We need a bootable CD image file in order to create a bootable CD from our newly modified XP files. Fortunately, the Windows XP install CD already has a perfectly usable boot file; we just need to get at it. Isobuster is an invaluable free tool for accessing and extracting files from CDs and CD images.

Isobuster software is available here.

Insert your WinXP install CD into the drive and open up Isobuster. Navigate to the 'bootable CD' directory. In the right hand pane, highlight 'Microsoft Corporation.IMG'. Right click it and select 'Extract Microsoft Corporation.IMG'. Extract the file to your 'D:XPCD' directory.

Step 7A: Create the bootable WinXP Service Pack 2 CD with Nero Version 6

Now we will create the actual bootable CD from the files we have assembled and updated. To do this, we will use Nero Burning Rom Version 6.

Start up Nero and select 'CD-Rom (boot)' as the type of disk you wish to make. From the 'boot' tab, change the image file to the 'Microsoft Corporation.IMG' file that you extracted from the XP CD in the last step. Note that you will have to change the 'files of type' box from '.IMA' files to 'all files' in order to locate your file in its directory. Check 'enable expert settings.' In this section, you will need to change the 'kind of emulation' dropdown box to 'no emulation' and the 'number of loaded sectors' value to 4.

Now change to the 'ISO' tab. Change the 'file name length' dropdown box to 'max. of 31 chars (ISO level 2)' all boxes on the screen should be checked. It's essential that the version of Nero you are using supports the 'do not add the ";1" ISO file version extension' option, or the CD you create will not boot properly. If you have an older version of Nero, you will need to upgrade to version 5.5 or newer.