Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 into a Installation DVD or ISO File

How to Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 and Updates to Create a Bootable USB, Installation DVD, or ISO File​

   Information

This will show you how to slipstream Windows 7 SP1 with your retail or student copy of Windows 7 without SP1 to create a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation "DVD", a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 bootable "ISO file", or a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 bootable installation "USB flash drive".

This will also show you how to integrate Windows Updates into your new or previously created slipstream Windows 7 SP1 to create a new updated slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation "DVD", a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 bootable "ISO file", or a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 bootable installation "USB flash drive".

   Warning

• You can only do this tutorial while logged in as an administrator.
• You can only use a retail copy or student copy of a Windows 7 installation DVD, bootable USB flash drive, or ISO file to create a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 with.
• You can only use a previously created slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD, bootable USB flash drive, or ISO file using this tutorial to integrate new Windows Updates to create a new updated slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD, bootable USB flash drive, or ISO file with.
• You can only create a 64-bit slipstreamed Windows 7 SP1 DVD or ISO if your current Windows 7 installation is also 64-bit.
• You can create a 32-bit slipstreamed Windows 7 SP1 DVD or ISO if your current Windows 7 installation is 32-bit or 64-bit.
• When you install Windows 7 SP1 using the slipstreamed Windows 7 SP1 DVD/ISO/USB created in this tutorial, you will not be able to uninstall SP1.

   Tip

• You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.
• You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.
• You can use a Windows 7 with SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet, MSDN, or retail) to do a repair install with on a current slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation.

   Note

This tutorial is designed to be followed like a flow chart to help make it easier to use and select the options (ex: DVD or ISO) you want.

Here's How: 1. If you have not already, then you will need download and install the free 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) RT Seven Lite "Beta 2.6.0" for your same 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 installation DVD or ISO file.

   Note

Alternative RT Seven Lite Beta download link: RT Seven Lite Download - Softpedia

   Warning

At the rt7lite.com site, you will need to scroll down a bit past the RC 1.7.0 build to see the Beta 2.6.0 build download links.

This tutorial will not work using the RC 1.7.0 build.

2. Click on the RT Seven Lite shortcut on your desktop or in the Start Menu to run the program. (see screenshot below)
3. Do either step 4 or 5 for what you have to use to integrate the Windows 7 SP1 and/or Windows Updates into.

4. To Select and Use a Windows 7 Installation DVD or Bootable USB A) Insert your retail or previously slipstreamed Windows 7 installation DVD into the DVD drive and close it, OR plug in your Windows 7 bootable USB flash drive. If a AutoPlay pop-up opens, close it.

B) In RT Seven Lite, click on the Browse button, and select the Select OS path option. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have much else running, then you may wish to change the Set priority setting to High first to help speed the slipstreaming process up some.
C) Navigate to and select your DVD drive or bootable USB flash drive with Windows 7 on it from steps 4A, and click on OK. (see screeshow below)
D) Click on OK. (see screenshot below)
E) Select your Desktop, and click on the Make New Folder button. (see screenshot below)
F) Select the New folder on the desktop, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
G) The contents of the Windows 7 installation DVD from steps 4A and 4C will now be copied into the New folder (step 4F) on the desktop. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take a few minutes to complete.
H) Go to step 6.
5. To Select and Use a Windows 7 ISO File

   Note

You could use a Windows 7 ISO file that you already created from say RT Seven Lite, or a Windows 7 w/SP1 U ISO downloaded from: Microsoft: Windows 7 Direct Download Links

A) In RT Seven Lite, click on the Browse button, and select the Select ISO file option. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have much else running, then you may wish to change the Set priority setting to High first to help speed the slipstreaming process up some.
B) Click on the Select a ISO button. (see screenshot below)
C) Navigate to and select the Windows 7 ISO file, and click on Open. (see screenshot below)
D) Select the Extract path button. (see screenshot below)
E) Select your Desktop, and click on the Make New Folder button. (see screenshot below)
F) Select the New folder on the desktop, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
G) Click on OK. (see screenshot below)
H) The contents of the Windows 7 ISO file from step 5C will now be extracted and copied into the New folder (step 5F) on the desktop. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take only a few minutes to complete.
I) Continue on to step 6.
6. Do either step 7 or 8 below for what you want to do.

