Question about slipstreaming Windows XP Professional SP1 to SP2 . . .

[Stan Shankman]

Greetings all,



I have been contemplating slipstreaming my XP Pro SP1 disk into an SP2 disk.

But there is only one reason I would do it, and I do not know if the end
product would accomplish what I wish.



Let me explain:



In the past, I had some trouble involving the setting of the registry key:
EnableLargeLBA.

And it is my understanding that Microsoft has changed the default setting of
that key in versions of Windows XP that have SP2 built in.



So my question is simply:



If I do slipstream my Windows XP Pro SP1 disk into an SP2 disk, will future
reloads with that disk also have EnableLargeLBA set by default?



Does anyone know that answer to this?



Thanks all,



- Stan Shankman

 

[John]

Hi,
SP1 & SP2 both have support for 48-bit LBA .
If you want to use 48-bit LBA support, you must apply Windows XP SP1 or
later.
As far as I know, MS have not changed the settings you refer too but have
changed the Atapi.sys file.
Check your Atapi.sys is version 5.1.2600.1135 or above for 48-bit LBA
support. If you are running SP2 it should be.


HTH

John

MCP
XP Professional

 

[Stan Shankman]

John,



Well guy, I have read in a number of places that SP2 will come with
EnableLargeLBA set by default. Of course I understand that that does not
make it so. But since you said "As far as I know, MS have not changed the
settings" - it may be something you don't know about so we can't rule out
the possibility that it is true. - And the question is unanswered.



How can you and I find out for sure, it this key is or is not set in SP2
versions of Windows XP Pro (Retail)?

It could be done experimentally, somebody could load a fresh disk with
Windows XP Pro SP2 (Retail) and then immediately go and look at the registry
key.

And if that were to discover that what I have been led to believe is indeed
correct, it would still leave my original question unanswered.

What I want to know is; what will be the condition of 'EnableLargeLBA" after
an SP1 version of Windows XP Pro (Retail) is boosted to an SP2 version by
the slipstreaming process.



Oh, and here is another related question you may be able to help me with:



Regarding the product key;



Again, it is my understanding that the product key is version type related,
and not service-pack level related. By that I mean that any Windows OEM key
will work with the same product (i.e. OEM) at any SP level. And a retail
version key for Windows XP Pro will work with any version of Widows XP Pro
provided it is a retail version.



Do you know if this is correct? And do you know if it is legitimate (or
desirable) for me to load a friends Windows XP Pro (Retail) SP2 disk on my
machine, and use my Windows XP Pro (Retail) SP1 key with it? Will that work?



Thanks,

- Stan Shankman

 

[John]

There is no setting in sp2 for the LBA, the enhanced file, Atapi.sys removes
the requirement for the Registry setting.

Using a CD other than the one which was supplied with your COA is really no
different to using a slipstreamed cd created by youself, however your COA
does not make up a full license; the full OEM license is the COA, the
edge-to-edge CD (or from a Direct account, a restore CD), and the manual.
Not really encouraged, you are recommended to create a slipstreamed CD or
obtain a replacement SP2 CD from microsoft.

CD keys are NOT provided according to the SP level of XP, but
according to the LICENSE-TYPE of DISC, as in "Full Retail", "Retail
Upgrade", so-called "GENERIC OEM", "DSP OEM", or "Volume License".


Each disc-type contains the SAME OS code, but DIFFERENT installation
options.



Regards

John

 

[Stan Shankman]

John,

Well buddy, thanks for the replies.

..It now sounds that you are a little surer about what you are talking about.
And if I understand you correctly, you are saying that the registry entry:
'EnabelLargeLBA' is not applicable to SP2 versions of Windows XP Pro at all.

So, should I therefore conclude that by slipstreaming a version of SP1 up to
SP2, I will indeed end up with a disk that will behave as if it were a true
Windows XP Pro disk with SP2 already installed?

The reason I am so concerned about all this is because serious data loss has
been known to occur when EnableLargeLBA is not set at load time, and the
system contains one or more disks that are formatted grater than the 137GB
limit. This problem may be disk IDE controller/mobo (BIOS?) related, but
nonetheless, it can be a real problem.

I do not want to risk having to load on a new hard drive an SP1 version only
to have it take off and run 'chkdsk' on the big drives and then end up with
corrupted data. Do you understand?

Thanks again,

- Stan Shankman

 

[John]

Stan
A very good article from microsoft explains everything you need to know. It
resides here..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;303013

Regards

John

 

[Stan Shankman]

John,



Well guy, thanks again for all you help.

The article you pointed me to is excellent.



I realize now that some of my confusion stems from the fact that I have been
thinking back on my experience with Windows 2000, and applying it to Windows
XP. Although the two are similar with regards to this 'EnableLargeLBA issure
', the differences are there.



But you have set me straight!



Thanks again,



-Stan Shankman