instructions & downloads
overview
this page will step you through all of the processes for sgtxp.
these instructions are kept on a single page so that you can print it easily.
ram disk
before booting to your cd-rom you need to download and run ramdisk.exe.
put ramdisk.exe in the root folder of any drive, a-z, or even your usb flash drive, double click it, then click "extract".
this will create a subfolder named "zqramdsk".
you can run this exe from the root of several drives if you want.
the highest drive letter that contains a "zqramdsk" folder is the drive that will be used as your "ram drive" when booting the sgtxp cd-rom.
optionally you can keep ramdisk.exe anywhere and just type in the drive letter when you run it, eg: c:\
anything you place in the "zqramdsk" folder will be available to you after you boot your cd-rom/usbkey.
download sgtxp
sgtxp110.exe contains all of the customizations, drivers and programs that will be "merged" in with your official xp cd files and then incorporated into your boot cd or boot usb flash drive.
sgtxp 1.1.0 now offers a full featured windows installer (nsis).
download sgtxp 1.1.0 here: sgtxp110.exe - 240 MB (252,308,312 bytes) - md5: 0a17367de325a7a186bffd4e1bbcc1e9
install sgtxp
note/warning: the sgtxp exe (above) extracts to 568 MB (596,187,646 bytes). er, thanks jawz for pointing this out... 5,268 files, 789 folders.
double click sgtxp110.exe to begin the installation process. the default install path is c:\sgtxp. you can use any path that you want as long as the full path does not contain any spaces. so, don't install this to "program files" or other folders with spaces in the names. if you have any problems at all, try installing to the default path, c:\sgtxp.
start menu
the start menu contains pre-made shortcuts, the most common ones you will need.
i usually make a new toolbar (right click windows taskbar -> toolbars -> new toolbar) that points directly to this folder... super easy geek access! :)
adding drivers for your existing hardware
you can now easily add drivers to your sgtxp builds using the files that are already installed on your computer and that are already customized for your windows xp installation.
simply run reatogo's "autodriver" from the sgtxp start menu, select (check) the type of drivers you want to detect, then click the detect button. autodriver will search your computer for drivers that you already have installed and it will return a list of items that it finds. in the list of detected items select (check) the items that you definitely need drivers for inside of sgtxp, then click the create button.
the entire process is fully automated.
when it is done, your new driver folders will appear in this folder: c:\sgtxp\plugin\drivers.
you should rename the folder (no spaces) so that you can remember what it is actually for.
the driver folders that you create here are available in pebuilder's plugins window, you can enable/disable them at any time.
my "plugins-full" and "plugins-lite" never adjust or tweak anything in the c:\sgtxp\plugin\drivers folder - that folder is totally up to you to keep "in tune".
reatogo's website: http://www.reatogo.de
using pebuilder
pebuilder must be used manually to adjust plugins and change settings.
sgtxp gui now uses pebuilder in "automatic mode" to create sgtxp "builds".
notes...
i always create an iso, then i test it in microsoft virtual pc, then if i like the results i manually burn it to cd-rom with nero7.
so, by default, sgtxp when built will only create an iso and will not burn it for you.
the main reason for manually using pebuilder is to adjust settings and configure all of the plugins, and that's it.
for example, say you want to shave a minute or two off of the slow boot time, you could disable the "customizations: windowblinds" plugin.
i have tried to group plugins together so they are easier to locate.
anyway, don't use the build button in pebuilder... i use the "build sgtxp" buttons in sgtxp instead.
when done configuring, simply close pebuilder.exe.
updating virus definitions
double click update.cmd or click the "update" button in sgtxp gui.
you won't want to run this more than once per day, maybe once a week.
sgtxp gui - notes
settings for sgtxp ui are saved to: %systemroot%\system32\sgtxp.ini.
sgtxp gui 1.1.0 is included with sgtxp 1.1.0 but is also compatible with sgtxp 1.0.7
for this reason i am making it available as an individual download here: sgtxp.exe / sgtxp.md5
1.1.0 users do not need this download.
