Slipstream Windows XP with all updates and optional software

[htsource]

Hi,

I recently had to rebuild an Asus laptop and it has a recovery CD. Basically the CD runs Norton Ghost to put Windows on the drive, then it loads the setup like normal (automated), then it installs all Windows updates from the disc as well as optional software such as display driver, touchpad driver, etc.

I'm familiar with WinLite for automating the OS install but I'm not sure how to do the windows updates and all optional software? I know throughout the WinLite process, it asks for optional programs to be installed. Do I just point the exe's there? I suppose I need to find out any optional switches for these programs to automate the whole process so it doesn't hang and ask for user input?

This will be great as I can install all default software for a rebuild such as Adobe Acrobat, Windows updates, free cleanup tools, AVG, etc. automatically without babysitting the whole process.

Thanks for your inputs.

 

[14049752]

Yeah, for several programs, there are switches that you can use to run the install in "silent" mode or just use default configurations.
You can use this tool to find them: http://www.technibble.com/repair-tool-of-the-week-universal-silent-switch-finder/ or search the documentation if that doesn't work.

You might also want to look into building an offline update cd, so when you have to restore a system from a partition or pre-made discs, you can just pop in the cd and let it run the updates. That was also a "repair tool of the week" but the link is to an old version. The newest version is here: http://www.heise.de/ct/projekte/offlineupdate/download_uk.shtml