This article is Part 4 of the "Combining Windows XP with Service Pack 2 for reinstallation" guide. Part 4 discusses how to read the boot image file.

Note To view the other topics of the "Combining Windows XP with Service Pack 2 for reinstallation" guide, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that are listed in the "References" section.

The "Combining Windows XP with Service Pack 2 for reinstallation" guide includes the following topics:

Part 1: Introduction

Part 2: Copying the Windows CD to the hard disk

Part 3: Integrating Service Pack 2 in the Setup files

Part 4: Reading the boot image file

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Part 4: Reading the boot image file

You have almost completed the process. If you now write the contents of the Xpcd folder to a CD, you would have a Setup CD that includes Service Pack 2. However, you would not be able to start your system from the CD to start installation. To do this, you must have the original boot code from the original Windows CD. To obtain this code, you can use a tool that you download from the Internet. In this guide, we use Bart's Boot Image Extractor (BBIE).

Download a boot image extractor tool

1.	Start Internet Explorer.
2.	Visit the following Web site: http://www.nu2.nu/bbie/ (http://www.nu2.nu/bbie/) Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
3.	Follow the links to download the tool. Save the program to your desktop. Note Windows XP SP2 security settings may prevent the download. If this occurs, click the Information bar, and then click Download file.
4.	You will now be able to save BBIE to your computer.
5.	After you download the tool, you must extract the file from the compressed folder. To do this, right-click the folder, and then click Extract All.
6.	By using the Windows XP Extraction Wizard to extract the files, click Next.
7.	Select a folder to which the files should be extracted. The simplest option is the Desktop. The path for the desktop is C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Desktop.
8.	Click Next, and then click Finish.

Extract the boot image

After you unzip the files, you can use BBIE.

1.	Insert your original Windows CD in the CD or DVD drive. Click Exit if the CD starts automatically.
2.	Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
3.	Change to the Desktop folder. Type cd desktop, and then press ENTER.
4.	Read the boot image. To do this, reinsert your original Windows XP CD in the CD or DVD drive.
5.	Start BBIE by typing the following: BBIE CD ROM drive letter: For example, type: BBIE E:
6.	The procedure does not take long. BBIE creates the Image1.bin image file in the same folder. In this example, it creates the file on the Desktop.

You have completed the process. By using a CD writing program, you can now write the contents of the Xpcd folder to a CD. This makes sure that Service Pack 2 is available when you perform reinstallations or repair Windows XP.

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For more information about this topic, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

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