Making a bootable "everything" DVD?

B

BoB-O TiVo

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
147
Hey all,

I got the great idea today to take my XPSP2 CD and turn it into a DVD that has XP and all the software that I regularly install on a new machine. I can make the ISO of the XP CD, but I'm not sure how to:

1) Make a bootable DVD image from it
2) Expand and add to that image

I searched for "bootable DVD" and found one relevant thread, but it didn't have enough details for this simpleton to complete the task. Any advice?

Thanks,
BoB
 
www.nliteos.com

Go there, get the .NET 1.1 framework installer and install it. Then download and install nLite and you can do pretty much anything with your XP stuff you want. You can integrate service packs, integrate hotfixes, integrate drivers, strip out components you'll never use, do a few hundred tweaks that normally are done after you install XP and then...

Make a bootable ISO file that has not only XP and it's related files but also anything else you want on the CD/DVD in the space that remains. I recently made my own custom XP SP2 bootable install DVD that has the following on it:

XP SP2 nLite version (about 205MB of files, reduced from 520MB roughly)
Office 2003 Professional
Acrobat 7
Macromedia Studio 8
Photoshop CS
Paint Shop Pro 8 (last good version, really)
Nero 7

and pretty much every other piece of software I use in my computer dealings. All total the DVD has 4.2GB of installation files on it so I'm all set.

Good luck...
bb
 
this is an awsome thing.
Is there a way to make it so you dont have to do any options. Like maby the only thing it prompts for is, computer name, user name's, and cd-key right at the begining and then does everyhing else for you.
 
Asian Dub Foundation said:
arent all those stuff illegal?!! :eek:
Click to expand...
I don't think so...it's a backup for yourself, well, at least, that what you can say, riight? The idea sounds really good, actually, it can save a WHOLE lot of trouble, and a days worth of crap to put up with!
 
Asian Dub Foundation said:
arent all those stuff illegal?!! :eek:
Click to expand...

If you own the software, no. You're just making a backup copy of the install media technically.
 
br0adband said:
www.nliteos.com

Make a bootable ISO file that has not only XP and it's related files but also anything else you want on the CD/DVD in the space that remains. I recently made my own custom XP SP2 bootable install DVD that has the following on it:
Click to expand...

Damn, that's smooth. One question: did you have to use a different boot.bin or ISO creation option for a DVD? or does nLite just know that >650MB is a DVD?

Thanks a ton!
BoB
 
markland556 said:
this is an awsome thing.
Is there a way to make it so you dont have to do any options. Like maby the only thing it prompts for is, computer name, user name's, and cd-key right at the begining and then does everyhing else for you.
Click to expand...
There is a sticky above that answers your exact question.
 
howd u load all of ur apps? using the batch file way? or is there a program that does it for ya? i wanna do the same thing, except i am WAY too lazy to type in every app. i wanna install.

br0adband said:
www.nliteos.com

Go there, get the .NET 1.1 framework installer and install it. Then download and install nLite and you can do pretty much anything with your XP stuff you want. You can integrate service packs, integrate hotfixes, integrate drivers, strip out components you'll never use, do a few hundred tweaks that normally are done after you install XP and then...

Make a bootable ISO file that has not only XP and it's related files but also anything else you want on the CD/DVD in the space that remains. I recently made my own custom XP SP2 bootable install DVD that has the following on it:

XP SP2 nLite version (about 205MB of files, reduced from 520MB roughly)
Office 2003 Professional
Acrobat 7
Macromedia Studio 8
Photoshop CS
Paint Shop Pro 8 (last good version, really)
Nero 7

and pretty much every other piece of software I use in my computer dealings. All total the DVD has 4.2GB of installation files on it so I'm all set.

Good luck...
bb
Click to expand...
 
chronic9 said:
howd u load all of ur apps? using the batch file way? or is there a program that does it for ya? i wanna do the same thing, except i am WAY too lazy to type in every app. i wanna install.
Click to expand...