1.0.7 users, download this file and put it in your c:\sgtxp folder.
sgtxp gui - advanced mode
we will start out in advanced mode becuase there are a few things we need to do before we can start building sgtxp.
insert your windows xp cd-rom and click "exit" when the installer appears.
check the "advanced" option at the lower left corner of the gui.
this will expand the sgtxp gui screen.
all of the items below relate to the "sections" along the right side of the gui.
xp source / cd / sp2 section
xp source folder
the "xp source folder" will contain all of the original files from your xp cd-rom, it will later contain all of the files for xp service pack 2 (slipstream, if needed) and it is the location that pe builder will use every time you build sgtxp.
in "xp source" field (top left), enter the path to your "xp source" folder. the default is c:\sgtxp\xpsrc. this folder will be created for you automatically.
xp cd-rom selection
select your xp cd-rom drive with the drop down selector.
copy xp cd
click "copy xp cd" to begin the copy operation. note: once you click this button there is no graceful way to stop the copy process. if you truly need to stop the copy routine you will have to kill the sgtxp.exe process in task manager.
if your xp cd-rom is already at service pack 2, skip to the "usb key drive" section (below).
download sp2
this will download windows xp service pack 2.
only click this button if you windows xp cd-rom is not already at service pack 2 level.
slipstream sp2
this will actually perform two operations, first sp2 will be extracted to c:\sgtxp\xpsp2, then sp2 will be "slipstreamed" or "merged" in with your original xp files located at c:\sgtxp\xpsrc.
technically, once this operation is complete you can delete your xpsp2 download (xpsp2.exe) and you can delete the temporary folder that xpsp2 was extracted to, c:\sgtxp\xpsp2. do not delete the c:\sgtxp\xpsrc folder.
usb key drive section
if you do not have a usb key drive or if you are not planning on building sgtxp for your usb key drive, skip this section.
usb key drive selector
select your usb key drive with the drop down selector.
volume name
type in the volume name that you want to put on your usb key.
usb format
warning: at this point you must make sure that you have selected the correct drive letter for your usb key.
warning: all data on the usb key will be lost... make sure you have a backup of your data.
you will not be able to boot to your usb key until you format it.
when you are sure you are ready to format, click the "usb format" button.
make bootable
depricated. you do not need to use this button. you can only click it after you use the "build sgtxp" button. don't use it for now, the usb key will be made bootable when you later click the "build usb iso" button.
usb ramdisk
click this button to create a ramdisk on your usb key drive.
usb programs section
if you do not have a usb key drive or if you are not planning on building sgtxp for your usb key drive, skip this section.
notes
for usb key iso's, the file size can never exceed 500mb.
for this reason, many programs and plugins have to be turned off so that they are not included in the usb key iso.
this download allows you to extract these eliminated programs into a new "programs" folder on your usb key so that when you boot sgtxp you can still access the programs. once you have booted to sgtxp you will have to use windows explorer to manually locate this programs folder - most items on the start menu will not work.
download
this button will download programs110.exe.
manual download
for anyone that doesn't want to use the gui to download/install, here is the manual download information:
download: programs110.exe
size: 113 MB (119,023,464 bytes)
md5: a9fb95b91f2fbea3a069df55e08a3003install
this button will install programs to your usb key.
copy & download progress section
this area will show copy and download progress in real time.
note: do not run the md5 checker when downloads are finished. this is currently experimental. if you do run it, do not worry if it tells you that the md5 check failed.
sgtxp gui - normal mode
since the main operations are all finished, we no longer need "advanced" view.
uncheck the "advanced" option at the lower left corner of the gui.
tools section
here you can use pe builder, explore your sgtxp folder and update your virus/spyware definitions.
utilities seciton
in this section you can run autodriver to setup your drivers or you can explore the drivers folder.
iso target section
the only thing you can do in this section is select "cd-rom" or "usb key". this selection determines if the section below "iso target" is either "cd-rom image" or "usb key image", respectively.
cd-rom image section
if you selected "cd-rom" for the iso target, you will only see the tools for building sgtxp and iso for a cd-rom.
usb key image section
if you selected "usb key " for the iso target, you will only see the tools for building sgtxp and iso for a usb key.
build size section
when you click "build sgtxp" the gui "hides" and pebuilder starts building. when pebuilder is done building, my gui pops back up in your face. in the past you had to manually check the size of your "build" folder, or you had to cross your fingers and hope and pray that when you built your iso that it would be smaller than the normal limits (cd: less than 700mb, usb: less than 500mb). not anymore. now when you are done with your build, this section will show you the size of your build folder. now, at a glance, you will be able to see if your iso will be the correct size (or smaller than the limit). if the size is "getting close" to the actual limit, the size value (mb) will be orange in color. if you hit the limit for either format or if you exceed the limit, the size value (mb) will appear red in color.
while this is not 100% perfect, it is very, very close. examples:
cd-rom report...
sgtxp gui: 672 mb
actual build folder: 672 MB (704,929,436 bytes)
final iso: 674 MB (707,616,768 bytes)usb key report...
