Slipstreaming / Integrating Windows Vista Service Pack 1 onto a Bootable Image / DVD

April 30, 2008 1 Comment

In this blog post, I will describe how to slipstream / integrate Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) Five Languages for x86 editions using WAIK tools. The Windows Vista RTM DVD cannot be directly integrated with Windows Vista Service Pack 1 unlike Windows XP RTM CD can be integrated with Service Pack 1 or 2. You will need to install Windows Vista then install Service Pack 1 in audit mode and then capture the install using ImageX from the Windows Automated Installation Kit in an offline state. The method that I will be describing will assume your user account has full control of "C:\myVista" folder and its contents.

One of the benefits of slipstreaming current updates from Microsoft into a Windows Vista image is being able to reinstall Windows Vista that is up-to-date without the need to download and install security and other updates from Windows Update. If you used a Windows Vista Retail or OEM DVD to reinstall Windows Vista then you will need to install security and other updates from Windows Update to be fully patched from known exploits.

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

Contents of Blog Post

  • What I Used
  • What I Did
  • Adding other Windows Vista editions to the Integrated SP1 DVD (Optional)
  • Cleaning Up
  • Download Windows Vista SP1 Five Languages Standalone and / or WAIK using BitsAdmin (Optional)
  • Platforms Tested

What I Used

  • Microsoft Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) 6001 from Microsoft Download Center.

    NOTE

    The WAIK download file is an image of an DVD. You will need to burn the image to DVD using third-party software such as UltraISO or mount the image with third-party software to install WAIK. The WAIK image is quite large to download. You may want to use BitsAdmin.exe to download the image without worries of being disconnected during the download. If you are going to use BitsAdmin.exe to download the image then use the instructions further down this blog post.

     

  • UltraISO Premium Edition v9.1.2.2465 from EZB Systems
  • Blank DVD
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Languages Standalone installer from Microsoft’s Download Center

What I Did

NOTE

The following method assumes your user account has full control of "C:\myVista" folder and its contents.

  1. Download and install Microsoft WAIK 6001 from Microsoft’s Download Center.

    NOTE

    The WAIK download file is an image of an DVD. You will need to burn the image to DVD using third-party software such as UltraISO or mount the image with third-party software to install WAIK.

     

  2. Create a folder in the root of the system drive called myVista. "C:\myVista"
  3. Create five folders in the myVista folder called DVD, IMG, ISO, SP1, and Tools.

    "C:\myVista\DVD", "C:\myVista\IMG", "C:\myVista\ISO", "C:\myVista\SP1", and "C:\myVista\Tools"

     

  4. Copy your original Windows Vista DVD to C:\myVista\DVD folder or use the following command in a Command Window assuming your CD Drive is letter ‘D‘.

    robocopy d: c:\myVista\DVD /MIR

  5. Download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Languages Standalone installer from Microsoft’s Download Center to C:\myVista\SP1folder.

    NOTE

    The Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Languages Standalone installer is quite large to download. You may want to use BitsAdmin.exe to download the install file without worries of being disconnected during the download. If you are going to use BitsAdmin.exe to download Windows Vista Service Pack 1 then use the instructions further down this blog post.

     

  6. Create a partition of 40 gigs and format the partition using NTFS. Note the partition drive letter. In my case the drive letter is E. You may refer to my blog post "Splitting Hard Drive into Two Partitions Using Windows Vista Disk Management Snap-In" for directions.
  7. Open an elevated Command Window, refer to my blog post "Opening an Elevated Command Prompt" for instructions.
  8. Type:

    bcdedit /set {current} description "Windows Vista on Drive C"

    NOTE

    The above command assumes you only have one operating system installed on your computer.

  9. Install Windows Vista to the new partition (drive E in my case) while you using Windows Vista on Drive C. Simply double-click setup.exe located in c:\myVista\DVD to start the Windows Vista install.

