How to extract a single system file(s) (.inf, .dll, .ini) from the Windows XP CD-ROM?
by: Alodia Phan – jcyberinux.com
Maybe you encounter some problems like, the help.dll file is missing, or could not find, or dll file unexpected problem while updating your Windows XP SP2 to SP3. Then you need to restore or reinstall the said file. The dll file maybe corrupt or missing file system so probably you need to get the system file from the Windows XP CD but since it is not yet an .dll system file, you don’t know the process on how to extract it.

Here’s the instruction on how to extract the system file from Windows XP CD:

(Important Note: Service Pack installed system may require to get a Windows XP CD with Service Pack included or better yet the updated one)

Command: expand [Source location\][filename.extension] [parameters] [Destination location\]

Parameters

-r : Renames expanded files.

-d : Displays a list of files in the source location. Does not expand or extract the files.

-f:files : Specifies the files in a cabinet (.cab) file you want to expand. You can use wildcards (* and ?).

Source : Specifies the files to expand. Source can consist of a drive letter and colon, a directory name, a file name, or a combination. You can use wildcards (* and ?).

Destination : Specifies where files are to be expanded. If Source is multiple files and -r is not specified, Destination must be a directory. Destination can consist of a drive letter and colon, a directory name, a file name, or a combination.

/?: Displays help at the command prompt.

Example: expand E:\i386\apphelp.dl_ -r C:\Windows\System32

(Where E:\i386\apphelp.dl_ is the [Source location\][filename.extension], while –r is the [parameter that initiates automatic renaming of the system to .dll] then C:\Windows\System32 is the [Destination location\])

Another Example:
expand E:\i386\apphelp.dl_ C:\Windows\System32\apphelp.dll

(Were in this example, without the parameter –r that renames expanded file, you must specify the filename plus the extension, expand [Source location\][filename.extension] [parameters] [Destination location\][filename.extension])

Related Entries / Articles / Links / References :
Windows XP Professional Documentation Official Site – Expand