See my answer above....the sticky explains all.
 
nliteos??? i know abut that already. it doesnt let u integrate apps. and stuff. other then that i didnt see any stickys about unattended XPs. can u link me?? :p
 
chronic9 said:
nliteos??? i know abut that already. it doesnt let u integrate apps. and stuff. other then that i didnt see any stickys about unattended XPs. can u link me?? :p
Click to expand...
Yowza, you're not giving us a lot of confidence in your ready ability. I wasn't the one who mentioned Nlite...but I did mention the stickies twice. Here's the link...follow the instructions and combine it with a drive imaging app, like Ghost.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=772307
 
Yeah, why go through all that trouble when you can just use something like Ghost, Drive Image, True Image. It will be a full install with everything you like just the way you want it. Sounds like people are prompting you to spend a WHOLE lot more time than you really need to. You won't have to enter a name, key, or anything because it is an exact duplicate of your current 'ideal' install.
 
hardwarephreak said:
Yeah, why go through all that trouble when you can just use something like Ghost, Drive Image, True Image. It will be a full install with everything you like just the way you want it. Sounds like people are prompting you to spend a WHOLE lot more time than you really need to. You won't have to enter a name, key, or anything because it is an exact duplicate of your current 'ideal' install.
Click to expand...
The point of doing the extra work is because you can deploy the image to several different PCs, if you have the available license. Especially for those of us who work in a company with VLKs. I can make ghost image that has the key built in, software installed, but can be deployed to all different hardware types.
 
that thread didnt help me @ all, with how to add applications to my unattended CD.


djnes said:
Yowza, you're not giving us a lot of confidence in your ready ability. I wasn't the one who mentioned Nlite...but I did mention the stickies twice. Here's the link...follow the instructions and combine it with a drive imaging app, like Ghost.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=772307
Click to expand...
 
Well I never said all those apps were "integrated" into the XP SP2 install files. I merely said their setup files were on the DVD; it basically means I put in that one DVD and do all my software installation with that one disc instead of having to keep 15-30 CD/DVDs laying around for installing the software.

If you want to create a truly automated setup of the OS and relevant drivers/etc, nLite is still the key. It allows for what's called an unattended setup, where the key, user names, etc are all automagically taken care of. You can literally install the OS with no user interaction at all.

I'm not going to go into extreme details about that process - go read the forums at www.nliteos.com for more information about that/those procedures.

btw, I also have True Image on that DVD and recommend it more than anything else in a similar vein. Ghost comes in a vastly distant second in that respect, and Drive Image... well... Symantec ruined it by purchasing Powerquest.

They seem to ruin everything they touch anymore. They ruined Norton by taking it over years ago and making it supreme bloatware. They did the same thing to WRQ when they purchased that company and it's flagship product: AtGuard firewall, probably still the best software firewall ever made. Now they've gone and done the same thing to Powerquest.

Damned shame it is.

Good luck...
bb
 
chronic9 said:
that thread didnt help me @ all, with how to add applications to my unattended CD.
Click to expand...
You're right, because that thread explains a better way of doing it.
 
djnes said:
See my answer above....the sticky explains all.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm missing something.. where is this sticky? The only stickies I see are..

"Read before asking a question"
and
"Microsoft Oem licensing"


maybe I missed it, but the faq didn't explain how to make this dvd.
 
I think the OP question still stands and I'd like an answer to...not a lecture on do it THIS way about drive images, etc.

We know nlite can make a CD ISO image, but HOW exactly can we make a DVD ISO image.

There is a file defining the ISO-ness that is used by nlite ( and nero, etc) to make an ISO.

Microsoft has a utility called "ISO Creator for (pro/home versions)" to make the ISO image for CD, but not for DVD.

HOW/WHAT do we use to make a BOOTABLE DVD ISO IMAGE, that is what OP asked.
 
You can go the unattended route, or imaging, not both.

djnes is suggesting you scrap the unattended route and do imaging. I'd agree, it's much faster.

