I have loads other questions, but I think it'd be best to start a fresh topic for those.

I've read the Base Tutorial, (which seems to be pretty straight forward) nLite docs, and now reading RyanVM manual:
http://integrator.professorcpu.net/index.php?manual

Once I've got a general overview of the process I will first try to build an XP recovery disk with SP2  and hotfixes applied to it. I know this will work for a particular laptop, as this is the machine the original recovery DVD came with. So getting that far will confirm I know how to use nLite, and how to sliptream SP's and hot fixes, and create an ISO image and build a bootable recovery disk.

Once I have sorted that out, then all I need to do is create another recovery DVD disk using SP3 and hotfixes, and use DriverPacks_Base to add the missing drivers for my target laptop.

I think, the main reason SP3 got bad reviews in the beggining (though I never had any problems whatsoever) was a) because certain NORTON AV solutions stopped working (Symantec's fault for not following MSFT's guidelines on AV soft integration) and b) because many cracks and activation "tricks" ceased to work along with many corporate serials being blacklisted. So, most of the folks who cried were blatant pirates anyhow...

The only issue there ever was with sp3 was related to the Media Center Edition of XP the ISO you point to above is not MCE.

don't bother with a SP2 image it is a waste of your time (unless you intend to have a MCE disc)

Is SP3 OK now, as I read some poor reviews about it on Softpedia

Will this one do for an offline install?
xpsp3_5512.080413-2113_usa_x86fre_spcd.iso

I've also got SP2 as well, so I thought about doing that first, then adding SP3 to another ISO created from the slipstreamed SP2 XP ISO?

This is what I was refering to:

http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/view/web/2/

What you will need:

    * A Windows CD. This portion of the guide is applicable with Windows 2000 through Windows 2003.

    * The Service Pack you wish to use for your operating system.

You will need the NETWORK INSTALL. It's the larger of the two options to download.

I only want to create my own offline recovery CD/DVD. So I take it I don't need the NETWORK INSTALL ?

Maybe this can be made clearer on the beginners guide,  http://driverpacks.net/docs/beginners-guide-windows-xp

as they referer to the MSFN tutorial there?

Anyway, are you sure about that "network installer package"?
You don't happen to mean .NET runtimes by chance?
Just wondering...

I need to read the beginners guide, and take a look at nLite docs, and also RyanVM's package. I understand what you say about RyanVM's package not having anything to do with the DriverPacks. But if I'm going to build a slipstreamed CD/DVD then I may as well add the SP's and hotfixes to it first

I'm a total newbie to DriverPacks, and thought this would help with me to manually install some missing drivers for a laptop.

If it's for an online system, use SAD instead.

For integration into an offline installation medium, use the BASE, disc option and method 2 for a rough guide.
No extraction of DriverPacks required (now will it work with extracted packs, anyhow...).

No, you only need to have the ISO of the install medium extracted to HDD (or have the contents of an install disc copied over - make sure to not miss hidden and system files etc. when copying with Explorer - I use nLite for the task, much preferred for newbies!).
Then, DL and install BASE and DL the DriverPacks you want, putting the *.7zs into the DriverPacks folder.
Start BASE, follow on-screen hints...

Has nothing to do with drivers nor DriverPacks in generall.
It is recomneded to work with an SP3 image.
nLite may be used for hotfix and SP slistreaming (but NOT for anything driver-related!).

GL!

So I'm just getting my head around the beginner's tutorial now:
http://driverpacks.net/docs/beginners-guide-windows-xp

Which is exactly what I want to do!

OK. I think I'm getting the idea now. I only want to build my own slipstreamed XP DVD for home use, with missing drivers added to it. So do I need the network installation package mentioned in the MSFN UXPCD tutorial?

I found RyanVM's MSFN files page late last night. So now I know about the hot fixes, and where to get them form!

I tried to unpack all the latest DP's that were just under 3GB size in .7z archives. I ran out of disk space after unpacking about 11GB's worth of 7z archives.

Why did you try this?
What purpose does it serve?

Use exFAT, it's designed for flash drives!
FAT32 is ancient and obsolete (if only most stand-alone HW would support anything else than FAT16/32...).

We could potentially get around the issue of making a sale by saying a Preloaded USB stick would come FREE with any donation of over $20. big_smile

How about all the DriverPacks and the Base Pack, plus SAD2 (whatever that is?)

I tried to unpack all the latest DP's that were just under 3GB size in .7z archives. I ran out of disk space after unpacking about 11GB's worth of 7z archives.

Suggestion: Maybe a preloaded 8GB flash drive, (FAT32 is apparently supposed to cause less wear on the flash memory that NTFS) with all the DP *.7z archives on it?

This will allow space for the DP archives to grow, and also plenty of other space to store ones favourite applications to work with the DriverPacks, such as the 7zip program, and HW detection tools? Also one could manually extract a particular archive to some space on the flash drive, for installing drivers manually on a ad-hoc basis, as and when required?

I see that you have at least two 'varsity sponsors.  Perhaps your contacts there may provide a wealth of ideas.

Another avenue may be small-business-based tech stores. (plain-jane retail may express interest sooner, though)  Wouldn't one of the first questions of a prospective client be 'how soon can you send me samples?', or 'how long until you can send me a 1000-lot?'  Beware the freetards!

Perhaps the first job is educational; teach others why updated drivers are so important.  I know it, you know it; if we didn't believe this, none of us would likely be here (perish the thought).  If many don't know that they need you, what will encourage them to 'pay' attention?  Global financial outlooks seem over-optimistic to me; yet despite this type of financial climate, there will be opportunity.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_%28IBM%29

You are correct about the documentation, Mr_Bashrat, it is advising people to:

When integration questions are asked in the forums, i see mr_smartepants having to preempt the attempted DP integration with nLite by 'noobs.  I have no experience integrating any install disks yet (vanilla installs only), has anyone noticed? ?

Getting back to the main topic; i love the µTorrent download approach.  Can't stand html links for the DriverPacks; that was slow for me.  If my bandwidth wasn't subject to over-usage tariff, i'd pull out my DD-WRT box & start serving & 12Mbps.  I don't know if it's because of the updated drivers, yet downloading DP_Sound_A & B averaged 750kB/s each concurrently over my little 54g connection @ 25% power with 0 packet loss for the whole day (i did use the WiFi utility long ago to hop to a well-separated channel!)