One of the horrors of reinstalling Windows is the endless amount of software updates and reboots required to get it secure, stable and current. But there’s a better way: slipstreaming. With a bit of prep, you can create a new installation disc with all the updates included, so everything installs at once.
What Is Slipstreaming?
Slipstreaming is a method in which you integrate software updates with the original installation media. That means if you have, say, a Windows 8.1 disc, you can “slipstream” the latest updates into the disc itself, so those updates are installed with Windows instead of afterward. This reduces the number of times you need to update and restart your system, and is also useful if you’re installing Windows on multiple PCs or if you have a slow internet connection.
Microsoft’s own command line slipstreaming tools were pretty straightforward to use with Windows XP, but the process changed and became more of a chore with Windows Vista. Fortunately, third-party utilities make slipstreaming less complicated and offer additional features.
Why Should I Slipstream?
Slipstreaming was originally intended for businesses to make it quicker and easier for IT staff to keep multiple systems up to date, but it’s just as useful to end users who frequently reinstall Windows. It keeps all the monotonous updating and rebooting to a minimum and if you use one of the third-party utilities, you can customise the installation to your liking. With WinReducer 8.1, for example, you can bypass the EULA and language screens to make the install go even quicker. You can also remove built-in programs, enter a computer name, set mouse sensitivity, and a whole lot more.
Sound familiar? We’ve actually discussed this before, in our guide to creating a customised Windows 8 installation. We’re going to discuss the same tool today, though with a bit more focus on the slipstreaming portion of the process and why you’d do it — so if you’re a beginner, you should have no trouble with this guide and can skip the more advanced stuff. Windows 7 users can check out this guide for a Windows 7-based alternative.
How to Slipstream Windows 8.1 Update 1
For today’s example, we’re going to slipstream the latest Windows 8.1 update into a Windows 8.1 installation disc. The update is free and available through Windows Update, but if you want to slipstream the update to your Windows 8.1 media, it’s very easy to do. Here’s what you’ll need for this particular example:
- A PC running Windows 8.1
- WinReducer 8.1 and its required third-party software (see below)
- A Windows 8.1 retail disc or official ISO (upgrade discs and ISOs won’t work)
- An 8GB USB flash drive to create the installer
After you download WinReducer 8.1, you’ll also need to download some third-party utilities that it needs, including:
- 7-Zip: This is worth having anyway, seeing as it’s our favourite file archive utility
- ImageX and Oscdimg: These tools are normally included with the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK), but GetWaikTools allows you to download them without having to download the large ISO. Select “Waik tools for Windows 8.1” at the Waik tools download screen.
- Resource Hacker
- SetACL: Download the EXE version, not the DLL version
When you’re ready, move on to the steps below to begin slipstreaming!
Step 1: Set Up Third-Party Programs in WinReducer 8.1
The first time you launch WinReducer, you’ll see a configuration screen. The software detection section lists the five third-party software programs it needs. Copy the executables and the 7-Zip DLL from the programs you downloaded (7z.dll, 7z.exe, imagex.exe, oscdimg.exe, ResHacker.exe and SetACL.exe) to the WinReducer81HOMESOFTWARE folder. After you’ve copied the programs, slide the switches in the configuration screen from “Off” to “On”. Once all the switches are “On”, close out of the configuration screen to start WinReducer.
Step 2: Mount Your Windows 8.1 Files
Click on the Start button in WinReducer, then choose where your Windows 8.1 files are located. If you’re using a retail disc, copy its contents to a folder on your computer, then click the Folder button in WinReducer to browse to that folder. If you’re using a Windows 8.1 ISO, click the ISO button and navigate to your ISO file and mount Windows 8.1 to WinReducer.
Step 3: Download the Windows Update 1 Files
After Windows 8.1 is mounted in WinReducer, you’ll see several configuration sections. Go to the System section, then click on the WinReducer Updates Tool button. Choose x86 for 32-bit Windows or x64 for 64-bit Windows, then click on the Update button. Check the box next to “Updates (Update 1) (6)” and any other updates you want to include in the new ISO, then click the Download button. When the downloads finish, back out of the Updates Tool, then enter the path to the updates in the Updates box: WinReducer81WORKINTEGRATEUPDATESx64 (for 64-bit Windows).
Step 4: Apply Other Customisations (Optional)
If there are any other customisations you’d like to make, go ahead and make them now (again, see our more advanced guide for this — otherwise you can skip this step).
Step 5: Apply Updates and Create a New ISO
When you’re all set, click Finish, then Apply. This step can take quite a while, so you may want to get up and stretch, grab a drink, then come back to it.
When the ISO File Creator window finally appears, choose to save file as an ISO, then click Save. After several minutes, your custom ISO will be complete. At this point, you can either burn the ISO to a disc by right-clicking on it and choosing “Burn Disc Image”. You can also use it to create a bootable USB flash drive, or save the ISO for future use.
That’s it! Now you have a Windows installation disc with all the latest updates slipstreamed right in, making future installations easier and quicker. Keep it in a safe place and enjoy!
Comments
12 responses to “How To Slipstream Windows Updates Into Your Installation Disc”
I use update disks so I’m out of luck here, but it would be nice to actually be able to download the upgrades and save them to storage for later use, as in Windows 7/XP. It’d save me a lot of time and download quota if I could… Anyone know if that’s even possible…? I have enough trouble updating to 8.1 because I have to reset the store to find it…
for a consumer?? not sure, for business WSUS (Windows Server Update Services) lets you do such things
You can download every single patch ever released from support.microsoft.com, but it’s going to be tedious and probably not worth the effort.
Yeah, just the updates is all I want…
Updates/patches/whatever you want to call them. Same thing. Every one is available as a download using the KB number.
I’m using WSUS Offline Update from http://www.wsusoffline.net/
GNU/GPL licence and updates Windows and Office with no fuss
Yeah, but from what I can see its the server version…? Are you using it on the regular version..? 🙂
It’s good for all versions, XP/Vista/W7/W8/W8.1 as well as the Server versions.
The same tool, make your choices using the tick boxes.
See http://www.wsusoffline.net/docs/ for a screenshot.
Cool, Ta… 🙂
the only issue with slipstreaming is, having the ability to find all the hotfixes ect. Microsoft makes it really hard trying to get them!. when they should provide an ISO of every patch every month so people can just add that to their install and stay on top of it. but no!
Ubuntu Linux Zorin … ?
No one was bagging Windows dude… It would just be nice not to have to download the Service packs more than once as with previous versions. Otherwise, I’d dare say most of us would prefer Windows to Linux…