7. To Only Integrate New Windows Updates
NOTE: You would only select this option if used a previously created slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD, bootable USB flash drive, or ISO file using this tutorial in step 4 or 5 above, and only want to update it by integrating new Windows Updates. A) When finished, select (dot) the Windows 7 edition that you want to create a updated SP1 slipstream version of, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: When this window below opens it likes to hide behind another opened active window, so you may need to check behind them when the screenshot above (step 5H) shows it's "Status" as Loading Image.... and does not appear to be doing anything.
B) Go to step 9.
8. To Slipstream SP1 and to be able to Integrate Windows Updates
NOTE: You would select this option if you used a retail copy or student copy of a Windows 7 installation DVD, bootable USB flash drive, or ISO file that did not have SP1 slipstreamed in it in step 4 or 5 above. A) If you have not already, then you will need to download the same 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows 7 SP1 EXE installation file for your same 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7 installation DVD or ISO file at the Microsoft link below, and save it to your Desktop. Download details: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932)


B) Right click on the downloaded windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe or windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe file, click on Properties, click on the General tab, and click on Unblock.
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the SP1 exe file is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 8C.

C) When RT Seven Lite is finished from step 4G or 5H, select (dot) only the one Windows 7 edition that you want to create a slipstream SP1 version of, check the Slipstream Service Pack box, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)
D) Click on the Browse button. (see screenshot below)
E) Navigate to and select the Windows 7 SP1 EXE installation file on your desktop from step 1, and click on Open. (see screenshot below)
F) Click on the Start button. (see screenshot below)
G) RT Seven Lite will now start preparing, integrating, and saving the SP1 (step 9) with the DVD (step 4) or ISO file (step 5). (see screenshots below)
NOTE: This will take a good while to complete depending on how fast your system is and what you have the priority level set as in step 4B.



H) When finished, click on the Proceed button. (see screenshot below)
I) RT Seven Lite will now start start loading the image. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This will take a few minutes to complete.
J) Continue on to step 9.
9. When finished, click on the Task tab in the left pane. (see screenshot below)
10. Do either step 11 or 12 below for what you want to do.

11. To Only Slipstream SP1
NOTE: You would do this step if you did step 8 above and do not want to integrate any Windows Updates into the Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD, bootable USB flash drive, or ISO file. A) In the Task tab, check the ISO Bootable box option, then click on the ISO-Bootable tab in the left pane. (see screenshot below)

B) Go to step 12F.
12. To Integrate Windows Updates and still be able to Slipstream SP1 (if not already)
NOTE: You would do this step if you did step 7 above and want to integrate Windows Updates into this new or previously created Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD, bootable USB flash drive, or ISO file. A) If you have not already, then you will need to download the standalone MSU installation files for each Windows Update that you want to integrate into the slipstream, and save them to your Desktop.

B) In the Task tab in RT Seven Lite, check the Integration box and ISO Bootable box options, then click on the Integration tab in the left pane. (see screenshot below)
C) Under the Updates tab, click on the Add button. (see screenshot below)
D) Navigate to and select all of the Windows Update MSU files that you want to integrate, and click on Open. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You can press and hold the CTRL key to select more than one random MSU file.
E) When finished adding MSU files, click on Apply. (see screenshot below)
F) Do either step 12G or 12H for what type of Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 you want.

G) To Create a Single Windows 7 SP1 Edition Slipstream

NOTE: This will create a Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 with only the one Windows 7 edition that you selected in step 7A or 8C.

• Select High priority level, select (dot) Build current image only, and click on Commit. (see screenshot below)

• Go to step 12I

H) To Create a All-in-One Windows 7 SP1 Edition Slipstream
NOTE: This will create a Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 with all Windows 7 editions that will allow you to select which one to install during installation. (see screenshot below)

• Select High priority level, select (dot) Re-build all images, and click on Commit. (see screenshot below)

• Continue on to step 12I

I) RT Seven Lite will now start integrating the Windows Updates. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This may take from a few minutes or longer depending on how many Windows Update MSU files you added.
J) When finished, click on the ISO-Bootable tab in the left pane. (see screenshot below)
K) Continue on to step 13.
13. Do either step 14, 15, or 16 for what you would like to have your Slipstreamed Windows 7 SP1 as.

14. To Burn a Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 Installation DVD A) Insert a blank DVD (ex: DVD-R) into the DVD drive and close it. If a AutoPlay pop-up opens, close it.

