Topic: DriverPacks BASE tutorial (English)
Tutorial for DriverPacks BASE. DriverPacks BASE supports all NT5 platforms. IE Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 Server.
A more detailed version and the screenshots for this basic tutorial are hosted here (thanks Jtdoom).
Welcome to the Driverpacks tutorial.
Driverpacks were created for integrating drivers directly into your Windows setup CD, which also happens to make an unnattended installation easier. We are going to assume that you understand the basics of creating an unattended Windows setup CD. Therefore, if you are a complete beginner and want to build an unattended setup CD, we suggest that you first read the excellent tutorials over at MSFN.org.
Driverpacks BASE is an integration program that will take individual driverpacks (downloaded here or created by yourself) and integrate them into a local 32-bit Windows source for installation on another PC. (installing from the slipstreamed CD or from a RIS networked image.). At the time of this writing, you can use DriverPacks Base to slipstream the Driverpacks into a Windows 2000, XP or Server 2003 source.
In this Tutorial, we will be using a Windows XPOEM CD-ROM as source, and Driverpacks Base 7.05.2
Before we start, there are a few items you will need.
* Local Windows source (That is a copy of the original Windows CD in a folder on your hard disk.)
* Driverpacks BASE self-extracting archive (Download here)
* Driverpacks for your hardware (Download here YOU DO NOT NEED TO UNZIP THEM!)
* (Optional) 7Zip (Download here. Needed for creating or modifying driverpacks)
It is highly recommended that you use either nLite or the RyanVM Integrator to integrate all current hotfixes prior to integrating Driverpacks. This will create a secure, up-to-date Windows install with minimal downloads from the Microsoft Update website. Please refer to the above websites for detailed instructions for those programs.
CAUTION
Once driverpacks are integrated into your Windows source, you will not be able to integrate any patches or hotfixes without breaking the driverpacks.
1) First, copy your Windows CD to a folder. You can choose to use or not use Nlite or the RVM Integrator on it. Whether you do or not, that folder will be your local Windows source for the rest of this tutorial. In this example, you can see that the copy is located at C:\OEMXP.
2) Next, put your Driverpacks BASE self-extracting archive someplace convenient (i.e. C:\Driverpacks\). We show version 7.05.2 here. The numbers mean something. 7 (for 2007) / 05 (Mayl) / 2 (This means that the BASE utility was revised and republished during April).
3) Then, doubleclick the DP_BASE_7052.exe file and allow it to extract it's contents to the folder you picked.
4) Now, download any driverpacks you need for your hardware to the new directory [C:\Driverpacks\Driverpacks\] You can read about the supported hardware list on the download pages and select those you want, or go crazy and download them all! You can still select which you want to integrate later on.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO UNZIP the driverpacks. Leave them as *.7z files.
If you have any 3rd party driverpacks (made by yourself or others), put them in the folder [C:\Driverpacks\3rd party Driverpacks\]. Check the 3rd party driverpacks forum, someone else may have already built a driverpack for your situation.
5) Now, get back to the folder you extracted the program into, and in there double-click the "DPs_BASE.exe" program file (The blue Icon, not the 7zip icon) and get ready for some magic!
On the below screen you can select your language, load any previously-saved settings (.ini) file, go straight to slipstream (if your settings are already set), make a donation (don't be a cheapskate! A lot of work went into this utility), or progress to the next settings step (right arrow). For now, press the right arrow button twice.
6) Now from the below screen you can select your Windows source directory we created earlier (the directory that contains the "I386" folder, NOT your [C:\Windows\] directory) by pressing the "Browse" button. Select what type of Windows source you are using (typically select "disc" option unless you are using an advanced multiboot Win2k, WinXP, Win2k3 source or a BartPE environment). Then click the right arrow button again.
7) Next, in the below screen, you can select which driverpacks you want to integrate. If you don't have a driverpack available, that option will be greyed-out.
Which are the most important to you?
That depends on your Windows CD usage. If you plan on making a "universal" install CD for different platforms, just select all the driverpacks; you never know what hardware you're going to come across!
