diff --git a/configuration/rescue-cd.nix b/configuration/rescue-cd.nix
index 661bcdf33a5..52bd0888f7d 100644
--- a/configuration/rescue-cd.nix
+++ b/configuration/rescue-cd.nix
@@ -128,7 +128,8 @@ rec {
   rescueCD = import ../helpers/make-iso9660-image.nix {
     inherit (pkgs) stdenv cdrtools;
     isoName = "nixos.iso";
-    
+
+    # Single files to be copied to fixed locations on the CD.
     contents = [
       { source = pkgs.syslinux + "/lib/syslinux/isolinux.bin";
         target = "isolinux/isolinux.bin";
@@ -153,7 +154,12 @@ rec {
       }
     ];
 
-    init = system.bootStage2;
+    # Closures to be copied to the Nix store on the CD.
+    storeContents = [
+      { object = system.bootStage2;
+        symlink = "/init";
+      }
+    ];
     
     bootable = true;
     bootImage = "isolinux/isolinux.bin";
diff --git a/doc/manual/manual.xml b/doc/manual/manual.xml
index a20c8e93a33..96368ed6876 100644
--- a/doc/manual/manual.xml
+++ b/doc/manual/manual.xml
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     
   </info>
 
+  <xi:include href="installation.xml" />
   <xi:include href="options-db.xml" />
 
 </book>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/helpers/make-iso9660-image.nix b/helpers/make-iso9660-image.nix
index e98de8ffcb4..3cecb6106e5 100644
--- a/helpers/make-iso9660-image.nix
+++ b/helpers/make-iso9660-image.nix
@@ -9,16 +9,12 @@
   # grafted in the file system at path `target'.
   contents
 
-/*
 , # In addition to `contents', the closure of the store paths listed
-  # in `packages' are also placed in the file system.
-  packages ? []
-*/
-
-, # `init' should be a store path, the closure of which is added to
-  # the image, just like `packages'.  However, in addition, a symlink
-  # `/init' to `init' will be created.
-  init ? null
+  # in `packages' are also placed in the Nix store of the CD.  This is
+  # a list of attribute sets {source, target} where `source' if a
+  # store path whose closure will be copied, and `target' is a symlink
+  # to `source' that will be added to the CD.
+  storeContents ? []
 
   # Whether this should be an El-Torito bootable CD.
 , bootable ? false
@@ -34,11 +30,18 @@ stdenv.mkDerivation {
   name = "iso9660-image";
   builder = ./make-iso9660-image.sh;
   buildInputs = [cdrtools];
-  inherit isoName init bootable bootImage;
-  sources = map ({source, target}: source) contents;
-  targets = map ({source, target}: target) contents;
+  inherit isoName bootable bootImage;
 
-  # For obtaining the closure of `init'.
-  exportReferencesGraph = ["init-closure" init];
+  # !!! should use XML.
+  sources = map (x: x.source) contents;
+  targets = map (x: x.target) contents;
+
+  # !!! should use XML.
+  objects = map (x: x.object) storeContents;
+  symlinks = map (x: x.symlink) storeContents;
+  
+  # For obtaining the closure of `storeContents'.
+  exportReferencesGraph =
+    map (x: [("closure-" + baseNameOf x.symlink) x.object]) storeContents;
   pathsFromGraph = ./paths-from-graph.sh;
 }
diff --git a/helpers/make-iso9660-image.sh b/helpers/make-iso9660-image.sh
index 9a8bef7416d..1fa04aef7b2 100644
--- a/helpers/make-iso9660-image.sh
+++ b/helpers/make-iso9660-image.sh
@@ -1,26 +1,46 @@
 source $stdenv/setup
 
+sources_=($sources)
+targets_=($targets)
+
+objects=($objects)
+symlinks=($symlinks)
+
+
 if test -n "$bootable"; then
     bootFlags="-b $bootImage -c boot.cat -no-emul-boot -boot-load-size 4"
 fi
 
+
 graftList=
-sources_=($sources)
-targets_=($targets)
 for ((i = 0; i < ${#targets_[@]}; i++)); do
     graftList="$graftList ${targets_[$i]}=$(readlink -f ${sources_[$i]})"
 done
 
-storePaths=$($SHELL $pathsFromGraph ./init-closure)
 
-for i in $storePaths; do
-    graftList="$graftList ${i:1}=$i"
+for ((n = 0; n < ${#objects[*]}; n++)); do
+    object=${objects[$n]}
+    symlink=${symlinks[$n]}
+
+    # Get the paths in the closure of `object'.
+    closure=closure-$(basename $symlink)
+    if ! test -e $closure; then
+        echo 'Your Nix installation is too old! Upgrade to nix-0.11pre7038 or newer.'
+        exit 1
+    fi
+    storePaths=$($SHELL $pathsFromGraph $closure)
+
+    for i in $storePaths; do
+        graftList="$graftList ${i:1}=$i"
+    done
+
+    if test "$symlink" != "none"; then
+        mkdir -p $(dirname ./$symlink)
+        ln -s $object ./$symlink
+        graftList="$graftList $symlink=./$symlink"
+    fi
 done
 
-if test -n "$init"; then
-    ln -s $init init
-    graftList="$graftList init=init"
-fi
 
 # !!! -f is a quick hack.
 ensureDir $out/iso
diff --git a/system/system.nix b/system/system.nix
index 13ecce79c87..b63e48ce201 100644
--- a/system/system.nix
+++ b/system/system.nix
@@ -92,7 +92,10 @@ rec {
         symlink = "/init";
       }
     ] ++ (if config.get ["boot" "initrd" "enableSplashScreen"] then [
-      { object = pkgs.splashutils;
+      { object = pkgs.runCommand "splashutils" {} "
+          ensureDir $out/bin
+          cp ${pkgs.splashutils}/bin/splash_helper $out/bin
+        ";
         suffix = "/bin/splash_helper";
         symlink = "/sbin/splash_helper";
       }
diff --git a/upstart-jobs/nscd.conf b/upstart-jobs/nscd.conf
index 786f5fdd8ac..6d0dcacf977 100644
--- a/upstart-jobs/nscd.conf
+++ b/upstart-jobs/nscd.conf
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 server-user             nscd
+threads                 1
 paranoia                no
 debug-level             0
 
@@ -7,7 +8,7 @@ positive-time-to-live   passwd          600
 negative-time-to-live   passwd          20
 suggested-size          passwd          211
 check-files             passwd          yes
-persistent              passwd          yes
+persistent              passwd          no
 shared                  passwd          yes
 
 enable-cache            group           yes
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ positive-time-to-live   group           3600
 negative-time-to-live   group           60
 suggested-size          group           211
 check-files             group           yes
-persistent              group           yes
+persistent              group           no
 shared                  group           yes
 
 enable-cache            hosts           yes