One of my colleague at the place of my intern was facing a serious problem of being unable to store the downloaded Windows Updates. His concern is whenever he reinstalls Windows, he has to download all the updates / hot fixes and patch Windows again and again on his slow connection. Actually, there are many easy ways to download and store all the updates or alternatively, you can slipstream the updates to your Windows Installation CD.

Slipstreaming is a way of integrating service packs and other fixes back into the core OS, so that you could always maintain an install set of the latest version of Windows, ready to be installed at any time.

To download Windows Updates, Software Patch is a wonderful website with all the patches, upgrades, service packs and hardware drivers for your Windows needs. The site is regularly updated. So, you can download and burn them to a CD or slipstream to your windows installation disk.

Another must have program is AutoPatcher by Antonio Kaladis. I have been using it since my limited bandwidth days. I used to get free updates on CD/DVD every month with the Digit magazine I used to subscribe. So, I used to update my Windows OS via the program and save my bandwidth. Released every month, this program though bulky contains updated patches in a nifty, easy to install package. Must have.

I advise Paul Thurott’s guide to slipstreaming which is written with a clean set of instructions on how to slipstream. You can download the patches you need from the Software Patch website.

You can also try  the free nLite to develop a Unattended Wndows installation disk with all the updates.

PS: I have been busy with my intern and hence the low frequency of posts.  My drafts are piling up too. Please excuse

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