On the other hand, if you know specifically what hardware you will install Windows on, make sure to read the descriptions for each pack and only select the ones applicable to your hardware (to save space on the CD).
Let's begin with Mass Storage. If you previously had to use the F6/floppy method to get access to your hard disk during Windows setup, make sure you select the Mass-Storage driverpack as well as check the "Text-Mode" option. Text-Mode integration will ensure that your RAID, IDE or SATA controller is correctly identified and supported by the Windows installer prior to installation. In other words, TEXTMODE is required if the Windows installer CD does not recognize your destination hard drive.
Select Text-Mode and you are saying "Bye Bye, Floppy".
The Chipset is a critically important part of your computer. In a non-integrated Windows installation, the chipset driver is normally installed before you install any other drivers.
Graphics is used to ensure correct resolutions are displayed. LAN is used for connectivity, and who wants to be without Sound? Wireless LAN was also selected. When we chose our packs for this tutorial, we did not need a 3rd Party DriverPack (Modem came to mind..). If you put any downloaded 3rd Party, or Packs you built yourself, in [\3rd party DriverPacks] folder and selected to load them, you would not see individual 3rd Party Packs listed here. It's all or nothing, so be careful what you place in the [\3rd party DriverPacks\] folder.
The BASE versioning system will detect and use the latest version if you have more than one version of a pack in the folders.
Have you made your selection? Press the right arrow button.
8) In the below screen you can select between Method 1 and Method 2. Read the description in the window.
Method 2 is selected by default and for a reason.
When you want to integrate a LOT of drivers, Method 1 one will most likely exceed a path statement limitation present in Windows, and those drivers that get referenced after this limit is reached, will not get used by Windows.
9) In the below screen you can select when you want the Driverpacks Finisher to run. Read the description for each option. GUIRunOnce is selected by default. If you don't want to set any optional settings, just press the Slipstream! button, otherwise press the right arrow button twice to go to the optional settings.
10) In the below screen you can select if you want to "Keep The Drivers" KTD. This is beneficial if you plan on swapping hardware (test bed) since this leaves all the driverpacks uncompressed on your Windows destination [C:\Windows\Drivers\]. Read the description for more info. KTD is disabled by default.
11) Next up is QuickStream Cache options. Read the descripton. It is enabled by default. Basically, the QuickStream Cache speeds up the integration process for the NEXT time you use DP Base. However, if you edited and repacked your Mass Storage driverpack, you MUST clear out the QSC directory. You will find it easily, in this example it is called [C:\Driverpacks\QSC\]. Under normal circumstances, the version numbering system will prevent an outdated cache from being used, but it is still wise to clear it when updates were downloaded.
12) Now you can select between ATI Catalyst Control Center or ATI Control Panel integration. This option only applies to ATI graphics cards, and can be ignored for other graphics systems. ATI CCC integration requires .NET framework to be integrated first otherwise the ATI CCC will not install properly.
OK, you made it this far. Almost there!
13) Now you get the option to verify your integration settings and export if desired. Press the right arrow button.
14) Finally, the built-in Update Checker will make sure you are using the most up-to-date driverpacks. If it finds any new files, make sure you download them first before you begin the integration.
Press the right arrow button.
15) If all is ready...Mash that "Slipstream!" button and let 'er rip!
Depending on the speed of your PC and the number of driverpacks you are integrating, the slipstreaming process may take anywhere from 8-seconds to 5-minutes.
Be patient.
If you run into any errors, search the DP forums before you post your problem. Chances are someone has already encountered the same problem you have and someone else has already found the solution.
If all went well, then build your Windows source into an ISO file (you can use programs like nLite or RyanVM Integrator to create your ISO image), test it in a Virtual environment (VirtualPC, or VMWare) but remember that drivers won't install properly in a virtual environment, burn to CD-RW (mistakes are erasable!), and test on real live PC hardware. Make sure to give us feedback on your success/failure. Only your feedback will make these driverpacks even better than they are now.
We hope this basic tutorial was helpful. If you feel Driverpacks are a worthwhile investment, please donate to the cause.
Last edited by OverFlow (2010-06-17 05:43:12)
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