    NOTE

    Do not enter a Product key, uncheck Automatically activate Windows when I’m online, and choose the edition of Windows Vista.

     

  10. When Windows Vista setup asks if you want to upgrade or perform a custom install then select Custom (advance), refer to image below.

  11. When Windows Vista setup asks where to install Windows Vista then select Drive E and click Next, refer to image below.

     

  12. During the install process of Windows Vista, you will be presented the Set Up Windows screen(OOBE). This is where you are going to enter into audit mode. Press CTRL+SHIFT+F3to enter into audit mode. Refer to image below.

    NOTE

    The computer will reboot and enter into audit mode. Ensure Windows Vista is selected at the Boot Manager screen, not Windows Vista on Drive C.

     

  13. When Windows Vista boots to the desktop, a System Preparation Tool will open. The System Preparation Tool is  also known as Sysprep. Refer to image below.

    NOTE

    Do not click the Ok button as this will start the Sysprep procedure which we will perform later. You can click the ‘X‘ in the upper right-corner,  click Cancel or simply leave the System Preparation Tool open.

     

  14. Install Windows Vista Service Pack 1 package located at C:\myVista\SP1.

    NOTE

    The computer will reboot a few times when installing Service Pack 1.

     

  15. When Service Pack 1 install has completed then the computer will boot back into the desktop with the System Preparation Tool open. Ensure the following options are selected; Enter System Out-Of-Box-Experience (OOBE) for System Cleanup Action,  Generalize checked, and Reboot for Shutdown Options. Refer to image below. Click Ok to reboot the computer.

    NOTE

    The computer will reboot. Ensure you select Windows Vista on Drive C to boot back into your main Windows Vista install and not the new Windows Vista installation that we are now going to prepare for a image capture.

     

  16. Once you have booted to the desktop, click on the Start Orb (formerly know as the Start Button in earlier version of Windows).
  17. Type Windows PE Tools Command Prompt in the Start Search field.
  18. Press SHIFT+CTRL+ENTER to open Windows PE Tools Command Prompt in an elevated state.
  19. Type:

    postreflect e:\windows e:
     

    NOTE

    The postreflect syntax is PostReflect.exe <Offline_WINDIR> <Offline_DriveLetter:>. In my case the offline WINDIR of the Windows Vista install is "e:\windows" and when the offline Windows Vista is booted the drive letter would "e:". See "PostReflect Command-Line Options" for more information.

     

  20. When postreflect is finished then type:

    vsp1cln /o:e:\windows
     

    NOTE

    The vsp1cln command line tool is post Service Pack 1 clean up tool for Windows Vista. Once this tool is run, you cannot uninstall Service Pack 1 because it removes all archive files for uninstall of Service Pack 1. See "VSP1CLN Command-Line Options" for more information.

     

  21. Copy imagex.exe from C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\x86 to C:\myVista\Tools.
  22. Create a file called Wimscript.ini using Notepad with the following contents and save the file in C:\myVista\Tools.

    [ExclusionList]
    ntfs.log
    hiberfil.sys
    pagefile.sys
    "System Volume Information"
    RECYCLER
    Windows\CSC

    [CompressionExclusionList]
    *.mp3
    *.zip
    *.cab
    \WINDOWS\inf\*.pnf

  23. Click on the Start Orb (formerly know as the Start Button in earlier version of Windows).
  24. Type cmd.exe in the Start Search field.
  25. Press SHIFT+CTRL+ENTER to open Command Prompt in an elevated state.
  26. Type:

    cd\

    cd myVista\Tools

  27. Type:

    imagex /capture e: c:\myVista\img\install.wim "Windows Vista Business" "Windows Vista BUSINESS" /compress fast /check /flags "BUSINESS" /scroll

  28. Click on the Start Orb (formerly know as the Start Button in earlier version of Windows).
  29. Type Windows System Image Manager in the Start Search field.
  30. Press SHIFT+CTRL+ENTER to open Windows System Image Manager in an elevated state.
  31. Right-click Select a Windows image or catalog file to select Select Windows Image…. Select the install.wim file located at C:\myVista\IMG and click Open.
  32. Click Yes when the Windows System Image Manager opens to create the catalog file. Refer to image below.

