good idea to slipstream Xp SP3 ?

Here is some:

RockXP
Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder

Have you think about to download or borrow orginal XP CD and slipstream SP3? I always reformat laptops after I got those because I really hate preinstalled crap.

 

Mine also came pre-activated, the main exception being a different code returned by keyfinder than was attached to the case.
*Search "xperience xp january 2005" for what appear's a likely activation work-around (/2005_01_01_archive.html blogspot).

S

 

I have exact same thing with my Dell Latitude D820. I thought that key which is on the cd is volume license or something and they use it in many computers.

 

Perhaps someone else has some similar experience to this, but this is what happened with me.

I used an XP SP2 OEM disk, and installed it on two different machines. Each had their own key so it was legal, I just didn't want to reinstall XP-SP1 from dell on my laptop then apply sp2 after since I had the SP2 disk handy.

A couple months ago, I copied the CD to my HD and used nlite to slipstream SP3 into the disk and burn a new image. Also made a couple other minor tweaks just to speed up the install (choose the timezone, etc).

With the original disk, I have never ever ran into a windows file protection error asking me to insert the CD. However after installing, cleanly, XP-SP3 on my laptop, I have run into it a few times wanting my original CD.

Could I have done something to the install, or by some chance might I have forgotten that I did something after the previous installs?

 

Loose end's lead to speculation KM. Could you, might you have - sure. nLite stripping an OEM? Take a look @ the link I left for LV.

Steve