When I try to slipstream Win2K SP1 or SP2 from the downloaded file, why do I get an error?

A. Although this FAQ applies to both Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and SP2, the following example addresses SP1 only. If you try to slipstream a Win2K distribution point from the downloaded SP1 file (sp1network.exe from http://msvaus.www.conxion.com/download/win2000platform/SP/SP1/NT5/EN-US/sp1network.exe) with the -s switch (e.g., sp1network.exe -s:[2000 distribution location]), you receive an error message:

Not all files necessary to perform an integrated installation are present.

You receive this error message because you didn't extract file CDTAG.1 before the installation. You don't encounter this problem when you use the SP1 CD-ROM.

To resolve the problem, first expand the service pack file to a temporary area:

sp1network.exe -x:[service pack 1 location]

For example,

sp1network.exe -x:d:tempsp1

After you extract the file, go to the folder [service pack 1 location]i386update subfolder. Run the following update command, and you should no longer receive a warning:

update -s:[2000 distribution location]

Click here to view image

Note that the [2000 distribution location] should be the folder in which the i386 folder exists, not the i386 folder itself. That is, if your Win2K folder is d:deploywin2kpi386, the distribution location is d:deploywin2kp.

Thanks to Bert Vereecke for this tip.