    NOTE

    If there is more than one Windows Vista edition in the install.wim at C:\myVista\IMG then create a separate catalog for each Windows Vista edition. The created catalog file(s) will be located at C:\myVista\IMG.

     

  33. Copy and replace the install.wim file from C:\myVista\IMG to C:\myVista\DVD\Sources.
  34. Copy and replace the catalog file(s) from C:\myVista\IMG to C:\myVista\DVD\Sources.
  35. Click on the Start Orb (formerly know as the Start Button in earlier version of Windows).
  36. Type Windows PE Tools Command Prompt in the Start Search field.
  37. Press SHIFT+CTRL+ENTER to open Windows PE Tools Command Prompt in an elevated state.
  38. Type:

    oscdimg -n -m -b"C:\Program Files\Windows AIK\Tools\PETools\x86\boot\etfsboot.com" C:\myVista\DVD C:\myVista\ISO\Vista_x86_SP1.iso

  39. Burn the DVD image called Vista_x86_SP1.iso located at C:\myVista\ISO using UltraISO or your favourite third-party image burning program.
  40. Congratulations, you have made a Bootable Windows Vista Service Pack 1 DVD with your Windows Vista RTM DVD.

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

Adding other Windows Vista editions to the Integrated SP1 DVD (Optional)

When performing the above steps, you have only made a Service Pack 1 image of the Windows Vista edition you have captured. In my scenario, I used Windows Vista Business. If you want to add other editions of Windows Vista such as Ultimate or Home Premium then you must install the Windows Vista edition, install Service Pack 1, perform the post Service Pack 1 cleanup utilities in an offline mode, and capture the offline install using imagex with the append switch using the same install.wim file located at C:\myVista\IMG that we used to create the first offline capture in the above Step 27.

  1. Format drive E.
  2. Install a different edition of Windows Vista to drive using the above Step 9.
  3. Continue to the above Step 26.
  4. In Step 27 type:

    For Windows Vista Home Basic

    imagex /append e: c:\myVista\img\install.wim "Windows Vista HOMEBASIC" "Windows Vista HomeBasic" /compress fast /check /flags "HOMEBASIC" /scroll

    For Windows Vista Home Premium

    imagex /append e: c:\myVista\img\install.wim "Windows Vista HOMEPREMIUM" "Windows Vista HomePremium" /compress fast /check /flags "HOMEPREMIUM" /scroll

    For Windows Vista Ultimate

    imagex /append e: c:\myVista\img\install.wim "Windows Vista ULTIMATE" "Windows Vista Ultimate" /compress fast /check /flags "ULTIMATE" /scroll

    For Windows Vista Home Basic N

    imagex /append e: c:\myVista\img\install.wim "Windows Vista HOMEBASICN" "Windows Vista HomeBasicN" /compress fast /check /flags "HOMEBASICN" /scroll

    For Windows Vista Business N

    imagex /append e: c:\myVista\img\install.wim "Windows Vista BUSINESSN" "Windows Vista BusinessN" /compress fast /check /flags "BUSINESSN" /scroll

    For Windows Vista Starter

    imagex /append e: c:\myVista\img\install.wim "Windows Vista STARTER" "Windows Vista Starter" /compress fast /check /flags "STARTER" /scroll

  5. In Step 31 and 32, you must create a separate catalog file for each edition that is present in the install.wim file located at C:\myVista\IMG.
  6. Continue with Step 33.

Cleaning Up

Perform the next steps if you do not want to keep the C:\myVista work folder and Drive E.

