Setup and Startup

Windows 2000 Professional makes it easier for administrators to add service packs through a process called slipstreaming, in which the service pack is added directly to the operating system's distribution share during installation.

Windows 2000 Professional also eliminates the need to reinstall components that were applied before a service pack was installed. In the past, when service packs were applied, many previously installed components had to be reinstalled. Windows 2000 Professional provides the following solutions to service pack installation.

When Windows 2000 Professional is installed from a network share, the appropriate files from the service pack are installed without having to manually apply the service pack after the installation.

To apply a new service pack, use Update.exe with the /slip switch to copy over the existing Windows 2000 files with the updated service pack files. Some of the key files that update during this process include:

• New Layout.inf, Dosnet.inf, and Txtsetup.sif files, which have the updated checksums for all the service pack files. These files need additional entries if any additional files have been added.

• A new driver .cab if the drivers in the cabinet file have been changed.
  If you apply a service pack to a single computer running Windows 2000, you must reapply the service pack to add another service, unless you are updating from a network share that supports service pack slipstreaming.