14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is in no rush to resolve an issue affecting the capacity of slipstreamed versions of Windows XP Service Pack 3 to integrate product keys. The problem dates back to Release Candidate 1 of XP SP3, and was signaled as early as December 2007. Copies of Service Pack 3 integrated into Windows XP operating systems on Windows Vista or on Windows Server 2008 platforms no longer accept the original product key, or any other product key for that matter. Microsoft has watched this issue survive into the RTM build of SP3, and even released the service pack to the general public without providing a resolve.
"The service pack supports the use of the /integrate command to integrate (also called slipstream) SP3 into a Windows XP flat. It is supported to run the command with the following media: Windows XP Professional RTM, Windows XP Professional SP1 and Windows XP Professional SP2", explained Scott McArthur, Support Escalation Engineer Microsoft Corporation Enterprise Support.
Still, this process simply does not go as planned for manually slipstream XP SP3 copies, although there is absolutely no indication that anything has gone wrong. This scenario only happens if Vista or Windows Server 2008 are thrown in the mix.
"The problem arises if the /integrate command is run under Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008. The /integrate process will not report any error and appears to work but if you try to install from the media your product key may not be accepted. Luckily the fix is easy. Run the /integrate command under Windows XP or Windows Server 2003", McArthur added.
Microsoft's solution is rather simple. The Redmond company advises end users to run the /integrate command either in XP or in Windows Server 2008's predecessor, Windows Server 2003. At this point in time, Microsoft has given no indication that it plans to provide a permanent fix for the issue and allow users to create Windows XP SP3 slipstreamed media on the latest versions of its Windows client and server operating systems.
Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) Final is available for download here.