Can you backup Windows updates?

[Capt. Picard]

I'm planning to format my PC soon, but I've downloaded all the updates this last couple of months

Can I copy the backups cd and install them on the new installation? If so, how do you do it?

I've only got dialup and don't want to go through all the effort again.

[rewt]

Windows stores downloaded updates in C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download\ folder

You could back this up, but IMO its pretty much a waste of time.

I'd recommend integrating all the Windows updates to the installation disk instead.

See the top two links on this site http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/

If your XP CD is not SP2 then you will need to integrate that first. For that, you could use a tool called Autostreamer. (The SP2 can actually be integrated manually from command line, but Autostreamer does make it quite a bit easier).

[j0j081]

nlite is actually the best option. then if you want you can integrate your drivers and remove needless components as well. i forget the website but google it and you'll find it easily.

[rewt]

Yeah but nlite can't integrate ALL of the hotfixes individually. It has problems with some, which is why RyanVM's update pack still pwnz. On the other hand, you can integrate RyanVM update pack with nlite as well :)

[seeker]

I'm kibutzing on this thread out of some similar interersts. I have heard about integrating SPs, etc. into a CD of the OS, but at this point, that is about all that I know. However, one question arises...by integrating drivers, I'm assuming that means for the peripherals and software. I can recall a discussion lately, where that when changing motherboards, that a person was advised to remove all of the drivers, to facilitate the swap. But if the drivers become part of the OS this couldn't be done. Would that mean that a CD integrated in this fashion, would only work with a particular motherboard chipset?

[rewt]

Windows has all sorts of drivers integrated into the XP disc already. Most of which are for hardware you don't even have. Therefore I don't think integrating drivers for nVIDIA chipset (or some other hardware) would cause your install to fail on another system that doesn't have that hardware installed.

I for one don't integrate nVidia drivers into the XP disc, because then trying to uninstall/reinstall newer versions of drivers becomes somewhat of a pain in the arse. Windows always likes to check driver.cab files for existing drivers for hardware, and if they exist (i.e. integrated) it automatically tries to install those upon detection..

For example, If I integrate 84.20 Forceware into the XP install disc. Now when I uninstall the 84.20 Forceware and reboot, Windows automatically reinstalls them again. :-/ This is because uninstalling the drivers via Add/Remove Programs does not de-integrate them from the cab files.

I know Driver Cleaner can help solve this. But to me, it ends up taking more time messing with integrating the drivers and having to reboot in safe mode to run Driver Cleaner than it does just installing the drivers the old fashioned way.

[j0j081]

rewt good point about integrating the drivers. i'm about to make a nice nlite image soon and will give second thought to that now. i haven't had any problem integrating all the hotfixes I've wanted to but I'm running the x64 version of XP which has most of them installed already.

[Peoples-Agent]

I couldn't be without nLite, it's awesome making up a version of windows with all your services tweaked, bloated crap removed etc

One question though , has anyone ever intregrated windows updates to find the install taking soooooooooo long, I thought it had crashed at one point. I must have set a compression option wrong somewhere maybe.

[j0j081]

no difference in install time for me

[fps_dean]

nlite is actually the best option. then if you want you can integrate your drivers and remove needless components as well. i forget the website but google it and you'll find it easily.
I would forget about nlite. I've had it fail for so many random reasons and it's more of a pain than it's really worth.

Download SP2 and slipstream that into a Windows install disc. It's pretty easy to do and works everytime - just follow the instructions.

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=295

If you want to add more you can learn how to configure setup files.

This is useful to make drivers install with Windows. There is a better website that I can't find right now that explains everything (has beginner, intermediate and advanced level sections, that go from slipstreaming to adding raid drivers and other drivers to whatever else - you should know if you find it). You can extraxt any drivers to a folder, not just RAID or sata. With enough web searching you should be able to find it.

http://greenmachine.msfnhosting.com/READING/addraid.htm

[j0j081]

I would forget about nlite. I've had it fail for so many random reasons and it's more of a pain than it's really worth.


I think you just have to be careful about what you remove. It was a lot of hard work to begin with but now I have my install options the way I want them and tested it's very easy to make minor changes when I want to without screwing anything up.

[Capt. Picard]

What I really want to know is if you can copy C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download to cd and install it later again.

[rewt]

I don't see why not.

[kurt454]

I would just download the latest version of Autopatcher, and burn it to a CD.