Delete Drive E and merge into Drive C
  1. See "Merging Two Partitions Windows Vista Disk Management Snap-In" blog entry for instructions.
Delete C:\myVista Work Folder
  1. Open an elevated Command Window, refer to my blog post "Opening an Elevated Command Prompt" for instructions.
  2. Type:

    rd /s /q c:\myVista

Clean Up Windows Boot Manager
  1. Open an elevated Command Window, refer to my blog post "Opening an Elevated Command Prompt" for instructions.
  2. Type:

    bcdedit > "c:\users\<yourusername>\desktop\bcd.txt"

  3. Open bcd.txt and find any invalid references and write down the identifier value.
  4. Type the following to delete the invalid references:

    bcdedit /delete {identifier}

  5. Type the following to set as the default operating system:

    bcdedit /default {current}
    or
    bcdedit /default {identifier}

  6. Type the following to rename Windows Vista on Drive C to Windows Vista:

    bcdedit /set {current} description "Windows Vista"
    or
    bcdedit /set {identifier} description "Windows Vista"

  7. Type the following to hide the Windows Boot Manager:

    bcdedit /timeout 0

Download Windows Vista SP1 Five Languages Standalone and / or WAIK using BitsAdmin (Optional)

  1. Open a Command Prompt Window (Start > Run > cmd.exe) and type:

    bitsadmin /Create /Download SP1Job
     

    NOTE

    This creates a download job called SP1Job.


    bitsadmin /Create /Download WAIKJob

    NOTE

    This creates a download job called WAIKJob

     

  2. Type:

    bitsadmin /AddFile SP1Job http://download.microsoft.com/download/3/a/9/3a9b72c2-527d-4694-8a49-84c056d4c34d/Windows6.0-KB936330-X86-wave0.exe C:\myVista\SP1\Windows6.0-KB936330-X86-wave0.exe

    NOTE

    Adds the Windows Vista SP1 Five Languages Standalone installer to SP1Job.


    bitsadmin /AddFile WAIKJob http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/c/d/9cdfa30e-5901-40e4-b6bf-4a0086ea0a6a/6001.18000.080118-1840-kb3aikl_en.iso C:\WAIK\6001.18000.080118-1840-kb3aikl_en.iso

    NOTE

    Adds the WAIK image to ImageJob.

  3. Type:

    bitsadmin /Resume SP1Job

    NOTE

    Starts the download for SP1Job.


    bitsadmin /Resume WAIKJob

    NOTE

    Starts the download for WAIKJob.

  4. Type:

    bitsadmin /GetState SP1Job

    NOTE

    If GetState returns TRANSFERRED then the SP1Job is finished transferring the bits and you can continue with Step 5.


    bitsadmin /GetState WAIKJob

    NOTE

    If GetState returns TRANSFERRED then the WAIKJob is finished transferring the bits and you can continue with Step 5.

  5. Type:

    bitsadmin /complete SP1Job

    NOTE

    Completes the SP1Job.


    bitsadmin /complete WAIKJob

    NOTE

    Completes the WAIKJob.

Some other switches which may interest you.
  • bitsadmin /GetBytesTotal SP1Job   [NOTE: Checks how many bytes are for the SP1Job]
  • bitsadmin /GetBytesTransferred SP1Job  [NOTE: Checks how much bytes have been transferred for the SP1Job]
  • bitsadmin /cancel SP1Job  [NOTE: Cancels the SP1Job]
  • bitsadmin /Suspend  [NOTE: Pause the SP1 Job. Use ‘bitsadmin /Resume SP1Job‘ to resume the SP1Job.

Platforms Tested

  • Microsoft Windows Vista x86 Versions
Related Articles

Version 1.2
Edited: May 12, 2012

Filed under Windows Vista, Windows Vista Tips Tagged with , , , ,

One Response to Slipstreaming / Integrating Windows Vista Service Pack 1 onto a Bootable Image / DVD

  1. Pingback: Slipstreaming Updates into a Windows Vista with Service Pack 1 Image « BillJr's Space

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