"Slipstream" files into Vista installation CD

I don't actually have the actual Vista installation CD, but a recovery cd provided with the laptop (Dell). I have a bunch of programs and installation files that want to be pre-installed the moment I install Vista. How do I do this?

 

FireGeier's Unattended Vista Guide

You can find more help in the MSFN Unattended Vista Forum.

 

I'm not familiar with Dell, but most of the time the "recovery discs" are useless for such a purpose. They WIM files are encrypted and cannot be edited. You will need to obtain a "clean" vista disc first. After you have that, one of those guide will help you, and it's might be worth checking out vlite too.

If you have an "Anytime Upgrade" disc, that is a clean vista disc that you can use. Please see the Clean Vista Install guide in my sig for more information about the types of discs.

 

Unfortunately orev is right, the dell restore discs won't do you any good. You'll need a "real" Vista DVD in order to do any slipstreaming (updates/drivers/software) into your install disc.

Oh and I highly recommend vlite. Even though the guide is really awesome and you can learn a lot from it....let's be honest, why bother if you can do it the easy way.
I've been slipstreaming all my OS install discs ever since I laid hands on a PC and I just enjoy it.

As a benefit , your system doesn't download updates from windowsupdate.com and clutters your HDD + slows down your system. I've even gone so far, that I have a live OS dvd image ready on my secondary drive, that I constantly update (via slipstreaming) and just run it every once in a while, when I feel like it. After a "fresh" install, I just run my batch for all the software I use daily and that's it. A fast up-to-date OS with everything installed and configured the way I like it. (in under 45 minutes)

 

How would I go about creating this live OS dvd image? How much partition space should I use?

 

You don't have to assign separate partition space for this one, since it's not "live" (as in the currently operating OS). I used "live" in order to describe that it's basically my current OS (sort of a backup) that I can restore anytime when I messed up something or I'm no longer satisfied with the performance of the OS.

This being out of the way, the process is really simple. Put your Vista DVD into your drive and let vlite copy it's content onto your HDD (please use a different partition or secondary drive for as destination, not the active OS partition e.g. D instead of C).

After the files are copied, get all the system updates/drivers/software together that you want to use.
(a small warning, there is a one time set-up requirement for this process, since you have to configure all the software you're using at least once. This can be easy or really difficult, depending on your "skills").

Now would be a good time to read through the vlite FAQ or guide as we want to commence and create are up-to-date OS and integrate all the Vista updates into the original system files (the ones we copied from the DVD with vlite). (on a side note, I have created a fully personalized Vista Install image that only includes Vista ultimate, meaning that the install image is not 3GB but only slightly over 1.2GB). Vlite allows you to slipstream the OS updates into the original install image, and also allows you to integrate device drivers and software into the install package. Vlite can also create a single OS install, instead of the multi-OS offered by the original disc. (e.g. only Vista Ultimate = less GB). In vlite you can also deselect some internal system components, like the media center, indexing service, windows defender...so they won't even install and clutter your system.

Personally at 1st I'd just create an OS install image without importing software settings (the most difficult part).
After you slipstreamed your Vista image with all updates from microsoft's download center, and integrated all your device drivers, you can simply start the setup from the Vista image folder on your HDD, or from an pre-OS environment (e.g. command line) or just burn it onto a dvd-rw and boot from it.

After this you only need to slipstream the updates every once in a while so that your image is always up-to-date and ready to be used when needed.

PS: There is an advanced section (something like part II) to this, where you include your favorite software (+settings) in your vista image (anti-virus, ISP software, different system settings etc.) and actually have a fully personalized out-of-the-box windows vista installation ready to be used. But it's a bit more complicated and involves using a backup-tool (like Norton Ghost). Compared to a system only install image (i.e. no 3rd party software) it's slightly more difficult to maintain and is only worth doing every 6-12 months. Another option is to record the software/system settings and create a custom install package for your favorite apps with one of the advanced installer packages (like install shield, wise, etc.)

So it's up to you. But I'd definitely recommend creating a single OS up-to-date install image, with drivers included and unwanted system components removed. It works like a charm and you can install your favorite apps manually afterwards.

 

Wow, that sounds like you have the process figured out. I used to try to do this with XP, but it was too much hassle. How do you install the applications? Are you using unattended install switches from a batch file? MSI packages?

As for keeping things up to date, another option is Vista Complete PC backup, which does almost exactly this, and is built in to Ultimate and Business.

 

I am aware of the Vista backup features, unfortunately they don't offer you the flexibility vlite does.

As for the apps, a couple offer the option to do silent installs, while others don't. I used a different technique: I installed them like every time (while checking where they were storing their configuration, both registry and HDD) and afterwards I made a personal install package that included all the files and modifications to the registry for all apps.

That's it.