut), then you no longer require the Windows Update shortcut anyway. This is because either shortcut will both end up taking you to the Microsoft Update web site anyway (this is result of registering the MUWeb ActiveX addon).

Still to answer your queston, InstMCWC.inf has the answer to the path for shell32.dll.

[Add.Shortcut]
;Add shortcut directly to Start Menu
Name = "%Shortcut%", 8,22
CmdLine = 16422,"Internet Explorer",IEXPLORE.EXE "http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/home.aspx"
InfoTip = "%InfoTip%"
IconPath = 11,,shell32.dll
IconIndex = 13

You would just change the IconIndex value to the correct index of the Windows Update Icon. And change the URL above to the correct one for Windows Update.

[Whiestler]

Thanks for clarifying the Microsoft and Windows Update thing and for a great guide.

[tenchi103]

This is just a question out of curiousity and not a "when will it be done" question. Any chance that you will be updating the inf's since a lot have them have been updated with newest versions?

[DarkShadows]

Yes, I do have plans to update the guide and the downloads. However, I'm in the middle of moving right now and I have no time to complete it.

I should also point out to folks that the guide above was written when I was still building PCs with Windows XP and Internet Explorer 6. I have since started integrating IE7 and that is where I have also noticed new ActiveX controls. I believe if you are still using IE6 that not much has changed.

[midiboy]

Hi DarkShadows,

thanks for that guide! Works well on WinXP. (except for the Microsoft Update Catalog which seems to have a new version up). However, I recently switched to Vista and now I tried to run parts of your installation on Vista (only MU, OGA and MS Update Catalog) since Windows Update and WGA is altready part of the OS).

It all installs fine (no error messages) but I found the following:

1. Microsoft Update seems to work but when opening the MU website one has to acknowledge the license again although I did this before grabbing the datastore.edb (and it works on XP). I even grabbed the datastore.edb again from a Vista PC but it seems the relevant info is not stored there (anymore).

2. OGA seems to be installed fine (shows up in "%windir%\Downloaded Programs") and I verified it is the latest version 1.6.28.0 but when trying to download an OGA protected update, IE insists on installing the activeX update again.

3. Same goes for the Microsoft Update Catalog but that goes for WinXP as well.

Maybe it is just a small thing thats different when installing on Vista. At least it installs fine.
If you (or anyone else) have some time ... ?

Thanks,
Alex

[Kilyin]

Great piece of work DS. I recently ran into a snag trying to integrate the latest WGA for XP into this. I get prompted to download the new one on fresh builds now. Any updates buddy?

[orestes]

should i do this method before or after i integrate the SP3?
i have a copy of WinXP SP0 .. so the thing is i

copy winxp content into a folder
slipstream windows media player 11
go thru your method for windows update
open nlite and beginning slipstreaming sp3 *i got a dialogue box saying about latest hotfix, should nlite remove it 1st * i ignored it
slipstream sata drivers, ie7 .. include VL key..
and create image..

other things..

can i do the same setting for sfx you creating MSDownloads.exe to WindowsUpdateAgent.exe ?
like

Quote

On the Advanced tab, ensure the following options are enabled:

1. No options on the tab itself
2. Click the Compression button and set the following options on that screen
1. Text compression = auto
2. Prediction order = 63
3. Memory to use = 128
4. Audio compression = auto
5. Channels = 0
6. True color compression = auto
7. General compression - Dictionary Size = 4096
8. Enable all three compression types

This post has been edited by orestes: 05 May 2008 - 12:05 AM

[Kilyin]

I was able to successfully integrate the latest WGA into my XP SP3 source using this. I still use IE6 in my slipstreams, so if anyone else is in the same predicament I can post how I was able to accomplish it.

This post has been edited by Kilyin: 07 May 2008 - 08:42 AM

[DarkShadows]

@midiboy
The current Guide is not intended for Vista at all. But I'm glad to see that someone tried anyway. It will be months before I start playing with unattended Vista.

The ActiveX controls get updated periodically to new versions, but my documented process to obtain them should not have changed (hopefully).

@Kilyin
If you encountered an issue with WGA using my guide, and you have already resolved it, then please Post or PM me what you needed to do differently for the most recent WGA to work. I will update the guide accordingly. It should still be the same download process to acquire WGA, unless M$ changed it again.

