Bexley IT Solutions

If you've ever tried to install Windows XP on a recent system, you'll probably have needed to configure and perform a "slipstreamed" installation. I don't mean if you're installing from an OEM restoration disk (one that came with your Dell, HP, IBM, etc.); in this case you are either already using a slipstreamed installer, or simply restoring a disk image using a tool like Norton Ghost. When you install a retail copy of Windows XP, or an OEM copy purchased separately from your hardware you may find that the Windows installer can't "see" your hard drive or, in the worst cases, simply crash and present a Blue Screen of Death. This occurs because the hardware requires specific drivers that aren't available in the windows installer.

If the hard drive(s) are not available, it is because the drivers for the hard disk controller are not available; this is often the case for with SATA disk and RAID controllers. If this is the case there is an option to load a driver provided by the hardware manufacture, which you need to have on a floppy disk along with a txtsetup.oem file.

Introducing Slipstreaming

There is an alternative solution, which is lucky if your attempts at installing end in a BSOD; slipstreaming the drivers into the installer. This process, along with slipstreaming service packs into the installer is detailed in this article.

Simplifying Matters

Slipstreaming can be a time consuming task; integrating a service pack, creating the folder structure for the drivers and editing the relevant text files before burning the disc image. My colleague discovered a useful freeware tool, called nLite that makes the whole process much easier. It has a wizard-style interface, which walks you through selecting a Windows XP installation source, selecting a service pack and drivers to integrate and outputs a disc image for you to burn onto a CD.