Windows Xp Updates / SP2 - how to backup?

My first request:

Hi everyone!
My problem is the following: I regularly download the
newest windows as well as office updates. However, when
it comes to formating the computer, which I do once a
year, all these updates are naturally erased and I have
to download them again. This usually involves a few
hundred MBs and as my monthly download limit is 1GB this
may cause a problem.
Therefore, I would like to know if there is a possibility
to store the update setup files and just install them
again after formating without having to download them
over and over again. Does that possibility exist, where
can I find those vital update setup files???

Please help me,
Adam


Answer by Stephen:

MS has a page where you can download SP2 which includes
SP1 and store it on your hard drive. The Service Packs for
Office are also downloadable. When given a choice between
Save and Run, you choose Save and download the file to disk.

You must have a cd-writer so that you can burn backup cds.
You can "slipstream" windows xp with SP2. This software
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337
is very easy to use. The combo will all get installed in one shot.

Your other software updates, new firmware, new drivers
should be downloaded and stored on your drive within
folders that are named clearly. Then you use software
like Nero or Roxio to write those files from the hard drive
to a cd using a cd-writer which records the files. CD-writers
make backups of your system which you can store on 6-12
Cds which are cheap, you don't need what they call rewritable.
A cd-rom which will write files to a cd is a must for any user
who does serious work on a modern computer. The software
is easy to use.

Regards,
Stephen


My response to Stephens help:

Hi Stephen,
I thought my first reply was lost as I accidentally pressed close, so I had
to write it all again. This is the newer and better version.
Thanks a lot for your quick response and the helpful information!!
First of all, from what I understand, the downloadable version of SP2 is
meant for deployment to multiple computers over a network, whereas SP2 for a
single computer is yet to come.
Secondly, are you 100% sure that SP2 includes SP1 as well as all other
previous windows updates?
Is it the same with Microsoft Office? Does SP3 include all previous updates?
About the “slipstreaming� windows xp with SP2: Do you mean to say that it is
possible for me to merge my windows XP CD with SP2 and thus create an image
file containing both by using the software offered at
“http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.ph...pic=188337�? Should I then burn
the image on CD and use it to format my pc or could that be risky? Is it
safer to first install windows normally and only then to update it with SP2?
Despite the fact that you think that windows updates are stored within
clearly labeled folders on my hard drive, I still can’t seem to find them.
Could you perhaps name their default location?
Another upsetting fact is that loads of so-called “XP Hotfixes� are listed
in my “add or remove programs�. I suspect them to be my downloaded updates.
However, as it is possible to uninstall them, doesn’t that mean that their
components must be stored somewhere, hopefully even as exe setup files, which
I could, were I to finally find them, easily store on my external USB hard
drive or onto a CD as you suggested? Even more confusing is the fact that
many Hotfixes have (SP2) written next to them, whereas it still says
“Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 1� in my System
Properties.
Please help me out one more time,
Adam Schneider


Could somebody help me with my final questions?
Stephen doesn't seem to realize that I have new questions.
Thank you very much,
Adam

The excellent people here introduced me to slipstreaming. Sounds like what
you need and I'm sure they will direct you. I used Autostreamer from
Neowin. Worked great.

--
Lew
"Adam Schneider" Adam wrote in message
...
My first request:

Hi everyone!
My problem is the following: I regularly download the
newest windows as well as office updates. However, when
it comes to formating the computer, which I do once a
year, all these updates are naturally erased and I have
to download them again. This usually involves a few
hundred MBs and as my monthly download limit is 1GB this
may cause a problem.
Therefore, I would like to know if there is a possibility
to store the update setup files and just install them
again after formating without having to download them
over and over again. Does that possibility exist, where
can I find those vital update setup files???

Please help me,
Adam


Answer by Stephen:

MS has a page where you can download SP2 which includes
SP1 and store it on your hard drive. The Service Packs for
Office are also downloadable. When given a choice between
Save and Run, you choose Save and download the file to disk.

You must have a cd-writer so that you can burn backup cds.
You can "slipstream" windows xp with SP2. This software
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337
is very easy to use. The combo will all get installed in one shot.

Your other software updates, new firmware, new drivers
should be downloaded and stored on your drive within
folders that are named clearly. Then you use software
like Nero or Roxio to write those files from the hard drive
to a cd using a cd-writer which records the files. CD-writers
make backups of your system which you can store on 6-12
Cds which are cheap, you don't need what they call rewritable.
A cd-rom which will write files to a cd is a must for any user
who does serious work on a modern computer. The software
is easy to use.