The link he's directing you do has to do with sysprep. The article is written for changing mobos, but if you use it the way sysprep was intended (vaguely explained in the article) it fits the bill here.

Basic steps.
Setup PC, install all software.
Run sysprep per steps in the article, shutdown the PC.
Image PC with ghost/other imaging tool, save to DVD.

edit: Hope that clears it up, no one's trying to lecture anyone here. People are offering what they see as better alternatives. Heaven forbid someone offer a better solution. There are lots of threads where the OP asks for one thing, but ends up happier with another. Sometimes they DON'T want what they ask for and some dialog is necessary to realize that.

If the alternate solution doesn't work/isn't wanted OK, at least you can make an informed decision.

edit2: Imaging has been built into Vista, XImage. Take what you want from that, but I see MS giving up on any type of conventional "setup" and will replace it with image based installs. One of the .ppt files MS put out indicated the actual Vista installer would be XImage/sysprep based.
 
br0adband said:
www.nliteos.com

Go there, get the .NET 1.1 framework installer and install it. Then download and install nLite and you can do pretty much anything with your XP stuff you want. You can integrate service packs, integrate hotfixes, integrate drivers, strip out components you'll never use, do a few hundred tweaks that normally are done after you install XP and then...

Make a bootable ISO file that has not only XP and it's related files but also anything else you want on the CD/DVD in the space that remains. I recently made my own custom XP SP2 bootable install DVD that has the following on it:

XP SP2 nLite version (about 205MB of files, reduced from 520MB roughly)
Office 2003 Professional
Acrobat 7
Macromedia Studio 8
Photoshop CS
Paint Shop Pro 8 (last good version, really)
Nero 7

and pretty much every other piece of software I use in my computer dealings. All total the DVD has 4.2GB of installation files on it so I'm all set.

Good luck...
bb
Click to expand...

Nero 7? The Nero 7 Ultra Edition that is supposed to come out october 13th 2005?

Sniff, sniff... hmmm I smell warez :D :D :D

http://ww2.nero.com/enu/FAQs_Nero_7_Ultra_Edition_Upgrade.html
 
br0adband said:
If you want to create a truly automated setup of the OS and relevant drivers/etc, nLite is still the key. It allows for what's called an unattended setup, where the key, user names, etc are all automagically taken care of. You can literally install the OS with no user interaction at all.
Click to expand...
Just nitpicking here, but I don't want anyone to get the impression that nlite is the only way to do an unattended install.

Windows has unattended installation built-in to the OS by default, that's what makes all of this possible. You can manually add hotfixes and install programs and make it all beautiful; nlite makes it much, much easier to do so. I know this because I've done it...it's a pain in the ass.

Again do not misunderstand, I love nlite and will continue to use it, but it isn't the only way.
 
feigned said:
Just nitpicking here, but I don't want anyone to get the impression that nlite is the only way to do an unattended install.

Windows has unattended installation built-in to the OS by default, that's what makes all of this possible. You can manually add hotfixes and install programs and make it all beautiful; nlite makes it much, much easier to do so. I know this because I've done it...it's a pain in the ass.

Again do not misunderstand, I love nlite and will continue to use it, but it isn't the only way.
Click to expand...

Correct, nLite is not the only way to do this method of creating an unattended CD/DVD for installation, but so far it's damned sure the easiest.

As for Nero 7, I'm a registered beta tester with 37 different companies and I have been since 1982. You kids could learn a lot over 23 years just like I have. Besides, I'm retired now from 25+ years in the industry and I'm doing ok. I buy software when I find something worth the cost. Most of the stuff I currently own/install/use on a regular basis are NFR copies that I've acquired either by being a beta tester or by attending conferences and trade shows.

Pheonix86 said:
Heh, I just saw the list that included thousands of dollars of software and knew that.
Click to expand...

