a step by step on how to build a base XP SP3 image in SCCM 2007

This post and subsequent posts will be a step by step on how to build a base XP SP3 image in SCCM.

I will be outlining not necessarily pointing out every click. Hopefully others will find this helpful. This assumes an understanding of SCCM and uses what is refereed to as a “Thin Image Strategy”.
Create a network access account, it only need be a domain user and its password should not expire. Add the account to the Computer Client Agent in the Client node under Site Settings
Import XP SP3 as an operating system Install Package.
Add a Distribution point to your new XP SP3 package created in step 1
Create the XP SP3 sysprep package in SCCM
The Deploy.cab included on the CD was not updated properly for XP SP3 so you must download a new version here.
Create a package that points at the extracted CAB file for its source
You do not need to create any programs for the package the build task sequence takes care of this
Add the package to a DP that can be used during your build
Create a package for the Config Mgr Client
Specify always obtain file from source directory
Usually here I create a share at \\SCCMSERVER\Souce$\SCCMClient.
Update the ccmsetup command line properties accordingly. Extensive information about command line properties on TechNet here.
Add the package to a DP that can be used during your build
Create a “Build and capture a reference operating system image” task sequence
Name the task sequence something appropriate like “Build & Capture Windows XP SP3 Gold Image”
Select the x86 boot image
Select the Operating System Package you created in step 1
Enter a product key
Set the local admin password to any password
Join a workgroup
Select the Config Mgr client you created in step 4
Don’t add any software to the base image
Set your image properties
Select a location to save the image and make sure you include the full path including the .wim extension
Enter an account with rights to write to the share
Finish up
Change the task sequence to use “Quick Format”
Right Click on the Task Sequence and choose Edit
Select the “Partition Disk 0″ step
Choose properties on the Default (Primary) partition and check the “Quick Format” option
Create a collection to which you will advertise the task sequence; I usually use "customer" Base Builds
Advertise the task sequence to the collection you created in step 7 as optional
Right click Task sequence and choose advertise, follow the wizard
Make sure you select the check box “Make this task sequence available to boot media and PXE”
If you are in test and your boundaries are not defined make sure you select “When no local distribution points are available, use remote distribution point”
Make sure you completed step 1
Ensure that you have the network and mass storage drivers to boot the device on the boot image and in the driver store (If you have to do this in the future you must update the PXE and standard DPs)
Add the appropriate boot images (x86 / x64) to the PXE and standard DPs
Allow the client to boot from PXE
If this client previously had an SCCM agent on it you just need to add the client to the collection you created in step 6
If this is a new client and SCCM is pre-R2 add the client manually
Add the client by right clicking the Computer Associations node under OSD and choosing “Import Computer Information”
Enter the Name of the computer
Enter the MAC and or SMBIOS GUID
Add the computer to the collection you created in step 7
Boot the device up to PXE and choose your task sequence. In less than an hour you should have the start of a great XP Image