Windows Server 2003 SP1 Slipstreaming

We’re currently delivering some sessions on Windows Server 2003 SP1 and SQL Server 2005.  The last demo of the Windows Server 2003 SP1 session takes an existing Windows Server 2003 i386 directory and slipstreams SP1 into it.  If you dig around on Microsoft.com, you’ll be hard pressed to find documentation on how to do this.  It’s mentioned in the readme for SP1, but you really don’t get a good example in the docs. 

In order to do the process demonstrated, you’ll need to order the CD.  See https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/downloads/servicepacks/sp1/cdorder.aspx for ordering instructions.  After you have the CD, you’ll notice srsp1.exe at the root.  You can dump the command line options using the srsp1.exe /? command.  Warning, this unpacks everything before it shows the options (see screenshot). I don’t particularly care for that, but I didn’t write the code.  I just get to whine about it.

SwitchesIf you look carefully, you’ll see some interesting options.  However, what you don’t see is the command line option we use in the demo. HA! Now you know why it’s important to come to a TechNet seminar.  Ok, that’s not the only place to get information, but it is interesting that searches in the MSN and Google search engines currently come up dry on the subject.

So how does an IT Dude do the slipstream?  Well, the key is to build a directory and do the merge.  You can see the demo (demo 5) at our TechNet website, or perform the following steps:

1. Create a directory and share it so that network installs can use it later.  We’ll create c:\DepShare.

2. Copy the contents of the i386 directory on the Windows Server 2003 CD to c:\DepShare.

3. Open a command console and go to the root of the SP1 CD, or if you copied the contents of the CD, change to that directory.  In our demo, we’ve copied the CD contents to c:\SP1.

4. Type srsp1.exe /s:c:\DepShare  and hit enter.

At this point, you should see the slipstream process begin.  It will take a few minutes to complete depending on the machine you are using for this merge.  For more information, see the Technical Center at https://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/servicepack/default.mspx

For merging SP1 with other updates, see How to Combine SP1 with Other Updates and Deploy to Multiple Computers.