T60 WindowsXP customised recovery project

[ziemeck]

Despite moving to OpenBSD (and keeping working on T60) I intend to make an "ultimate" single-dvd version of XP Rescue & Recovery set. I have a 8-CD set which is a pain in the neck to install with all that CD switching.

I have seen a CD+DVD version of recvery set (for T61), but never a single-DVD one - why is that like this - beats me ...

If it is possible to cram everything on 1 ISO, I see it as follows:

1. incorporate SP3 and all later updates (including those "unofficial" for ATM) into installer (if it will not fit DVD, no problem, it could work off bootable penive with iso selectable via grub. Yes, I am aware there's "unofficial" SP4 and some hotfix-packs created by users after SP4 author dropped his project.

2. incorporate last releases drivers and utility-ware as well as removing all garbage that came with original R&R installation

3. final version of ISO could be made public if theres any way of making such release legal, if not- I could at least upload it somewhere for non-public access

4. project will end with official EOS of ATM version of XP in 2019.

Due to vast size of the project I will need help of forum veterans regarding customisation of IBM/Lenovo proprietary tools/drivers.
______________
Update 02/08/2018
There is cd checkup that does not allow to merge Boot, Supplemental and those labelled 1 to 6; What I managed to do so far is 3 disk working R&R set: 1 CD containing "bootable CD" (original one), 1CD of supplemental data (also original one), and 1DVD containing disks 1-6: to make it work I had to edit /RECOVERY/RECOVER.ini on merged DVD to

[SETTINGS]
OS=XPPRO
DBCSSupport=0
KoreanNLS=0
disk=1
[Disks]
Disk1=XPPRO
Disk2=XPPRO
Disk3=XPPRO
Disk4=XPPRO
Disk5=XPPRO
Disk6=XPPRO

Pending questions:
1. is the /i386 directory on boot CD the same as XP that is installed by Recovery? This is important, because if it is, the patching/incorporating SP3 could be easier
2. if /i386 is just for preboot environment, then where are the "real" winXP installer files?
3. how does contents of /recovery map to lenovo/ibm drivers and utility software?
4. how is recovery/install process scripted - how can it be edited to add or replace/remove drivers and utilities?

[olex126]

A good place to start with your Win XP recovery DVD is "WSUS Offline Installer" (Win XP only, no Thinkpad drivers).

The version you require is 9.2.4. It is the Win XP Extended Release version.

http://download.wsusoffline.net/

Download and run this version (I run it from a USB stick).

Do NOT use any of the higher versions for XP, as they are meant for Win 7, etc.

Latest version of this 9.2.4 release is updated to March 23, 2018.

Install your version of Win XP and then run WSUS, it will update all available Security patches, Net Framework, etc.
(The program includes the last version of the M/S Update Installer.)
This can be done, as the name suggests, without an on-line connection.
After that, install all the IBM drivers, patches, etc. for your particular unit.

Create the drive image file and burn to DVD.

I have custom versions for several different XP laptops on different USB sticks.

Hope this helps.

Regards.

Dave

[ziemeck]

Thank you for advise, I was using a separate HDD to store backup copies of partitions after clean Install (used Easeus tool for that). The idea behind this project is to augument the RnR set. Sadly it seems it might not be possible to reach desired single DVD, at least with my knowledge on the "innards" of the R&R disk set ... all I managed to achieve so far is 2CD+1DVD installation set (see update of opening post).

[olex126]

The full Win XP-WSUS-IBM Updates, etc consume about 3.5 Gb of space, so not sure how much more the R&R set would add.

If I'm following correctly, you would:

1. Run the R&R discs to install the basic Win XP & IBM drivers.

2. Remove any unwanted Win XP/IBM programs or "bloatware", or add programs as necessary.

3. Run WSUS Offline Update.

4. Image the drive which now includes the R&R contents (Original Win XP/IBM contents) and all Win XP updates.

Space-wise it may be pushing the outer limits of a DVD, but the scenario would definitely be workable on a dual-layer DVD.


Regards.

Dave

[ziemeck]

What you wrote about would be the best alternative to messing with original R&R set, the thing is I already implementad that solution (save WSUS part) using Easeus HDD backup tool. I wanted to go beyond that, but (as I wrote above) I hit the wall of my ignorance of R&R innards.

[Shredder11]

I've used WSUS Offline Update for more than ten years and find it excellent.

[drift433]

I've been keeping a tab open on this thread but sadly it appears to have died. Has there been any progress made? I'd sadly be of little to no help but I have a T60p that could certainly benefit from a recovery disc.