@orestes
Theoretically, for SP3 you would follow my guide soup-to-nuts after slipstreaming SP3 into your XPCD source. However, I'm certain that several of the requirement KB updates listed in my guide are now included in SP3, so you no longer need to integrate those. I will be integrating SP3 this week and updating the guide afterward accordingly. I will maintain requirements for both SP2 and SP3.

My own process is:

• Copy XPCD Source (SP0 or SP1a)
  
• Slipstream SP2 (which would now become SP3)
  
• Slipstream Windows Media Player 11 (I use Boooggy's WMP11 Slipstreamer)
  
• Integrate all other Windows Updates
  
• Add other selected Microsoft and Windows Software installations to SVCPack.inf <--- This is where my guide comes in
  
• Add things to Cmdlines.txt
  
• Add things to RunOnceEx

Yes, you can use the same compression settings for creating MSDownloads.exe and WindowsUpdateAgent.exe. Scroll up a few posts, you will see I recommend saving a WinRar profile and re-using it for each SFX you create. (I use those same settings for all my SFX installs). The only difference between each SFX are:

• The source files selected
  
• The file executed for each SFX.
  
• The SFX description information.

This is why I included my comment files in the guide, I've done the other work for you. You can use the same WinRar profile and just paste the correct comment in. Maybe I'll include this in the next Guide version since I've typed up most of it already.

@Everyone
I've been away for awhile, but I can now work a little on updating this guide. Here's the situation, v2.5 of the guide was written exclusively for Windows XP SP2 with IE6. I know there are some issues when you install IE7 (you get prompted to re-download many of the ActiveX controls). Nothing about this guide was ever intended for Windows Vista, however some things may be adaptable to Vista (Vista already has many of the XP requirements built-in). So for now, I'm not going to focus on Vista at all. But here is what I will focus on for the next version of the Guide:

• Windows XP SP2 with IE6 - Some ActiveX controls have changed.
  
• Windows XP SP2 with IE7 - Same as A, but some ActiveX controls are different for IE7
  
• Windows XP SP3 with IE6 - Same as A, but some requirements are now built into SP3
  
• Windows XP SP3 with IE7 - Same as C, but some ActiveX controls are different for IE7

If anyone has used my guide with IE7 (and presumably made some changes) with any success, please PM me. I haven't even started doing Vista unattended installs yet, so such guide is a long way off (from me at least).

[trickytwista]

Thanks very much, very helpful indeed

[Kilyin]

What I did - I downloaded the new WGA (KB892130) through Windows update, I was unable to find a standalone download for it. So I went in the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\downloads folder and created an SFX archive out of the KB892130 folder (which was named a49d784415582d2f98c84ceb0a75d898) with the command "update\update.exe /q /o /n /z" to be run after extraction and added it to SVCPACK.inf.

Was the only way I could find to make it work.

This post has been edited by Kilyin: 07 May 2008 - 04:50 PM

[geese howard]

Kilyin, on May 7 2008, 05:41 PM, said:

What I did - I downloaded the new WGA (KB892130) through Windows update, I was unable to find a standalone download for it. So I went in the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\downloads folder and created an SFX archive out of the KB892130 folder (which was named a49d784415582d2f98c84ceb0a75d898) with the command "update\update.exe /q /o /n /z" to be run after extraction and added it to SVCPACK.inf.

Was the only way I could find to make it work.

here
Wga

[Kilyin]

geese howard, on May 7 2008, 07:20 PM, said:

Kilyin, on May 7 2008, 05:41 PM, said:

What I did - I downloaded the new WGA (KB892130) through Windows update, I was unable to find a standalone download for it. So I went in the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\downloads folder and created an SFX archive out of the KB892130 folder (which was named a49d784415582d2f98c84ceb0a75d898) with the command "update\update.exe /q /o /n /z" to be run after extraction and added it to SVCPACK.inf.

Was the only way I could find to make it work.

here
Wga

One of the first things I tried. Unfortunatly, didn't work.

