Simplifying Your Computer

[rgdot]

I have original Windows discs sitting right here but for the purpose format/reinstall is there legal *up to date* Windows image available somewhere or is there some mystery method I am clueless about? (there have been 100s of MB updates since SP3 alone)

-rgdot (August 23, 2012, 03:51 PM)

do you mean original as in SP0 so-to-speak?
If so, according to the nlite forums, you can slipstream it with SP3 (using nlite) and it should work. But I cannot guarantee that. I dont have links but did research it during the week. I actually tried it but it didnt work in a VM install - but I think that may have been to do with me adding the key in nlite and VMWare trying to also use a quick install system. Or maybe it just doesnt work...

There was an XP-up-to-SP3 download at one stage from MS -
I actually still have it I think, but it didnt work for my keys cause they are for OEM version.

-tomos (August 23, 2012, 04:45 PM)

Yes, I had seen WSUS Offline Update over the years at download sites but never considered using it, same with nlite. Have been hesitant to do OS reinstalls unless absolutely needed.

[Stoic Joker]

I have original Windows discs sitting right here but for the purpose format/reinstall is there legal *up to date* Windows image available somewhere or is there some mystery method I am clueless about? (there have been 100s of MB updates since SP3 alone)

-rgdot (August 23, 2012, 03:51 PM)

home/professional OEM/Retail ... What would you be looking for?

Addendum: if you do decide to do a clean reinstall, don't forget to backup all your current hardware drivers first. Hunting down drivers - especially XP drivers - is a real PITA. So if you already have a working machine, take advantage of that and get copies of the drivers prior to flat-lining your current system disk.

-40hz (August 23, 2012, 04:07 PM)

In a pinch I'll boot to WinPE, strip the attributes and permissions and toss the old install in a folder, and then just drop the new OS next to the old one (variation on a parallel install). Then I can pick out the driver bits from the old install and feed them to device manager (it's actually a lot faster than it sounds).

[barney]

In a pinch I'll boot to WinPE, strip the attributes and permissions and toss the old install in a folder, and then just drop the new OS next to the old one (variation on a parallel install). Then I can pick out the driver bits from the old install and feed them to device manager (it's actually a lot faster than it sounds).

-Stoic Joker (August 23, 2012, 06:13 PM)

And no chance of overlooking a driver  .  Works like a charm.  And you also have the old registry hives available for comparison(s).  That process has been a life-saver (and a hair-saver) more than once  .

[rgdot]

home/professional OEM/Retail ... What would you be looking for?

-Stoic Joker (August 23, 2012, 06:13 PM)

Professional OEM

[40hz]

In a pinch I'll boot to WinPE, strip the attributes and permissions and toss the old install in a folder, and then just drop the new OS next to the old one (variation on a parallel install). Then I can pick out the driver bits from the old install and feed them to device manager (it's actually a lot faster than it sounds).

-Stoic Joker (August 23, 2012, 06:13 PM)

And no chance of overlooking a driver  .  Works like a charm.  And you also have the old registry hives available for comparison(s).  That process has been a life-saver (and a hair-saver) more than once  .

-barney (August 23, 2012, 06:41 PM)

@SJ: Wow! Power user! Haven't heard anybody doing the side-by-side trick in a long time. Muy macho! (I like!)

@Barney: Yes indeed! That trick has been a life-saver (or more correctly 'client saver' ) for me a few times too.