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saving windows updates

 
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knight



Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Location: uk
PostPosted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 3:02 pm    Post subject: saving windows updates Reply with quote
i am not thinking of upgrading to win vista anytime soon, however i beleive that microsoft will stop supporting win xp in the way that they did with win 98. if this is the case and i want to reinstall win xp no updates will be available. does anyone know if it is possible to download updates and save to a cd rom for future use? i have found this site but i cant work it out http://ww.tech-recipes.com/windows_tips87.html any ideas thanks ken
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NickAskew
Moderator


Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Thirsk
PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi Ken,

I use nLite http://www.nliteos.com/, I used my original XP installation CD and CD Key.

nLite guides you through making a new ISO (a file which can be written to a CD using a basic cd writing application) based upon your existing windows XP installation CD. It guides you through the creation of an unattended installation setup file which means you get to answer all the questions that XP asks you during install time BEFORE you install (which means if you reinstall XP onto your existing hardware, you basically put the cd in your cd drive, boot it up, click YES to install XP and then come back in half an hour when XP has fully installed itself..)

The most useful feature of all involves 'merging' as many XP updates alongside the XP installation files as you can lay your hands on, so that they are applied at install time rather than having to manually reapply them after installing XP. You can save the setup file that you use to create your new XP disk as well, so you can go back, lets say every month, and reapply new updates so that you have up to date reinstallation media.

I cannot tell you how many hours/days it has saved me in reinstallation time!

[EDIT] However, do not forget that you would still have to 'activate' windows xp if you have the type of XP installation media that requires it, so to go back to your original point, if MS do decide to stop supporting XP, then it is unlikely they will allow you to activate it either.. but I strongly doubt this is a situation that will ever occur.

[EDIT#2] PLUS, if you have any specialised disk controller hardware that you usually need to install via a driver disk, you can merge those drivers too! (you can tell I like it can't you lol)

Good Luck

Nick
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knight



Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Location: uk
PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:06 pm    Post subject: thanks Reply with quote
thanks nick, but i have no xp disk and i reload xp from a pertition
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NickAskew
Moderator


Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Thirsk
PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I assume XP is in a sub folder named i386? that would be sufficient to use nLite Smile
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knight



Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Location: uk
PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:02 pm    Post subject: hi Reply with quote
i guess you are right. i am not able to access the partition without the reload disk. i will download and try the program,sorry for the yank spelling!
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NickAskew
Moderator


Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Thirsk
PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have put a small guide together to show how to download the patches manually for use later, you can download a MS Word version of it from here
http://www.nickaskew.com/AskTheQuestion/DownloadingWindowsUpdates.doc

or a standard Rich Text Formatted version (compatible with most word processors and WordPad) in a ZIP file (I have put quite a few screen shots in it, which don't compress in RTF files!) here
http://www.nickaskew.com/AskTheQuestion/DownloadingWindowsUpdates.zip

Cheers

Nick
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knight



Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Location: uk
PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:31 pm    Post subject: thanks Reply with quote
thanks nick the info is very helpful. i will give it a try and let you know how i get on. incidentally you are very well informed do you do this kind of work for a living? best wishes ken
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NickAskew
Moderator


Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Thirsk
PostPosted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I have had a varied IT career, I used to provide desktop support and miss the 'quick fix' of success that you unfortunately don't get on long drawn out projects like I am generally involved with these days.. so sites such as Ask The Question are good haunting places when I find myself with a bit of lull time Smile
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knight



Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 19
Location: uk
PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 1:07 pm    Post subject: win updates Reply with quote
hi nick, thanks for the help i have followed instructions and it is really quite easy once i got my head around it, thanks again i am now sorted kind regards ken
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NickAskew
Moderator


Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Posts: 112
Location: Thirsk
PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It's always good when instructions work, thanks Ken.
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