[orestes]

i really want to know which is the best way to slipstream packs or updates into winxp source...
using /integrate or 3rd party like nlite?
is there any differences like might be missing some files while slipstreaming or not fully updating to the latest built files...
i have winxp sp0 cd ... service pack 3.. win media player 11 setup .. ie7 + cumulative hotfix 1file .. + sata driver ..

now the slipping part...

not using nlite
1st i /integrate sp3 into xp
then i use wmp11 integrator by jean-sebastian carle *not booogy's* because it's direct and dont have too many options to choose.. just choose the wmp11, winxp source, click integrate.. that's all..
now im opening nlite
slipstream ie7+hotfix and also include the sata driver.. make a boot cd...

this is just one or several ways i tried to make the best winxp sp3 cd that can be... but still, something felt missing... and also, sometimes the final image to burn is different makes me wonder, what other files that might integrated into winxp source using different method .. and will it result error if i just ignore this... because, if it slipstreamed then all the files should be there right? so why with the different imagesize?

and include this windows update and office update into the source, can be done at last stage .. just manually copy the windowsupdate.exe and msdownload.exe into svcpack and write the necessary into svcpack.inf .. and burn the image for boot...

so... am i missing something? cant seem to have that clean, smooth winxp sp3 cd... *sigh*

[DarkShadows]

@orestes
Your last post is really starting to get off topic for this thread. You should repost that as a general question to this forum. Please keep this thread on-topic, which is limited to the items discussed in my first post.

[CODYQX4]

I have completed the process but I had one question. Since I am using XP SP3 Professional, do I still need to integrate the KB905474 (WGAN) or is it added with SP3?

[`Felix`]

I have been watching this thread with interest and have followed all the instructions on page 1. Currently i am testing with Windows XP Pro SP3 (integrated) and IE (installing from SVCPACK with Hotfixes etc).

What i have found to date is that most of the information in the guide will not work with WinXPSP3 and IE7. The WGA section will not work and the solution as some of the other clever people here have communicated is to download the WGA activeX part on a clean machines and then go to the %windir%\SoftwareDistribution folder and pull the updates out from there and either and make a SFX installer. I have done this and works 100% everytime. (it's attached if anyone would like it - i haven't changed anything other than simply packing it) Other than that i haven't had any other success in trying to get the rest of the components completely working. I have had the MU shortcut installed and the DataStore.edb file install and work correctly as discussed, as well as the MU Catalogue. The problems i haven't been able to solve is the prompts when you go to the MU site for addtional installation etc...

Look forward to more information from all that are testing and working with the guide.

Hope my little bit of input is helpful.

Cheers,
Felix

WGA-KB892130-X86.rar
RapidShare WGA-KB892130-X86.rar

This post has been edited by `Felix`: 18 May 2008 - 01:34 AM

[Anderton]

Kilyin, on May 7 2008, 07:41 PM, said:

What I did - I downloaded the new WGA (KB892130) through Windows update, I was unable to find a standalone download for it. So I went in the C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\downloads folder and created an SFX archive out of the KB892130 folder (which was named a49d784415582d2f98c84ceb0a75d898) with the command "update\update.exe /q /o /n /z" to be run after extraction and added it to SVCPACK.inf.

Was the only way I could find to make it work.

`Felix`, on May 18 2008, 04:23 AM, said:

I have been watching this thread with interest and have followed all the instructions on page 1. Currently i am testing with Windows XP Pro SP3 (integrated) and IE (installing from SVCPACK with Hotfixes etc).
...
Hope my little bit of input is helpful.

Cheers,
Felix

Hi,

Here is the original link (official executable file) for "KB892130 - Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool v1.7.69.2":

http://www.download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/software/crup/2008/04/windowsxp-kb892130-enu-x86_72e487d115be77f49f64053893a23ecb58bc59cb.exe

File: windowsxp-kb892130-enu-x86.exe
Version: 1.7.69.2 (v1.7.0069.2)
Date: 16/april/2008 - 02:23:22 AM
Size: 1,07 MB (1.131.560 bytes)
CRC32: DB3F4299
MD5: 17AC547BD8B2D42770EC4CC766A6BA3B
SHA1: 72E487D115BE77F49F64053893A23ECB58BC59CB

It installs in all languages versions of Windows XP.
Best wishes,
Anderton.