45. Slipstream Windows 7 Service Pack

One of the main problems with Windows Service Packs is that, whenever you come to re-install the Windows operating system, you always have to then start downloading and installing all the relevant service packs before your system is up and running again.

This can be quite a chore, in some cases taking many hours to actually complete.

One way of getting around the problem of constantly having to download a Service pack is to actually Slipstream the service pack onto a copy of your Windows operating system DVD.

Previously, especially with Windows Vista, slipstreaming was actually a complicated affair with the user having to utilize the Windows SDK application. Fortunately, with RT Seven Lite, the process has become considerably easier.

Before you can start the slipstreaming process you need the following:

Windows 7 DVD.
Copy of the Windows Service Pack you intend to slipstream.
Copy of RT Seven Light. Please ensure to download the correct version, either 32 Bit or 64 Bit.

You can download an ISO copy of Windows 7 Service Pack 1 from the Microsoft download site Windows Service Pack 1

You can download a copy of RT Seven Light here: RT Seven Light Download Note: you currently need to download Beta version 2.6.0 as this is the only version currently supporting slipstreaming.

Once you have downloaded RT Seven Light, Install it and the Run the application.

When you start RT Seven Light the first thing you will see is the RT Seven Light splash screen.

Fig: 45-1 RT Seven Splash Screen
Insert your Windows 7 operating system DVD. The Autoplay box will now appear. Cancel this by clicking the red X in the top right hand corner of the Autoplay window.

Fig: 45-2 AutoPlay Window
4. In the Welcome to RT Seven Light window, Click the Browse button.

Fig: 45-3 RT Seven Lite's Main Interface
The Browse button gives you two options: Select OS path and Select ISO File.
Select the path of your operating system. In this case we are using the Windows 7 DVD so click on the arrow to the left of Computer and then select your DVD drive.

Fig: 45-4 Browse for Folder Window
The following message will appear. This operation cannot be performed, first save the file on your hard disk. Do you want to Save on your local disk?

Fig: 45-5 Operation cannot be performed message
To continue you need to press the OK button. The Browse for folder window will now open.

Fig: 45-6 Make New Folder
Click the Make New Folder option, select the new folder's location and give it a name.
Windows will now begin copying the operating system files to your selected folder on your hard drive.

Fig: 45-7 Windows is now copying files to the hard drive
When copying has completed the List of operating system window will appear.

Fig: 45-8 Select the operating system you are using
Select the image you want to configure from the list and then place a tick in the box to the left of the slipstream Service Pack option.
Once you have done this press OK. Select the location of the Service pack and then press the Start button.

Fig: 45-9 Integration progress is shown by the progress bar
The service pack will now start to integrate into your Windows 7 operating system.
After the service pack has been integrated, Click the Proceed button.

Fig: 45-10 Click the Proceed button to continue the operation
The combined new image will now start loading into the welcome screen.

Fig 45.11

Fig: 45-11 New image progress

Once completed the Task button on the left hand menu will turn red. Click on the task button to continue.

Fig: 45-12 Select the ISO Bootable option
In the Task window place a tick in the box next to the ISO Bootable option.
The ISO Bootable option on the left hand menu will now turn blue. Click this button to continue.

Fig 45.13

Fig: 45-13 Select a mode to see the available options

In the Mode section, Click the arrow on the Select a mode box. A drop down menu will now appear with the following options: Direct Burn; Create Image; Burn Image; Erase RW; USB Bootable.
Select the mode you require. For this example we are using the Create Image option to burn an ISO to the hard drive. You can, however, chose the Direct Burn if you simply want to burn the ISOI directly to a DVD.
Now click the Make ISO Button. The Windows Save As window will now open.

Fig: 45-14 Type in the name of the file you want to save
Select the file location for the ISO and give the file a name, then press the Save button.

Fig: 45-15 The ISO image will now be prepared
RT Seven Lite will now start to prepare the ISO image.
Once the ISO or burned image (depending upon which you initially selected) has been completed a message will appear informing you that the Image has been successfully created. Click OK to close the message.

Fig: 45-16 The Image has been successfully created box will appear once completed
Now that the ISO has been created, click the Finish button.

Fig: 45-17 To complete the project, Click the Finish button
You will now be asked if you want to close RT 7 lite. Click Yes.

Fig: 45-18 The job is now complete
Once you have clicked Yes, RT Seven Lite will start its cleaning process to remove all temporary files, etc., relating to the current operation.

Fig: 45-19 RT Seven Lite automatically cleans up
Your ISO (or Burned image) is now ready to use.