Regards,
Stephen


My response to Stephens help:

Hi Stephen,
I thought my first reply was lost as I accidentally pressed close, so I
had
to write it all again. This is the newer and better version.
Thanks a lot for your quick response and the helpful information!!
First of all, from what I understand, the downloadable version of SP2 is
meant for deployment to multiple computers over a network, whereas SP2 for
a
single computer is yet to come.
Secondly, are you 100% sure that SP2 includes SP1 as well as all other
previous windows updates?
Is it the same with Microsoft Office? Does SP3 include all previous
updates?
About the "slipstreaming" windows xp with SP2: Do you mean to say that it
is
possible for me to merge my windows XP CD with SP2 and thus create an
image
file containing both by using the software offered at
"http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337"? Should I then
burn
the image on CD and use it to format my pc or could that be risky? Is it
safer to first install windows normally and only then to update it with
SP2?
Despite the fact that you think that windows updates are stored within
clearly labeled folders on my hard drive, I still can't seem to find them.
Could you perhaps name their default location?
Another upsetting fact is that loads of so-called "XP Hotfixes" are listed
in my "add or remove programs". I suspect them to be my downloaded
updates.
However, as it is possible to uninstall them, doesn't that mean that their
components must be stored somewhere, hopefully even as exe setup files,
which
I could, were I to finally find them, easily store on my external USB hard
drive or onto a CD as you suggested? Even more confusing is the fact that
many Hotfixes have (SP2) written next to them, whereas it still says
"Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 1" in my
System
Properties.
Please help me out one more time,
Adam Schneider


Could somebody help me with my final questions?
Stephen doesn't seem to realize that I have new questions.
Thank you very much,
Adam

Hello,

The best way it´s to splipstream SP2 into XP as mention before... as for
Windows XP SP1, SP2 and SP3, yes the latest SP3 includes all the updates to
date, as for the updates you were getting from the net itself they are
stored in a temporary location, normally in your last HD under the name
wupdate (this folder is hide) and when the update finish windows itself
clean it, you can while the windows is downloading the updates copy them to
a new location but if it´s an express update normally it needs to acess the
web to complete the instalation...

Hope this helps

"Adam Schneider" Adam wrote in message
...
My first request:

Hi everyone!
My problem is the following: I regularly download the
newest windows as well as office updates. However, when
it comes to formating the computer, which I do once a
year, all these updates are naturally erased and I have
to download them again. This usually involves a few
hundred MBs and as my monthly download limit is 1GB this
may cause a problem.
Therefore, I would like to know if there is a possibility
to store the update setup files and just install them
again after formating without having to download them
over and over again. Does that possibility exist, where
can I find those vital update setup files???

Please help me,
Adam


Answer by Stephen:

MS has a page where you can download SP2 which includes
SP1 and store it on your hard drive. The Service Packs for
Office are also downloadable. When given a choice between
Save and Run, you choose Save and download the file to disk.

You must have a cd-writer so that you can burn backup cds.
You can "slipstream" windows xp with SP2. This software
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337
is very easy to use. The combo will all get installed in one shot.

Your other software updates, new firmware, new drivers
should be downloaded and stored on your drive within
folders that are named clearly. Then you use software
like Nero or Roxio to write those files from the hard drive
to a cd using a cd-writer which records the files. CD-writers
make backups of your system which you can store on 6-12
Cds which are cheap, you don't need what they call rewritable.
A cd-rom which will write files to a cd is a must for any user
who does serious work on a modern computer. The software
is easy to use.

Regards,
Stephen


My response to Stephens help:

Hi Stephen,
I thought my first reply was lost as I accidentally pressed close, so I
had
to write it all again. This is the newer and better version.
Thanks a lot for your quick response and the helpful information!!
First of all, from what I understand, the downloadable version of SP2 is
meant for deployment to multiple computers over a network, whereas SP2 for
a
single computer is yet to come.
Secondly, are you 100% sure that SP2 includes SP1 as well as all other
previous windows updates?
Is it the same with Microsoft Office? Does SP3 include all previous
updates?
About the "slipstreaming" windows xp with SP2: Do you mean to say that it
is
possible for me to merge my windows XP CD with SP2 and thus create an
image
file containing both by using the software offered at
"http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337"? Should I then
burn
the image on CD and use it to format my pc or could that be risky? Is it
safer to first install windows normally and only then to update it with
SP2?
Despite the fact that you think that windows updates are stored within
clearly labeled folders on my hard drive, I still can't seem to find them.
Could you perhaps name their default location?
Another upsetting fact is that loads of so-called "XP Hotfixes" are listed
in my "add or remove programs". I suspect them to be my downloaded
updates.
However, as it is possible to uninstall them, doesn't that mean that their
components must be stored somewhere, hopefully even as exe setup files,
which
I could, were I to finally find them, easily store on my external USB hard
drive or onto a CD as you suggested? Even more confusing is the fact that
many Hotfixes have (SP2) written next to them, whereas it still says
"Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 1" in my
System
Properties.
Please help me out one more time,
Adam Schneider