B) In RT Seven Lite, select the Direct Burn drop down menu option under Mode, select the drive letter used from step 14A under Device, then click on the Direct Burn button towards the bottom right. (see screenshot below)
C) RT Seven Lite will now start creating the image. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This will take a few minutes to complete.
D) When finished, click on OK. If a AutoPlay pop-up opens, close it. (see screenshots below)
E) You now have a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD.

F) Go to step 17.
15. To Create a Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 ISO File A) In RT Seven Lite, select the Create Image drop down menu option under Mode, then click on the Make ISO button towards the bottom right. (see screenshot below)
B) Navigate to and select your Desktop, type in a name that you want for the ISO file, then click on the Save button. (see screenshot below)
C) When finished, click on OK. (see screenshot below)
D) You now have a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 bootable ISO file.

   Note

• You could also use this ISO file to burn and create a Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD with.
• You could also use this ISO file to create a Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 bootable installation USB flash drive with. For how, see part 2 here: Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool
• You could also test or use this ISO file in a virtual machine if you like.

E) Go to step 17.
16. To Create a Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 Bootable Installation USB Flash Drive A) If you have not already, plug in your USB flash drive.
NOTE: You will need to have at least 4.5 GB free on the USB flash drive.

B) In RT Seven Lite, select the USB Bootable drop down menu option under Mode. (see screenshot below)
C) Select your USB flash drive from the drop down menu under USB Bootable. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: If there is not enough free space on the selected USB flash drive, you will get a notice telling you so. You will then need to select a larger USB flash drive. (see screenshot below)
D) Click on the USB button towards the bottom right. (see screenshot below step 16B)

E) Click on OK to format the USB flash drive. (see screenshot below)
F) RT Seven Lite will now start formating the USB flash drive and copying the files to it. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: This will take a few minutes to complete.
G) When it's finished, click on OK. (see screenshot below)
H) You now have a slipstream Windows 7 SP1 bootable installation USB flash drive.

I) Continue on to step 17.
17. Close RT Seven Lite.

18. Click on Yes to confirm closing RT Seven Lite. (see screenshot below)
19. RT Seven Lite will now clean up it's temp files before closing. (see screenshot below)
:warn:WARNING: Do not stop or interrupt RT Seven Lite from cleaning it's temp files to avoid getting this error here the next time you try and run RT Seven Lite.
20. You can now delete the New folder from step 4E or 5E and it's contents on the desktop if you like.

   Tip

You can keep your newly created slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation DVD, bootable USB flash drive, or ISO file updated by doing this tutorial again with steps 7 and 12 to integrate any new Windows Updates released afterwards into it.

When you install Windows 7 SP1 using the slipstream Windows 7 SP1 DVD/ISO/USB created in this tutorial, you will be able to use the Windows 7 SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool (OPTION THREE at link) to delete the SP1 backup files.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How Use the Windows 7 SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool to Recover Lost Disk Space
• How to Uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Beta, RC, and RTM
• How to Create a Windows 7 Installation USB Key
• How to Create a Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc
• How to Create a Windows PE Disk
• How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
• How to Burn a "ISO" or "IMG" Disc Image file to a CD/DVD in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to make Windows Boot Manager Boot an ISO from your Hard Drive
• How to Create a Virtual Machine in Windows Virtual PC
• How to Do a Upgrade Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7
• How to Do a Custom Installation of Windows 7
• How to Download the Standalone MSU Installer File of a Windows Update
• Windows 7 Service Pack 1 FAQs and helpful links
• How to Extract an ISO File to the Desktop
• How to Slipstream Office 2010 with Service Pack 1 (SP1)

 

[Urthboundmisfit]

I just did some testing with the slipstream I created with the SP1 RTM from TechNet, and I get the same Service Pack Backup Files listed in Disk Cleanup. Disk Cleanup and Extended Disk Cleanup did not remove it. The SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool will not run for a slipstreamed Windows 7 SP1. Doesn't look that there is a way to remove it yet.

It's not going to hurt anything, and the slipstreamed Windows 7 SP1 will run the same as a retail Windows 7 SP1. It would be nice to have the space (530 MB for me) on the HDD back.

View attachment 139143

I just compiled an updated install DVD using the SP1 RTM Media Refresh ISO from Digital River (3.10gb), slipstreamed IE9 & 53 post SP updates, total 3.18gb, No Service Pack Backup Files:

View attachment 194390
View attachment 194391

Sorry for resurrecting an old sub-topic and I apologize if this info has already been posted.

