Making Bootable Windows CD

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[Introduction] [Integration] [CD Bootblock] [Making the CD] [Further Information]

Introduction

Service Packs for recent Windows -versions since Windows 2000 contain an installation mode not found in previous Windows Service Packs. This installation mode known as slipstream or integrated installation makes it possible to merge the service pack with the installation files from the product CD. This means that the merged file set is a complete Windows installation file set which includes the Service Pack. This feature is mainly intended to update network installation shares but there is no reason why this file set could not be burned to a CD-R to make new installation disc.

The files can be burned to a CD-R with almost any premastering software. Making the CD Bootable is little more difficult as all premastering packages cannot make bootable CD's or the kind of bootable CD required for Windows. The installation disc does not neccessarily has to be bootable, but it's obviously more convienient to have bootable CD. With bootable CD Windows can be installed without boot floppies, provided the system supports booting from a CD- or DVD-drive.

These instructions assume you're using either Roxio Easy CD Creator 5 or Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 to write the CD, but the instructions should be fairly easy to adapt for Easy Media Creator 7 or Ahead Nero.

Integration

Integrating the Service Pack files to the Windows installation files is quite straightforward process. The process is basically identical for all modern Windows' and all their respective Servie Packs, only difference being the file and directory names.

  1. Make sure you have enough disk space available. About 700 megs are needed for the files from the installation CD and roughly twice the size of the Service Pack archive for the extracted Service Pack Files.
  2. Obtain the appropriate service pack either from a CD or download it. Note that the language version of the service pack must match with the language of your operating system. If you choose to download be sure to download Network Installation version that contains all the files in one big archive (size about 100-270 megabytes).
    Windows XP Service Pack 2
    Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
    I strongly recommend downloading the Service Pack directly from Microsoft to ensure that the Service Pack is indeed authentic.
    If you elect to obtain the Service Pack from alternative source, ensure the archive is digitally signed, and the checksum of the file matches with authentic file.
  3. Make a temporary directory (for example ServicePack) for the service pack and another for the installation files (for example WINXP) at the root directory of a hard disk. (Rest of these instructions assumes that you are the above example directory located in D: -drive. If you are using different directory or drive substitute correct information as needed)
  4. Extract the service pack to the ServicePack temporary directory.
    The files can be extracted using WinZip (version 7 or above), or by executing installation program with the -x -parameter with a command prompt (for example WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe -x).
  5. Copy the entire contents of the Windows installation CD to the WINXP directory. Make sure that the files at the root of the CD are also included.
  6. Open a command prompt and navigate to the \ServicePack\i386\update directory.
  7. Type update -s:D:\WINXP or update /integrate:D:\WINXP depending on what service pack you are installing. This will integrate the service pack with the installation files.

CD Bootblock

Most bootable CDs are made with using a image of a bootable floppy. Due to the amount of disks required for floppy boot this is not viable for recent Windows -versions. Windows CDs use a special boot block which starts the installation program automatically. To make the CD bootable you need to get the bootblock.

The best way to get the bootblock for a bootable Windows CD is to extract it from the original disc. Unfortunately Easy CD Creator cannot extract sectors from a CD, so it cannot be used to extract the bootblock. There are some CD burning packages, like the GoldenHawk CDRWin, which can extract sectors from a CD. CDRWin users may want to check out the site on the links-section for instructions on how to perform the extraction with it and skip the next paragraphs.

Fortunately there is also an small command line utility which can be used to extract the bootblock. You can find the homepage for that utility in the links-section. The utility creates three files. The one containing the bootblock is Image1.bin. You can also download a bootblock from a older Windows 2000 disk from http://www.bink.nu/Bootcd/. If you download the bootfiles.zip, you'll need only W2KBOOT.BIN from the archive - do not bother with the other files.

Making the CD

Now that you have the integrated installation file set and the CD boot block you can make the CD. Windows files do not fill the entire CD so you can add another stuff such as Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and/or newest DirectX to the disc. These instructions are for Easy CD Creator 5, but using Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 or other similar applications is almost identical.

  1. If you are using Easy CD Creator 5: Start the main Easy CD Creator and select File -> New CD Project -> Bootable CD Project.
    If you are using Easy CD & DVD Creator 6: Start the Creator Classic and select File -> New Project -> Bootable Disc
  2. Use the following settings
    Bootable CD Type: No Emulation; Load Segment: 0x7c0; Sector Count: 4
  3. Click Browse... and navigate to the boot block file you extracted or downloaded.
  4. Add all files and directories from the D:\WINXP directory to the CD layout.
  5. Burn the disc and test.

Further Information

All information on this page is provided as is for informational purposes believing it to be accurate. The author does not guarantee that information on this page is accurate, correct or usable for any particular purpose. The author is not reponsible for any damages resulting directly or indirectly from using any information contained herein. All trademarks are properties of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended by aything on this page.