how do you streamline windows xp with sp2 updates .?

Question

Also is there a way to streamline software into xp also I reformat my computer so much it would be nice if I could save time by installing all my basic software and xp and the updates all at the same time .Serious answers please I don't need juvenile comments.Thank you

Answer 1

the best way is to make a backup image of your operating system drive with something like norton ghost. then, when the time comes that you need to restore your pc you can restore it from the backup image you made - obviously this backup should be on another hard drive or on a dvd so it isn't overwritten.

taking your windows xp cd and combining it with service pack 2, then placing it back onto cd as a windows install cd is known as 'slipstreaming' and instructions for doing that can be found here:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

the advantage of the first method over the second is that you can make a snapshot of your pc EXACTLY as it is now, put that snapshot onto a dvd, then when you want to you can restore that snapshot from the dvd onto the computer in around 10 minutes - surely that's better than spending over an hour installing xp and putting all your programs back on manually?

i can highly recommend norton ghost for this:
http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/overview.jsp?pcid=br&pvid=ghost10

Answer 2

Both previous answers are good. And you might get an external hard drive and copy everything to it when you have your computer running the way you want it. I used Norton's Ghost as I am always having to format and re-load this computer which I use for testing.

Ron

Answer 3

http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread10720.html