Could somebody help me with my final questions?
Stephen doesn't seem to realize that I have new questions.
Thank you very much,
Adam

What is SP3 updates? I just installed SP2 on three machines and none show
any SP3 updates available.

--
Lew
"André Cruz" wrote in message
...
Hello,

The best way it´s to splipstream SP2 into XP as mention before... as for
Windows XP SP1, SP2 and SP3, yes the latest SP3 includes all the updates
to date, as for the updates you were getting from the net itself they are
stored in a temporary location, normally in your last HD under the name
wupdate (this folder is hide) and when the update finish windows itself
clean it, you can while the windows is downloading the updates copy them
to a new location but if it´s an express update normally it needs to acess
the web to complete the instalation...

Hope this helps

"Adam Schneider" Adam wrote in
message ...
My first request:

Hi everyone!
My problem is the following: I regularly download the
newest windows as well as office updates. However, when
it comes to formating the computer, which I do once a
year, all these updates are naturally erased and I have
to download them again. This usually involves a few
hundred MBs and as my monthly download limit is 1GB this
may cause a problem.
Therefore, I would like to know if there is a possibility
to store the update setup files and just install them
again after formating without having to download them
over and over again. Does that possibility exist, where
can I find those vital update setup files???

Please help me,
Adam


Answer by Stephen:

MS has a page where you can download SP2 which includes
SP1 and store it on your hard drive. The Service Packs for
Office are also downloadable. When given a choice between
Save and Run, you choose Save and download the file to disk.

You must have a cd-writer so that you can burn backup cds.
You can "slipstream" windows xp with SP2. This software
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337
is very easy to use. The combo will all get installed in one shot.

Your other software updates, new firmware, new drivers
should be downloaded and stored on your drive within
folders that are named clearly. Then you use software
like Nero or Roxio to write those files from the hard drive
to a cd using a cd-writer which records the files. CD-writers
make backups of your system which you can store on 6-12
Cds which are cheap, you don't need what they call rewritable.
A cd-rom which will write files to a cd is a must for any user
who does serious work on a modern computer. The software
is easy to use.

Regards,
Stephen


My response to Stephens help:

Hi Stephen,
I thought my first reply was lost as I accidentally pressed close, so I
had
to write it all again. This is the newer and better version.
Thanks a lot for your quick response and the helpful information!!
First of all, from what I understand, the downloadable version of SP2 is
meant for deployment to multiple computers over a network, whereas SP2
for a
single computer is yet to come.
Secondly, are you 100% sure that SP2 includes SP1 as well as all other
previous windows updates?
Is it the same with Microsoft Office? Does SP3 include all previous
updates?
About the "slipstreaming" windows xp with SP2: Do you mean to say that it
is
possible for me to merge my windows XP CD with SP2 and thus create an
image
file containing both by using the software offered at
"http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=188337"? Should I then
burn
the image on CD and use it to format my pc or could that be risky? Is it
safer to first install windows normally and only then to update it with
SP2?
Despite the fact that you think that windows updates are stored within
clearly labeled folders on my hard drive, I still can't seem to find
them.
Could you perhaps name their default location?
Another upsetting fact is that loads of so-called "XP Hotfixes" are
listed
in my "add or remove programs". I suspect them to be my downloaded
updates.
However, as it is possible to uninstall them, doesn't that mean that
their
components must be stored somewhere, hopefully even as exe setup files,
which
I could, were I to finally find them, easily store on my external USB
hard
drive or onto a CD as you suggested? Even more confusing is the fact that
many Hotfixes have (SP2) written next to them, whereas it still says
"Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 1" in my
System
Properties.
Please help me out one more time,
Adam Schneider


Could somebody help me with my final questions?
Stephen doesn't seem to realize that I have new questions.
Thank you very much,
Adam