sgtxp gui: 469 mb
actual build folder: 469 MB (492,067,291 bytes)
final iso: 469 MB (492,785,664 bytes)
zeroramdisk
click this button to create a ram disk or multiple ram disks.
windows xpsp2 source folder
sgtxp gui 1.1.0 can now do all of these steps for you, automatically.
only read this section you want to perform these steps manually instead of usung sgtxp gui.
sgtxp cd-rom image
open sgtxp gui.
select "cd-rom" from the "iso target" section.
click the "plugins full" button in the "cd-rom image" section.
use pebuilder to further configure your plugins (if needed).
close pebuilder.
in the "cd-rom image" section of sgtxp gui, click "build sgtxp" and then wait a little bit.
when the build is complete, the pebuilder window will close (if there are no errors).
look in the "build size" section and make sure that your build folder is less than 700 mb in size. if it is not, you will have to go back to pebuilder, turn off some plugins, then repeat the steps above.
back in sgtxp gui, in the "cd-rom image" section, click "build cd iso".
when finished you will have an new iso: sgtxp110.iso. this iso will be in the c:\sgtxp folder.
this iso can now be loaded with microsoft virtual pc or you can burn it to a cd-rom.
once burned, you should be able to reboot your computer using your new cd-rom.
sgtxp usb drive image
if you plan to use a usb thumb drive, you must first use the format utility in sgtxp gui (usb format button). you should only format your usb thumb drive one time since it is only required once.
you will also have to make your usb thumb drive "bootable", but that can't be done until you have run the "usb drive image -> build sgtxp" tool.
open sgtxp gui.
select "usb key " from the "iso target" section.
click the "plugins lite" button in the "usb drive image" section.
use pebuilder to further configure your plugins (if needed).
close pebuilder.
in the "usb drive image" section of sgtxp gui, click "build sgtxp" and then wait a little bit.
when the build is complete, the pebuilder window will close (if there are no errors).
look in the "build size" section and make sure that your build folder is less than 500 mb in size. try to keep it below 490 mb if possible. if it is too large, you will have to go back to pebuilder, turn off some plugins, then repeat the steps above. remember, usb key iso files have a hard limit: 500 mb. you should try to keep it even smaller than that. if it is too large, your usb key will not boot.
any time after you do "build sgtxp" you can click the "make bootable " button in the "usb drive image" section. note: you dont ever have to click this button if you don't want to. when you click "build usb iso" (later) it will always re-run the steps to make your usb flash drive bootable.
now your usb stick is "bootable".
in the "usb drive image" section, click "build usb iso".
when finished you will have an new iso: sgtxp110.iso. this iso will be in the root folder of your usb thumb drive (verify this in windows explorer).
once in place, you should be able to reboot your computer using your usb thumb drive.
you may need to tweak bios settings to allow this. some computers offer several "modes" for usb drives such as "superfloppy" or "hard drive"... if your bios offers this type of selection, set it to "hard drive" or "hdd".
your computer might offer a hotkey like "f8" (asus) or "f12" (dell) that shows a "boot menu" when the pc starts. this menu allows you to select a boot device in which case you can manually select your usb thumb drive.
if you don't have a boot menu, you might have to force your bios boot priority to see the usb thumb drive first to get it to boot up.
the boot menu is the best solution really because each time you reboot you can leave your usb stick connected and unless you spefically select the usb drive, it won't boot from it... it will always reboot normally and put you in your real windows os. if you have to change your bios boot priority, that means that every time you reboot you will have to disconnect your usb key or it will contantly boot into the sgtxp environment.
i hope that makes sense.
redistribute
it has always been possible to redistribute your own "custom" version of sgtxp, i just haven't had the time to create easy to use tools to accomplish this task for you.
inside the sgtxp folder you will see these folders: "source\sgtxp installer new (nsis)".
notes...
double click build.cmd.
as is, without changes, it will build a nsis installer exe named "sgtxp110.exe" that contains everything in your sgtxp folder with a few exceptions: it won't copy your xpsrc, temp, build or xpsp2 folders, among other things.
the built package, md5 and log file will be located in source\sgtxp installer new (nsis)\release.
play with it. in the end you will have a 200+ mb installer exe that you can give to others, then they can customize and build iso's based on your work.
unable to open network shares
starting with windows xp service pack 2, microsoft thought it would be a good idea to lock/block/deny null sessions
after booting to your sgtxp cd-rom you will notice that you will not be able to access any shared folders on the local network
to correct this you must download and run xpsp2-network-nullsession-fix.reg on all of the xp computers that you want to access over the network
to restore your default settings on those computers, you can download and run xpsp2-network-nullsession-default.reg