 

[Brink]

Hello Joe,

Thank you for posting back with your results.

The dates for Tutorials, unlike posts in the forums, are just for when they were first created. Tutorials are always being updated no matter how old they are. It just doesn't show a newer updated date since we prefer the date created date instead. That's all.

 

[sasha007]

Hi,

I'm not getting the option for slipstream service pack during the edition selection popup . All It does is extracts the ISO to the path , and then nothin

 

[Brink]

Hello Sasha,

Double check to make sure that you downloaded and installed the RC 1.7.0 build instead of the Beta 2.6.0 build of RT Seven Lite. It will not have this in the Beta 2.6.0 build.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[sasha007]

Hello Sasha,

Double check to make sure that you downloaded and installed the RC 1.7.0 build instead of the Beta 2.6.0 build of RT Seven Lite. It will not have this in the Beta 2.6.0 build.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

Yeap . Worked . Thnxx

 

[Brink]

That's great news. You're most welcome.

 

[BboyKrafty]

Great everyone, I had great time reading through 45 pages, and now I am saving my 1st image for a slip stream. As being information systems assistant I configure new systems, and re-format others. This will save time for sure

 

[Brink]

Welcome to Seven Forums BboyKrafty.

 

[FerchogtX]

Well, I must say that ths tutorial saved me time downloading a whole ISO again and again, This worked wonders and look like if it was downloaded from MSDN directly, Just wonderful Now that I got my hew HDD, I could install SP1 from the very beggining

Thanks for the tutorial man!!!

See ya!!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome FerchogtX.

 

[1Bowtie]

I've used my Win 7 SP1 dvd several times for clean installs and saves a bunch of time, but now that we've had it for over a year there are still 60 to 70 updates that need to be done. Maybe it's time for SP 2, that would speed things up even more.

 

[metheone]

still unable to repair install

Hi, Just burned a slipstream sp1 dvd, no other integrated updates, (great instructions, thanks). Tried to perform a repair install, chose the upgrade option and after the compatibility search received the same message as before - cannot perform the upgrade as the current version of windows is newer than the one I am trying to install.
Have I missed something?
Thanks, Mick

 

[Brink]

Hello Mick, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Sorry, but from the TIP box at the top of the tutorial.

   Tip

• You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.
• You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.
• You can use a Windows 7 with SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet (available), MSDN (available), or retail) to do a repair install with on a current slipstream Windows 7 SP1 installation.

 

[metheone]

Oops. Ok. Thanks. At least I can do a fresh install.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Mick.

 

[metheone]

Befor I do a clean install, which I want to avoid if poss, could I uninstall SP1 and the use the slipstream dvd to do a repair? If so, would it install SP1 at the same time? Need to try a repair as having problems installing new software, not all, eg flash payer - run the setup exe and the file is moved to a temp folder, nothing else happens and setup exe shows as a process in task manager. Also happens with corel paintshop pro. Some other apps, when opened, no window shows on desktop though icon shows on task bar. Tried what I know and decided a repair install was worth a try.

 

[Brink]

Hello Mick,

Sorry, but you cannot do a repair install with a slipstream installation DVD/USB.

As per: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...installation-dvd-iso-file-46.html#post1858982

 

[DoctorBrown]

Hello Brink,

Wow, with this tool, you've made it almost painless to create a very custom Win 7 install ISO with SP1 and all updates. After doing some research, and if I understand it correctly, it's painfully clear that is almost impossible to do a Windows Repair install anymore without resorting to either a full reinstall or get a slipstreamed version on your system and repair intall from there.

Assuming I haven't just overlooked it here, I have a couple questions about this process that I'm not clear on.

Scenario:
I've taken a base Win 7 install iso, then created a slipstreamed iso which includes SP1 and many updates. When I install this in Virtual Box, it installs perfectly. But I find I missed a few updates so WU asks me to install these. Fine so far. Question: What is the correct process to create a new iso that includes these missed updates and possibly future updates? I tried starting with the iso I created but I can't seem to get the new updates to be incorporated.

I'm wondering because if I want to create a newer iso as time goes by, do I need to keep all the update files that I downloaded. That's a bit of disk space to hold on to, almost 20 GBytes at the moment.

Questions:
I don't really see this answered. It's stated that you can't do an repair update from the slipstreamed Win7 w/SP1. Is it known why that's the case? Assuming that I created an iso that had exactly all the latest updates and matched what's installed on my system at the moment, it seems that the version should be the same. Why does Windows reject that as a valid repair update candidate?

