Create a customised Windows 2000 or XP installation disc

Think about it for a second. Your Windows 2000 or XP install CD is getting on - even if you've created a new CD slipstreamed with the latest Service Pack into it, it's still effectively a couple of years old. In PC terms that's an eternity - there have been over 120 critical updates released for Windows XP alone since Service Pack 2 was released, and each time you reinstall you've got to either download them all again or use a tool like AutoPatcher (click here) to install them all again.

   A version of Windows with all of the updates preinstalled is cleaner and smaller than one that has updates added to it individually or through a Service Pack. Imagine then if you could create an installation CD that came with all the latest updates already installed.

  Updates aren't the only problem. Your Windows 2000 or XP install CD comes with many drivers onboard, but the newest of these is five years old - and there's no support for SATA hard drives. Wouldn't it be good if you could include the latest drivers for all your hardware too? That way when Windows finished installing, all of your hardware would be set up and ready to go.

   Then there are all the additional updates you need before you can even start installing your programs. Updates like the .NET Framework, which comes in two separate versions, or Windows Media Player 11 and third-party add-ons like Sun's Java.

   Not everyone has the time or patience to follow our advice here to create the ultimate recovery disc - besides, unless you're incredibly well organised (or very lucky) it's likely that within a day of creating your perfect image you've realised you've forgotten to install a key program or configure a setting.

   All of this is enough to put you off reinstalling Windows at all, but if there's one constant in the PC universe, it's the need to periodically reload Windows from scratch. This issue we'll reveal how to build the ultimate install CD, one that will save you hours of hassle whenever you use it.

Build the ultimate Windows installation disc

The logistics may be prohibitive to Microsoft, but that needn't stop you. This issue you're going to learn how to build the ultimate customised Windows XP installation disc with the help of a free tool called nLite. The one thing you need is a Windows 2000 or XP installation disc - if your PC came with a recovery disc we'll point you in the right direction for a tool that enables you to create a customised install CD in its place.

   As you'll see over the course of this feature, nLite takes you through the entire process step-by-step. Start by slipstreaming Service Pack 2 (SP4 if you're running Windows 2000) into your installation files if necessary. Once done, you can choose which add-ons to include on your disc. We'll reveal where to find a tool that contains all post-SP2 critical updates as well as some useful extras like Macromedia Flash, the Windows Genuine Advantage Tool and the latest version of the Microsoft Update software.

   We'll also point you in the direction of free downloads that enable you to slipstream other tools into your disc too - want the latest version of Windows Media Player? Fancy adding Firefox to your install disc so you can avoid using Internet Explorer? In fact, you can - if you prefer - slipstream IE7 into your disc.

   Worried about security? We'll reveal how to include Windows Defender and free anti-virus tools into your disc so you're protected as soon as the install is finished.

   You'll also find out how to include all the drivers for your hardware, including SATA and RAID drivers that will save you the bother of installing them from floppy disk during the initial install process.

   Once this is done you're able to create an unattended setup file, so you can avoid having to enter your product key, set regional options, pick a workgroup and so on during installation.

   And if that wasn't enough, nLite lets you customise your installation even further, by letting you remove unwanted components like MSN Explorer, apply certain patches and even tweak various parts of your system so you don't need to install a tweaking tool straight away after installation.

   Once all this is done, you generate an ISO image which you can then burn to CD or DVD depending on its size using your CD-burning tool (or CD Burner XP Pro, which you'll find a link to below). Your disc will be complete and ready for use. We'll show you how to test it, and what to expect when you use it.

   Are you ready to build your perfect Windows installation CD? Click here and let's get started...