One file type that you'll find—but for which you won't encounter matching files in the \i386 directory or in any .cab file—is catalog files. Catalog files, which are identified by the .cat extension, handle driver signing. The sp3.cat file contains the checksums for driver files that have passed Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) testing. When Microsoft updates a driver, the company must distribute a new signed catalog file.
If you look closely, you'll notice that each hotfix contains either an updated sp3.cat file (or sp4.cat for SP4, and so on) or a catalog file with a name based on the hotfix's Q-number. When you copy sp3.cat files, you must locate the most recent version of the file and copy it to the \i386 directory. Because catalog files are cumulative, the newest and largest file will be the safest bet. Copy the newest catalog file to the \i386 directory and make note of the copied filenames because you'll use those filenames later.
Next, create a path named \$OEM$\$$\hotfixes at the root of your distribution directory. Copy the hotfix installation programs to this directory. Note that this directory is at the same level as the \i386 directory—not a subdirectory, as some Microsoft documentation states. When you run setup, the system copies the \hotfixes subdirectory to the \%systemroot% directory (e.g., C:\winnt\hotfixes). After you copy all hotfixes to that directory, download qchain.exe from http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q296861 and place it in the same directory. . . .
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