The automagic implication of something that's not yet available for consumer purchase being warez, well... that's a bit of stereotyping and as far as the HardForum is concerned, it's to be expected. Go figure...

bb
 
Well seeing that your original post was just a few days after Nero 7 was released into the warez scene...

Coincidence I guess...
 
br0adband said:
The automagic implication of something that's not yet available for consumer purchase being warez, well... that's a bit of stereotyping and as far as the HardForum is concerned, it's to be expected. Go figure...

bb
Click to expand...
"knew" was proably overboard, suspect would have been a better choice in words.

It's a reasonable, if not probable, though. I'd bet if you polled the people with that much $ in installed software you'd fine more pirates than not, certianly a lot of them. I didn't do any beyond saying what I thought, like cry foul. For all we know you did pirate it, and are covering your ass now, I don't really care though, that's not the point.

As for stereotyping, see your post as it also contains a one.

/off topic

As far as unattended/imaging, a really robust (coprorate enterprise) setup could use both. An unattended setup to create the master image, and the image to contain the software. The reason for the unattended setup is for rebuilding the image. With an unattended install you can guarantee the settings across image builds is identical. You have to redo images to get more base patches installed or to upgrade/patch 3rd party software.
 
Phoenix86 said:
I don't really care though, that's not the point.
Click to expand...

Like I said.

As it stands, all the information I posted is relevant to the OP's question and it would do him well to check out nLite to make the bootable DVD he wants.

bb
 
br0adband said:
Like I said.

As it stands, all the information I posted is relevant to the OP's question and it would do him well to check out nLite to make the bootable DVD he wants.

bb
Click to expand...
Your missing the bigger issue. It doesn't matter if anyone's stereotyping or not. Talking about warez can bring about the closure of the forums, if this becomes known as a warez discussion. It's also against forum rules anyway, so before anyone accuses anyone of stereotyping, just use some common sense in posting. If an app isn't publicly available yet, and you have it, don't mention it. No harm, no foul.
 
I think the OP question still stands and I'd like an answer to...not a lecture on do it THIS way about drive images, etc.

We know nlite can make a CD ISO image, but HOW exactly can we make a DVD ISO image.

There is a file defining the ISO-ness that is used by nlite ( and nero, etc) to make an ISO.

Microsoft has a utility called "ISO Creator for (pro/home versions)" to make the ISO image for CD, but not for DVD.

HOW/WHAT do we use to make a BOOTABLE DVD ISO IMAGE, that is what OP asked.

We all agree nlite is awesome, I use it, Ive donated $$ to the author. It is great at making the content you want on the DISK, however it only knows how to make CD ISO's, and relies on you to come up with your own method for making a bootable DVD ISO. :D

So the question remains, anyone here know HOW to make a bootable DVD image that Windows will install from as if it were a Windows CD....only BIGGER, and with tons of other stuff on the disk for convenience??? :mad:
 
An ISO is an ISO. When you're using a piece of DVD media for data purposes (meaning not for DVD audio or DVD video uses, those are UDF formats), it's just a piece of media that conforms to the CDFS specifications and ISO 9660 format - this means an ISO is an ISO and burns to DVD media just as it would to a piece of CD media.

It doesn't matter which media you burn it to, in the end the media will be bootable. All that's required realistically is the boot.bin file on the media and it'll boot with the Windows bootloader to start the install process.

If I make an ISO under 700MB I'll use a CDR to burn it on, if the ISO is larger than that I use a DVD+R.

Here are the steps I use:

1) Copy the entire contents of my XP CD (my original NFR copy) to the hard drive in a directory I name XP_CD
2) Download the XP SP2 network install file
3) Run nLite, point it to the XP_CD folder, let it verify the contents, point it to the SP2 network installer file and it'll slipstream it into the XP_CD folder
4) Gut XP SP2 of all unnecessary content using the Remove Components option and stop at the ISO creation point
5) Create a subdirectory in the XP_CD directory I call Stuff
6) Copy over all the necessary install files for all my most common applications into subdirs for each one inside the XP_CD\Stuff directory
7) Let nLite make an ISO of all the content inside the XP_CD directory
8) Burn that ISO file with Nero (I won't mention a version number for fear of censorship reprisals and simple ignorance - you can use pretty much any ISO burning app to burn it)

and there you have it.