When you have many updates, does the order you specify them matter? If so, how would we know the proper order? Some of the missed updates are much older. (I apparently didn't go back to a far enough date in my selection process.)

Something maybe helpful:
As I was trying to figure out how to get 100+ updates I found that if I go to the Windows Update Catalog, I could search and filter and, assuming I selected all the ones I needed, download them all in one swoop. Saved a bunch of time!! You can find it by searching on Windows Update Catalog. Maybe it's been mentioned before, but didn't see it in this thread.

 

[Brink]

Hello Doc Brown, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Answers inline.

Scenario:
I've taken a base Win 7 install iso, then created a slipstreamed iso which includes SP1 and many updates. When I install this in Virtual Box, it installs perfectly. But I find I missed a few updates so WU asks me to install these. Fine so far. Question: What is the correct process to create a new iso that includes these missed updates and possibly future updates? I tried starting with the iso I created but I can't seem to get the new updates to be incorporated.

You should normall be able to add new updates by using steps 5, 7, 12, 12G, and 15 when doing the tutorial. What is it doing or telling you when you try to add updates?

I'm wondering because if I want to create a newer iso as time goes by, do I need to keep all the update files that I downloaded. That's a bit of disk space to hold on to, almost 20 GBytes at the moment.

If you have the HDD space, then keeping all of the MSU files for the Windows Updates would be the safest thing to do in case you ever needed to start over, or just wanted to create a new ISO with them. This way you do not risk having to download them again.

I don't really see this answered. It's stated that you can't do an repair update from the slipstreamed Win7 w/SP1. Is it known why that's the case? Assuming that I created an iso that had exactly all the latest updates and matched what's installed on my system at the moment, it seems that the version should be the same. Why does Windows reject that as a valid repair update candidate?

Something about the process that is used to create the slipstream disc just makes it unusable to use to do a repair install with. I don't know the exact reasons for why though.

When you have many updates, does the order you specify them matter? If so, how would we know the proper order? Some of the missed updates are much older. (I apparently didn't go back to a far enough date in my selection process.)

For the best results, they should be included in the same order that they would have been installed in Windows Updates. You would just go by the "Date Installed" and the order listed in View update history and in Installed Updates.

As I was trying to figure out how to get 100+ updates I found that if I go to the Windows Update Catalog, I could search and filter and, assuming I selected all the ones I needed, download them all in one swoop. Saved a bunch of time!! You can find it by searching on Windows Update Catalog. Maybe it's been mentioned before, but didn't see it in this thread.

Yeah, that's the fun part there is to make sure you have the correct ones selected.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[DoctorBrown]

Hello Doc Brown, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Answers inline.

Scenario:
I've taken a base Win 7 install iso, then created a slipstreamed iso which includes SP1 and many updates. When I install this in Virtual Box, it installs perfectly. But I find I missed a few updates so WU asks me to install these. Fine so far. Question: What is the correct process to create a new iso that includes these missed updates and possibly future updates? I tried starting with the iso I created but I can't seem to get the new updates to be incorporated.

You should normall be able to add new updates by using steps 5, 7, 12, 12G, and 15 when doing the tutorial. What is it doing or telling you when you try to add updates?

I discovered that I was forgetting to 'Apply' the Updates added to the Integration process. When I did it, the 'Commit' Button was available. Since the updates I missed were some of the oldest ones, it appears that they undid later updates. The iso I built from only needed 8 updates, but when I tried to just include those 8, the new install required 45. Back to square one. But at least I have all the files (I hope). I'm sure glad I have Virtual Box to test this on.

When you have many updates, does the order you specify them matter? If so, how would we know the proper order? Some of the missed updates are much older. (I apparently didn't go back to a far enough date in my selection process.)

For the best results, they should be included in the same order that they would have been installed in Windows Updates. You would just go by the "Date Installed" and the order listed in View update history and in Installed Updates.

So to make that happen I should put them in the Integration list in the desired order? Do you know any way to sort them? I'll look into extracting the info from my existing system and using that. When I use the Multiple option, does it add them in the order it encounters the files? The mass download I did created a separate folder for each KB article, I think. But not 100%. I'm thinking of renaming the folders to make the sort in order.

Gotta be an easier way to get these in the correct order.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Yes this was helpful. Thanks for all the info.
John