bb

djnes: Actually it was a foul, but I covered that in my post by saying "Like I said" just like I'm saying it again. I'm not the one that brought up the dreaded w-word, but no one cares at this point, right?
 
so u basically have all of the apps on the disc physically, but they dont install with windows rite?


br0adband said:
An ISO is an ISO. When you're using a piece of DVD media for data purposes (meaning not for DVD audio or DVD video uses, those are UDF formats), it's just a piece of media that conforms to the CDFS specifications and ISO 9660 format - this means an ISO is an ISO and burns to DVD media just as it would to a piece of CD media.

It doesn't matter which media you burn it to, in the end the media will be bootable. All that's required realistically is the boot.bin file on the media and it'll boot with the Windows bootloader to start the install process.

If I make an ISO under 700MB I'll use a CDR to burn it on, if the ISO is larger than that I use a DVD+R.

Here are the steps I use:

1) Copy the entire contents of my XP CD (my original NFR copy) to the hard drive in a directory I name XP_CD
2) Download the XP SP2 network install file
3) Run nLite, point it to the XP_CD folder, let it verify the contents, point it to the SP2 network installer file and it'll slipstream it into the XP_CD folder
4) Gut XP SP2 of all unnecessary content using the Remove Components option and stop at the ISO creation point
5) Create a subdirectory in the XP_CD directory I call Stuff
6) Copy over all the necessary install files for all my most common applications into subdirs for each one inside the XP_CD\Stuff directory
7) Let nLite make an ISO of all the content inside the XP_CD directory
8) Burn that ISO file with Nero (I won't mention a version number for fear of censorship reprisals and simple ignorance - you can use pretty much any ISO burning app to burn it)

and there you have it.

bb

djnes: Actually it was a foul, but I covered that in my post by saying "Like I said" just like I'm saying it again. I'm not the one that brought up the dreaded w-word, but no one cares at this point, right?
Click to expand...
 
...or, you could set up your machine as you like it, then run sysprep on it, take an image with True Image, and then make a bootable DVD from that image using Nero.

Seems a lot less complicated.
 
My procedure as outlined above is a one time process to create that DVD. Once I've got the DVD, and then I go through the actual installation of XP SP2 and all the associated applications I have on the DVD, it's a done deal that takes up about 6.8GB of data on my 10GB XP system partition. All my apps are installed, all the tweaks are done to customize XP to my liking, and that's it.

Once I have XP tweaked to perfection and everything installed, I simply boot off my True Image 8 recovery CD, image the XP system partition to another partition (it's roughly a 4GB image file) and then boot back into XP, run Nero and burn that image to a DVD+R.

After that, anytime I wish to start over totally I can boot off the True Image 8 recovery CD, take it out, insert the "Survival Image" DVD as I call it, tell True Image 8 to restore the image on the DVD to the first partition on the hard drive and go get something to eat while it restores. Takes roughly 12 minutes to do - a significant decrease in time compared to installing XP, adding the service pack, then installing all the apps one after the other.

Again, the DVD creation process is a one time thing, and installing it and all the associated apps is also a one time thing.

The best practice as already mentioned in this thread by several people is to install XP SP2 any way you see fit, then install all the applications you wish to use in your daily computing experience, and when XP is set up just the way you want it, use True Image or Ghost or some other drive imaging utility to make a backup of the entire XP partition - a bit perfect backup copy at roughly 2:1 compression that you can put on another partition or burn to DVD media.

Imaging software is one of the greatest inventions yet in the computing industry. Avail yourselves of learning more about this sort of tool that many of us, including people like myself that reinstall our OSes almost daily because of testing, simply can't live without.

Acronis True Image

or

Norton Ghost

Good luck...
bb
 
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